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From the feast of the Epiphany, whether this is celebrated on Friday 6th or Sunday 8th January, to Ash Wednesday on 22nd February, the liturgical year is in ordinary time. However for St Benedict there was no such thing! Every day was to be treated as an opportunity to grow in love of God until the monk reached the perfect love that casts out fear "No longer will his motive be the fear of hell, but rather the love of Christ, good habit and delight in the virtues which the Lord will deign to show forth by the Holy Spirit in his servant now cleansed from vice and sin."(chapter five, Feb 9th) This state can be arrived at by following the twelve steps of humility, described in chapter five (from Jan 22th to Feb 9th), and the seventy two instruments of good works, listed immediately before them in chapter four (from Jan 18th to 21st). I wonder if St Benedict deliberately designed these two lists to remind us of the twelve apostles and the seventy two disciples sent out ahead of him?

The instruments of good works can be sub-divided in various ways and each reader will adapt them to his own particular needs. The first twenty one remind us of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. From twenty two to forty three, St Benedict is asking us to turn these general rules into specific, practical steps in our daily lives. This list could be used as an examination of conscience at the end of the day or in preparation for confession. From forty four to the end there is a change in mood - St Benedict is asking us to go up a gear. We need to become more contemplative, to consider the end days and our eventual judgment. We need to communicate with God through prayer and the Scriptures rather than communicating with our fellow men through unnecessary talk and jesting. It is significant that this list of seventy two steps towards holiness end with several instructions to love chastity, each other and peace. If we do these and remember God's mercy, we will receive our eternal reward.

The instruments of good works are a daunting list for anyone and it is not unreasonable to think that they are sufficient guidance for anyone aspiring to sainthood. St Benedict was not one to do things by halves, so he also gives us the twelve degrees of humility. These rephrase the tools listed in chapter four, giving examples to make it easier for us to apply them to our own lives. They can be summarized as - being aware that all our actions are being observed by God, being obedient, patient, silent and always willing to be "at the bottom of the pile". This last virtue is perhaps easier to imagine practicing in a monastic setting than in secular society. For those of us outside the monastery, we have to discern when it is good to allow others to look down on us and when we have to remind others of our right to be treated with respect and dignity, as befits all those made in the image of God.

We wish you every blessing.

Pax

UK Oblates Team