Benedictine Oblate Newsletter July 2021

Saint Benedict’s Abbey 1020 North Second Street Atchison, KS. 66002

PRISON OBLATE NEWSLETTER JULY 2021

“And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them”

(Acts of The Apostles 2:3)

Salvete, fratres! This first article is given to us by Fr. James Jackson, FSSP. He is also a Benedictine Oblate and a priest at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. When I heard this sermon, I was compelled to get a copy and, thankfully, he obliged. He writes: “And there appeared to them parted tongues as if they were of fire. Fire destroys things. But what about that phrase we say of a man that he is on fire? What does that mean? We mean it in three different ways, for one kind of fire brings complete destruction, another is fake and brings a different kind of destruction, and the other is real, but does not destroy in the same sense as the first two. The first kind of fire could have been seen in Nuremberg, Germany, in the mid 1930’s, with the torchlight ceremonies provided by the National Socialists. The purpose of the ceremonies was to fire up the German people, and getting them ready for total war, for the destruction of other people who were deemed unfit to live. But those fires at Nuremberg, like a forest fire that suddenly changes direction, eventually destroyed those who kindled it. Another example would be that of Hecuba, Queen of Troy, who dreamt she gave birth to a fire-brand (torch). The son she bore was Paris – a reckless, foolish young man, who, because of his treachery and lawless love brought ruin and destruction on his country, the kingdom of Troy, which was burnt to the ground. The second kind of fire could have been seen at a farm in Woodstock, NY, in the 1960’s, where there was a fire kindled for peace and good will in the world, but it turned out to be fake, because it was dependant not on the human heart or grace, but on electronic music, fueled by sexual revolt and plenty of drugs. It too was destructive, not in the same sense that Paris destroyed Troy, but in the sense that it extinguished self-sacrifice, and left the participants burning with self-pleasures. These first two kinds of fire are still burning, whether enkindled in a radical Islamic mosque, or the latest venue of a rock concert. Now the third kind of fire also destroys, but in a very different sense than the first two. It is expressed well in the last instruction of Moses to the Hebrews, Deut. 4.23 “Beware, lest thou ever forget the Covenant of the Lord thy God which he hath made with thee…because the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Moses had seen that fire on Mt. Sinai, in a burning bush. The flames enveloped the bush, but they did not destroy it. The bush was on fire, but it was not burnt. So if the bush was not burnt, then what was burnt? The answer lies in the symbol of the bush and the fire, which was a symbol of what was to happen at Pentecost. The fire of the Holy Ghost is such that there is no water that can extinguish it. The more the world, the flesh and the devil tries, the higher that flame burns. And what does He, the third person of the Holy Trinity burn away? Blessed Robert Southwell expressed it well in a little poem he wrote before his martyrdom: My faultless breast the furnace is; The fuel, wounding thorns. Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke; The ashes, shames and scorns. The fuel Justice layeth on; And Mercy blows the coals. The metal in this furnace wrought; Are men’s defiled souls. This is a fire which, as with gold, makes what is good, better, and devours sin like a pile of old leaves burning on a dry autumn day. The fire of the Holy Ghost does not consume those afflicted with sin, but burns away their iniquities. Alas, there are so many who do not wish to be enkindled with this fire, for the glory of the Kingdom of God. Instead, we are cautious with the Holy Ghost, we only want to put out our hands a little, and warm ourselves. But we should not be cautious; the fire of God the Holy Ghost will burn only that which is base and unworthy in us, that selfishness, that worldliness, that pride of human spirit. We should want to be purged, like Thomas a Kempis said in The Imitation of Christ: ‘I offer to thee Lord, all the sins and offences which I have ever committed since the day when I could first sin even to this hour, that thou wouldest burn and consume them with the fire of thy charity.’” Gratias ago tibi, pater! (Thank you, father!)

May God and Mary be with you! Pax.

Oratio Devota

(said “Oar-AH-tsee-oh / Day-voh-tah”) is where we take a little Latin, the ancient and sacred language of Holy Mother Church, and apply it to our daily lives. This month’s phrase is:

“Sustineat poenam disciplinam miserius dolore dolores”

(said: Soos-tin-ey-aht / pay-nahm / dis-chi-plee-nahm / mee-sehr-ee-oos / doh-lohr-ay / doh-lohr-ays.)

