Knights of Columbus Speech, July 9, 2002

Father Owen's Homilies

Talk given to the Knights of Columbus: July 9, 2002

Dear Brother Knights,

The current issue of “Columbia” magazine carries an article entitled, Listen My Son. The subtitle is, “What Fathers can learn from St. Benedict’s Rule.” I certainly recommend that you read that piece. Why? Because the material is worth reading. Secondly, because all but a fraction of you are from parishes that are now or have been served by Benedictine Monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. Your lives have been touched by priest/monks who themselves have been touched by this Rule. How many of you have had occasion to read all or part of the Rule? How many have even seen a copy of the Rule?

Well, this evening I have some copies of the Rule with me. Perhaps we can share those copies while I make a few general comments about the tone of the Rule and comment on a couple of specific passages.

St. Benedict (b.480 AD) was not an extremist. He was a moderate legislator who took what was called the Rule of the Master, toned that down and added his own material which he gleaned from personal experience. He calls the Rule, a “little Rule for beginners.” He wanted “nothing harsh or burdensome” in it. He put in it plenty for the strong and yet not too much to burden the weak. He wanted clothes kept clean and the tools of the monastery to be revered as though they were the vessels of the altar. St. Benedict had plenty of theory behind what he said but he had his “feet on the ground.” He believes that in faith the monk could see God in the flesh in material things. After all, Jesus was God in the flesh-God and a human being.

Let’s look at a couple of passages among many that illustrate the above idea. Note in Chapter 2, 2: The abbot is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery. In faith the abbot is the instrument of Christ for the monks. He is a kind of sacrament for the monks. Note Chapter 53, 7 “The guest is to be revered because he is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery.” Again, the guest is a sacrament for the monks, a visible sign of the presence of Jesus.

These are a few thoughts in a vast area. Perhaps at other meetings I could share some more.