A series of articles of various
aspects of life:
CONTRADICTIONS of Modern Life
LIFE and BLOOD
MONASTIC LIFE
MONASTICISM VS. SCHOLASTICISM (Febr.97)
PATHS OF LIFE (Aug.97)
Version francaise
BR. PIERRE PRATTE, osb
Born in Trois-Rivières, Québec in 1940.
Joined St-Benoit-du-Lac
in 1961.
Moved to Mount Saviour in 1966.
Became herdsman and guest master.
Presently shepherd and bookkeeper.
In touch with the world through books, photography
, short-wave radio and the Web.
News 2008:
The
love command is a central theme of the Christian faith.
My favorite definition of love is "To
want the beloved to live to the full." The Greek notion of 'agape'
(selfless love) is part of it. One
expression
of love is in caring. In he Bible, we
word 'care' comes up more than 100 times.
When we care for the elderly, we give time and energy out of
love or out
of duty. It requires a lot of patience
to satisfy their idiosyncrasies and their basic needs. The power of
love is a
source of energy to cope with the demands of the situation. It is only after the death of a patient that
we realize how much time we spent for the needs of a person. This can apply to material things: car,
collection, house, pet projects, etc. On the farm one of our lambs had
a concussion
when it tried to run to the field and hit a wire fence.
It paralyzed and could no stand. It
had to be bottle fed and needed attention
three times a day. It was a pleasure to see it walk after months of
training
and exercises. 
But
ten days after its
longest walk, it lost appetite and died.
One surprise that cheered me was the discovery of a lost cat
that came
to visit one of our sheep dog. One
morning, I saw the cat in the dog house and the dog sleeping outside. The next morning, I took the camera and found
them sleeping side by side. This was an
extension of caring and hospitality that I had never expected. The Rule of St. Benedict is concerned about
the care of the elderly monks, the guests and the sick.
With an aging community, we have many
opportunities to prove our love for God and the neighbors.
My annual visit to Canada
was a
pleasant experience with the family.
Those with cancer seem to be in remission but other ailments pop up and
need to be addressed. Fortunately, their
health care system covers the expenses of many visits to the hospital
when
surgery is needed.
MONASTIC LIFE
The following article was written for a Christmas Chronicle entitled
THE GIFTS OF A MONASTERY. Br. Pierre
In the study of Church history and spirituality, we find many
references to the monastic influence. We tend to raise many
questions to
satisfy our curiosity as to the causes or charisms of the monks of the
past. A culture is never established by direct means. It
is shaped by many factors.
As we try to point out the relevance of monastic life today, we
discover many by-products that are the most striking elements to
outsiders. The medieval monks did not join monasteries to build,
to compose music, or to transcribe manuscripts. They followed an
inner call to 'seek God'. As we commit ourselves to truly seeking
God in the twentieth century, we have been able to notice as well some
of the by-products that are important to us and meaningful to the
guests who come to share our
life.
1-This 'school of the Lord's service' is an institution for the
search of meaning. The identity of a monk is a matter of
'becoming',
a growth in the quality of life and in faith. Therefore,
his formation is always in progress, with 'the Gospel as a guide, to go forward
on His paths'.
2-This community shows the capacity of men from various countries and
backgrounds to live together in spite of many differences that are part
of nature. The mutual support can be felt at various levels and
at different degrees in this classless society. The Rule of St.Benedict has
some references to the idea of edification (aedificare is the Latin
word for 'to build up'). The monk has to face his responsibility
without denying his Christian freedom.
3-We find an anthropology that gives room for the body as it stands
close to nature and to related sciences in manual work; for the soul
yearning for knowledge through 'lectio divina' and studies; for spirit
as a means of communication in prayer.
4-A sense of poetry is cultivated by the use of rituals and
symbols. As we try to read between the lines of the sacred texts
and hear the harmony of simple tones, the mystery becomes more
accessible.
The religious profession is the sacrament of the eschaton (the last
thing), of the parousia (the final coming).
5-The Liturgy of the Hours marks the rhythm of the day and of
the seasons like the down beats of a musical line. The regular
order is infinitely varied since it includes motion and rest. work
and leisure.
How does this relate to the Gospel? It helps one to
practice the commandments: 'You shall love your God with all your
heart...and your neighbor as yourself'. There are three objects
of love in
that quotation: God, the neighbor, and the self. By a commitment
to seek him, by our praise, and by faith in his mystery, we seek the
glory of God. By sharing the material goods as well as the burden
and
responsibilities in the community, the monk exercises a social
role.
With an awareness an appreciation of his own talents and limitations
(self-knowledge), the monk is able to relate to others and to
God.
He remains human and is in need of God's grace 'to bear most patiently
one another's infirmities' (St.Benedict).
'Having therefore our loins girt about with faith and the observance of
good works, let us, with the Gospel as our guide, go forward on His
paths, that we may deserve to see in His kingdom Him who has called
us'. Prologue of the Rule
CONTRADICTIONS of Modern Life
The following text was presented by Br. Pierre on his feastday, June
29th, 1984. In our search for God, we try to find out what is beyond
this life, what is behind the words of scriptures or how Christ or the
apostles would address themselves today. Here is what may come out on
the "screen" of our imagination or inspiration.
