Monks on the Run
A reflection on the Rule of St Benedict
Although monks take a vow of stability, spiritually St Benedict thinks that we all need to be spiritually on the move.
Summer is often a time of movement and change in monasteries. At the end of June our Juniors returned from Rome and for both August will be of special significance in their monastic lives. Br Augustine is to take his Solemn Vows (life vows) and Br Alistair will be ordained to the Diaconate.
When a man enters the monastery, St Benedict asks that we reflect on one question of the novice monk “Is he truly seeking God.” From that Latin word for ‘seeking’ quaerit we get the word quest. Is he is a seeker? Is he on a journey to God, is he on a quest? But it is not just to the new arrivals that Benedict puts this question. He concludes his Rule with a question to each and every monk: “Are you hastening to your heavenly home?” Do we know where we are heading?
Benedict’s questions are of course, not just for the monk but for all who want be disciples of Jesus. Before the first disciples were ever called Christians they were called followers of “The Way:” Followers of Christ, whom Boethius says “is the journey and the journey’s end.”
There is a strange paradox in Benedict’s Rule. He speaks very critically of wandering monks – gyrovagues – those constantly on the move and who will never settle down (and there have always been a few!)
But his Rule is full of metaphors of speed and movement. The door-keeper (whose old age keeps him from roaming about) is still to answer the door to the poor man’s cry in the quickest possible way. He is to be like ninety year-old Abraham sitting at the Oak of Mamre, at the hottest part of the day, getting up and running to the three strangers that come in need. Never mind the arthritis and the zimmer frame!
Not only the door-keeper. The cellarer must provide food for the monks without delay, the Abbot must act will all speed so as not to lose a single sheep. While our Lord says “Walk while you have the light of life”, Benedict dares to say “Run!” Walking simply isn’t enough for him. But he is talking about a promptness of the heart, a readiness and willingness to respond to others quickly and with a joyful heart. Monks must hasten with good works , and at the end of the path run with the delight of love .
Why should we run? Because God has run towards us. We believe in the Incarnation, that God has journeyed towards us. At each office we pray “God make haste to help us.” Run again towards us, we pray. The monastic life is a response to Christ, who calls us and guides us by his Gospel.
Monks, says St Benedict are to run together to the Divine office with the utmost speed and encourage the others to do so. Monks are to run together and not leave anybody behind.
But this is not something just for monks. We all of us need to reflect on whether we are spiritually agile, whether we are quick and responsive towards the other, whether we can and do travel together, supporting each other in our weaknesses.
We are the pilgrim people of God. We are on a journey, we are on the way, and we on the way with Christ who we first spotted running towards us.
“Go forward holding on your way,” said the English Mystic Walter Hilton, “and ever think and say with yourself that you would rather be at Jerusalem.”
In his last days he lay on his bed repeating the name of Christ in the English tongue, for its single syllable made it easier to utter. 'Festinate', he would say, 'Festinate' for Crist luve. Hasten for Christ’s love.
Saint Serapion, a fourth century Egyptian desert father once travelled on a pilgrimage to Rome. He heard of a celebrated ascetic nun who lived in one small room, never going out. He was sceptical of her way of life because he was a great wanderer. So he called on her and asked "Why are you sitting here?" To this she replied: "I am not sitting, I am on a journey."