This gem has many folks credited with being its author. Research from the “InterGoogle” (made up term for Internet and Google that chafes my kids every time I say it…) reveals Jim Rohn, a former businessman now deceased; C.S. Lewis from his writing “The Problem Of Pain”; Anthony Robbins is credited for saying this; as well as various exercise gurus and trainers. I suspect that this wisdom is much, much older. It renders to “Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pains of regret.” To me, after reading a lot of his writings, this smacks of St. Augustine of Hippo! Now, the “InterGoogle” won’t sign off on that, but my gut says otherwise. Regardless of who gets the credit for crafting this phrase initially, it directly applies to all of us Oblates and, arguably, every other human on the planet. The article from Pope Benedict XVI on Saint Benedict from the writings of Pope St. Gregory the Great demonstrates to all Benedictine Oblates all of the discipline challenges that St. Benedict went through to quiet his spirit so that he could be of service to the rest of the world and found Western Monasticism. Without St. Benedict’s discipline, we, his “children” would not exist. How is your discipline these days? Are you in control and disciplined or are you more reactionary and self-indulgent? Do you find yourself in those pitfalls set by the enemy or do you respond when experiencing these challenges. To report on myself, the answer is “mixed” as there are some times when I believe I respond appropriately and the others, well, to say “I fall short” is to say “superglue is somewhat adhesive…” Please recall that due to the pain inflicted from the shoulder injury, I gave myself a “D-” on my own behavior (laugh now…I don’t mind!) Sometimes, it seems to be a constant struggle to keep disciplined and not suffer the pangs of regret. Upon reflection at Compline the pangs of regret are most acute, as that is when I “replay the tape” in my head. “I could have done that differently” comes to mind. Perhaps the fact that we experience that sort of thing at Compline is a good thing, signaling us that we are on the right path to discipline. For me in my impatience, my thoughts are “why can’t I just be disciplined all the time?” I am confident I can’t be the only Oblate who thinks this. Upon further reflection, though, it is all part of our earthly struggle on our way to work out our salvation and sanctification. Suffering is necessary for our salvation and without that suffering, we are deprived of the grace that comes with that suffering. My parish administrator has an excellent remedy for frustration with suffering. She says whenever you are experiencing strife or ordered to do something that requires “extra discipline” say to God “okay, I’ll suffer this, but, I want you to release a hundred souls from purgatory for my suffering.” I thought that was a great response and I have heard her advise parishioners in this manner, one of whom is on parole and has to call daily for check-ins. I have been applying this to the past 15 months with the COVID as well as the pain of injury to the shoulder. I can only hope that I have helped some of those Holy Souls in Purgatory, as I am sure if I make it to Purgatory, I will need that when my time is up... So my sisters and brothers, you may consider doing this the next time you are experiencing some kind of trial or strife. I have found this to be helpful and you may agree with me, as I have been there and am familiar with the nuances of the prison/prisoner environment. May God bless and keep all of you and may you advance positively in your quest for discipline. You are all in my prayers during the Office.

Pax + Domini sit + semper nobis+cum!

Book of the month:

The Problem of Pain by: C.S. Lewis ISBN: 9780006245674

This book considers the question “If God is good and all knowing, why does he allow suffering?”

Prayer Intentions and Requests:

For all of our disciplines, sufferings, and challenges which sanctify us.

For continued access to the sacraments of Holy Mother Church.

For the intentions of our Holy Father.

For the healing of all wounds in Holy Mother Church.

For the complete healing of Bob Parlet.

Important Dates in July 2021:

1-The Precious Blood of Our Lord; 2-Sts. Processus & Martinian and The Visitation of the BVM; 3-St. Irenaeus; 5-St. Anthony Mary Zaccariah; 7-Sts. Cyril & Methodius; 8-St. Elizabeth of Portugal; 10-Seven Holy Brothers & Sts. Rufina & Secunda; 11-St. Benedict; 12-St. John Gaulbert; 14-St. Bonaventure; 15-St. Heinrich II; 16-Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; 17-St. Alexis; 19-St. Vincent de Paul; 20-St. Jerome Emiliani; 21-St. Laurence di Brindisi; 22-St. Mary Magdalene; 23-Sts. Liborius & Apollinaris; 24-St. Christina; 25-St. James, the Greater; 26-St. Anne, Mother of the BVM; 27-St. Pantaleon; 28-Sts. Nazarius, Celsus, Victor I, & Innocent I; 29-St. Martha and Sts. Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus & Beatrice; 30-Sts. Abdon & Sennen; 31-St. Ignatius Loyola.

Do you have questions or comments about the Prison Oblate Program? Write to: Fr. Matthew Habiger, OSB, Director of Prison Oblates, St. Benedict’s Abbey, 1020 North Second Street, Atchison, KS. 66002. Share this newsletter with a friend, prayer partner, or fellow parishioner, wherever you may be located. If you wish to contribute financially to this ministry, make your check or money order payable to: Oblates In Prison and mail it to Fr. Matthew at the address above. For those of you who already contribute, THANK YOU! We cannot do this without you.