The feast of St Benedict
Last Thursday was the feast of St Benedict, born in 480 at Nursia in Umbria Italy. He organised a series of small communities of monks and nuns including the great monastery of Monte Casino. His rule of life which guided the communities proved to be wise and well balanced. The Rule of St Benedict recognised that people aim at perfection but often fall well short of it and aims to be a guide for beginners so that the least perfect or able member of a community can have the opportunity to grow in spiritual stature. As the members of the communities strived to live and become closer together they became more and more the person God had called them to be. We too can learn from this insight. Taking small steps regularly we can learn how to become closer to God and address our habits and behaviour that weaken our resolve to be the person God calls us to be. As with everything else in life, our spiritual welfare benefits when we learn to walk before trying to leap. St Benedict pray for us