From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ to God's chosen people who live
as pilgrims scattered throughout the United States. May peace and grace
be yours in full measure.
In my previous letters, I tried to encourage Christians to grow in
faith, hope, and charity and patience. Here I try to do the same
for your well-being. Your buildings and paper money indicate that you
are a religious nation. We read: "In God, we trust". At the same time,
you seem to follow the pagan motto: "Si vis pacem, para bellum" (If you
want peace, prepare for war.)
Do not use mortal means to protect your vital interests. Make
sure that your efforts towards national security do not produce
international insecurity. Your technical achievement are well known all
over. People can move faster and better. They sit in their car, stand
in elevators and to compensate for their health, they jog and sweat
after work. Live in harmony of soul, spirit, and body for the glory of
God.
You are concerned for the environment and legislate to alleviate all
forms of pollution. Little is done to foster purity of heart. "Blessed
are the pure of heart for they shall see God." We hear of some
incidents of cover-ups. Should we blame the cosmetic industries for the
sale of make-ups or the dissatisfaction of the people for the work of
God. Will you make stories to distort the truth?
You can unite by the thousands to oppose or impose your rights. Will
you share your spiritual energies to uplift the needy? Some of
you are sensitive to cruelty to animals while others are indifferent
to the mutilation and destruction of the unborn. Your silos used to be
full of grain for poor and rich nations. Now silos are readied with
missiles
to destroy the same nations.
For so long, you have been told that "bigger is better". Can you
correct the problems of large cities? Can you explain why 80% of the
population live on 20% of the land? You have discovered the invisible
phenomenon
of airwaves and electricity. Unfortunately, too many people refuse to
believe in the power of prayer and grace.
We see a lot of courage among those who are training for competitions.
Similar efforts are required for the soul to be fit in our daily life.
Some people receive large sums of money to run after a ball while
others may not be rewarded for sitting to comfort wounded soul; "they
shall receive mercy".
In spite of all the criticism that politicians receive, we rejoice that
the Department of War became the Department of Defense. We look for the
day when you gain enough confidence and inspire enough trust to make it
the Department of Peace. Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of
the Lord and Saviour who is our Peace. Amen
LIFE and BLOOD
In the Middle East, blood is related to death; to loose one's blood
evokes horror and fear. Blood is the vital substance. In the Bible the
humans are defined as flesh and blood. The Jews have always condemned
the meat of animals that were not bled. They believe that blood is life
and it belongs to God. When we remember that Christ lost his blood on
the cross, we can see the symbol that allows us to eat the flesh
immolated and
pierced by the spear.
In the first centuries, various theories appeared concerning the role
of the blood in biology. Some people believed that the sperm was a
coagulant and that the blood of the menstrual periods was transformed
into an embryo. With this theory, it was easy to believe in the virgin
birth. God who can do anything, could easily make the blood of the
Virgin Mary coagulate. An other belief that lasted until the invention
of the microscope is the understanding that the blood is pumped with
more velocity during the loving embrace and is transformed into the
seed of life (semen). The uterus was but the fertile soil where the
seed developed. Such an analogy, when used to the extreme, has
influenced our moral theology. The Fathers of the Church talked about
the punishment of Onan for wasting the seed. (Today's exegetes prefer
to blame him for refusing to raise a family for his brother as the law
demanded.
The development of the embryo depends upon an exchange of blood trough
the placenta. A network of connectors allows the fetus to receive its
nourishment. The Fathers of the Church were full of admiration for the
blood that was filtered through the breasts to give the white milk
that could feed the children. They say that God did not want to scare
the
babies by giving them a red liquid that inspired death when somebody
lost
his blood.
The Red Cross keeps promoting the need of blood for transfusions. We
are in awe when counting the elements that form this red liquid.
I remember my father who became restless during his hospitalization.
His
nervous state suddenly improved by changing the formula of the
transfusion.
Like Pascal who was in awe while thinking of the infinitely huge and
small
in the universe, we can admire what is inside a drop of blood. Our
health depends on those drops that circulate to the lungs and the
members of
the body. The heart fulfills its task without ceasing. It witnesses all
our emotions. It is an indicator of our emotions when it pumps at
different
rate. The skin cannot help but show the blood pressure in some
instances:
anger, weakness, etc.
In the Old Testament, the blood of the lamb on the door post
was a symbol of the covenant (Exodus). The immolation of Christ is the
symbol of the New Covenant. The cult to the Precious-Blood is to show
more convincingly the humanity of Christ. The blood that was a sign of
horror outside the body became an element of thanksgiving during the
Eucharist.
Symbols and signs point out for us the direction to follow as we await
the
final revelation.
Christus Rex For Art and
Catholic News.
Mount Saviour home page
For comments Br. Pierre
Revised 3/3/05