An Unexciting Life

 Michael Casey, an Australian Benedictine monk, wrote a book about monastic life called "An Unexciting Life." He wrote about the prayer, work, and lifestyle of monks, which is pretty mundane and ordinary. They go  about their daily routine with a good deal of  time spent praying the psalms, working in the monastery, and doing Lectio Divina or spiritual reading. 

The Rule of Benedict contains 72 chapters devoted to ways to achieve peace and order, such as the Twelve Steps of Humility, the Tools of Good Works, Good Zeal, and the Order of the Psalms. The early monks prayed seven times a day but in modern times some monasteries have amended it to three or four times a day. It is a simple rule for a simple life.

That seems fitting for monks but why would it attract other people? Somehow lay women and men have found sustenance in the Rule of Benedict, associating themselves with monasteries by becoming "oblates." These people make an "oblation," a commitment to live the spirit of the Rule in their daily lives. They are looking for a guide that nourishes and quiets their soul in the midst of the chaos that surrounds them. It seems people have an inner desire for order and stillness.

This is especially true in this time of the pandemic that is wreaking havoc in our world, creating fear and loneliness. People need to find ways to alleviate the isolation they are experiencing. They can find consolation in the psalms of pleading for protection as well as the psalms of thanksgiving for God's mercy. They also discover that the regular routine of the prayer hours provides the order they seek. 

Yes, monks may lead an unexciting life, but it is a life of fulfillment and wholeness. Many find their life worthy to imitate.