What spirituality?
“under the guidance of the Gospel” (RB Prologue 21)
If we had to say it in two words:
A biblical and liturgical spirituality
The Word of God and the Liturgy
Two coordinates of monastic spirituality, the source of spiritual life in the nun is none other than the way of the Gospel. Every act of her life is a response to the Word of God, sinking roots in it. All nun mentality is forged in the Word, so that the harmony of the various elements of our spirituality is found in Scripture.
Since the prologue of the Rule, St. Benedict has the same God addressing the monk with Psalm · ·:
"Who is the man that desireth life and loveth to see good days"
St. Benedict conceives the monastic vocation as a personal appeal of God through His Word. For this reason, the nun's mission is to respond to God's invitation, but only who is watching can hear his voice: “What, dearest brethren, can be sweeter to us than this voice of the Lord inviting us? See, in His loving kindness, the Lord showeth us the way of life”. (RB Prol. 19,20)
Follow the Gospel is not only an invitation but a program of spiritual life, is the great principle that informs and educates our monastic life. So, not surprisingly, in the Rule of St. Benedict are numerous biblical references. The use of the word of God is not studied, but springs spontaneously from a spirit that has been soaked in it and expressed naturally in their own language. So the Word of God is the mirror in which the nun sees reflected her own story of salvation.
While this "Lectio Divina" the Word inspires the soul and the thought of the nun, add that makes it life, day after day, in the monastic liturgy. Bible and Liturgy are inseparable, only in the Bible the Liturgy discovers its message and only in the liturgy, the Bible is the source of life.
Only who is watching can hear voice of the Lord. In the Divine Office.
The Divine Office in the heart of the community
In of St. Benedict’s Rule are two short parallel formulas that describe the ideal of the nun, expressing the essence in a few words:
.“To prefer nothing to the love of Christ” (RB 4 and 72).
. “Let nothing be preferred to the Work of God” (RB 43)
The Divine Office is like the breath of the entire community. We could say that the Divine Office is for St. Benedict:
- The place where the community expresses itself and reinforces its identity as a living body of Christ.
- The place where the community is built on the solid rock that is Christ. The nun’s path is, actually, the way of
the liturgy, the celebration of the mystery of Christ, the personal and community incorporation to that mystery. The community, mindful of the Word, meeting in the Eucharist, held by the singing of psalms, allowed be itself "evangelize". Celebrating goes with the whole being in the Lord's Passover. There is a close union between conversion and Liturgy. The lovely search of God's is made throughout the day. Lauds and Vespers are the key moments of the day, the Office of the Readings or Morning Office have particular importance for their more contemplative nature; the little hours play an important role throughout the day. Chronological time turns Christological. "The Divine Office is a treasure of spirituality" (SC 84-85).
- The place where the community is.
The Divine Office in community is the first of its ministry. Beeing there, the community turns into an icon of the fraternal and prayerful Church. From there, for who passes the threshold raises the question.
"Lord, where do you leave?
Come and see it".
