Monastery of the Risen Christ
Retreat Center
LEARN AND PRAY
Reflection On Eastertide/Divine Mercy 2023, by Prior Daniel Manger,O.S.B.,Cam.
“Though left alone, He looses none dear to Him; for all are dear in the One who cannot be lost.” (St. Augustine, Confessions-citing Tobit).
Living as we do at this moment in salvation history amidst its developments, upheaval of great migrations happening to many who desire stability & hope the words of St. Augustine’s meditations are a perennial consolation. On this the patronal feast of our Monastery of the Risen Christ these words of wisdom continue to guide and enlighten our Camaldolese’s commitment to the People of God who frequent the monastery to listen, to pray, to weep and take joy in the comfort upon the mountain of Rumaldo on this the central coast of California.
Easter Vigil gifts us as a Re-membering one another to the reality that we are sisters and brothers, companions in one mystical body of the Christ Risen. He is Mercy personified, becoming all who are not lost in his memory. Jesus embodies with his risen being re-membered in the care he was given, even in the abuses he received , in the wounds he showed after rising from the dead. The One who cannot be lost always seeks to re-member each who are lost in the destitution of their broken hopes as was Thomas the Apostle, Mary Magdalene, Peter. Siting on the beach cooking fish and serving bread to the apostles on an early morning Jesus re-members them coming ashore at the sea of Galilee, or with Cleopas and his companion at Emmaeus. These actions are not actions of revenge or punishment for those who doubted or despaired of his life’s journey nor to the people of Israel or the gentiles. Divine Mercy embodied within Jesus the Christ, offers through our acting on us being vigilant in our various communities to sense the need re-membering others, who have despaired or suffering. Vigilance of heart renders mercy, the corporal and spiritual acts our faith responsibility toward our neighbors affirms. These reveal to the vigilant the Divine economy embodied within these activities of discipleship. Again a beckoning from the Heart of the savior experienced from within our own hearts. Re-membering others to God’s mercy through our vigilance is an carrying on of the reconciling and healing power of the Risen Christ. Divine Mercy Sunday can be an opportunity for us to reach out, reflect and review how we embody the corporal and spiritual actions of Divine Mercy, re-enjoining, creating a matrix of co-responsibility to all people, toward the creation itself, the earth upon which the blood of Christ fell upon the earth from the Cross, though left alone but One not lost, a Shepherd seeking all who are lost.
“Though left alone, He looses none dear to Him; for all are dear in the One who cannot be lost.” (St. Augustine, Confessions-citing Tobit).
Liturgical Schedule
Daily:
6:00am – Vigils
7:30 am – Lauds
11:00am – Eucharist (Mass)
5:30 pm – Silent Meditation/Adoration
6:00pm – Vespers
(9:00pm -Compline, prayed privately)
Lectio Divina
Listening as Communion and Transformation
Lectio Divina, sometimes called spiritual reading, is a principal practice of Benedictine spirituality, if not a spirituality in itself.
Lectio begins as a method of approaching scripture in order to Listen to the Word of God, seeking to encounter Christ. It begins as a method, but grows into contemplation and a full spirituality in and of itself, leading to a more constant awareness of God’s presence in every moment.
The traditional four-fold method of Lectio Divina:
Lectio: The actual reading and re-reading of the text, usually biblical, until certain words or phrases call forth our attention.
Meditatio: The rumination on key words, phrases or images, allowing them to evoke something within the reader.
Oratio: These words, phrases or key words eventually evoke or inspire prayer. We hear the word and respond in loving dialogue.
Contemplatio: Dialogue gives way to silent awareness of God’s presence. We simply abide with God as long as attracted by God’s grace.
Lectio is greatly enhanced when given sufficient time, and with greater biblical knowledge through study and familiarity with the Bible. In this way the continual awareness of God’s presence will develop.
Lectio has the potential to become prayer itself, in which true transformation of consciousness takes place. Unexpected manifestations of God can occur, silently calling from the midst of things to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Lectio challenges us to re-appropriate our own heritage of the Word of Scripture as a source of “real presence” and “real food” with which to be truly nourished.
Lectio Divina Resources
First of all, a good Bible, one that has some footnotes and commentary can be especially helpful. Be sure the type is large enough for you to read comfortably.
There are numerous books on Lectio Divina – the following are especially recommended:
-Holy Reading by Innocenzo Gargano, OSB Cam., translated by Walter Vitale, translation © 2007 Canterbury Press.
-Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina by Thelma Hall (Paperback – May 1988).
-Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures by M. Basil Pennington.
-Sacred Readings: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey (Paperback – April 1996). ·Lectio Divina brochure
For additional Lectio Divina Resources, SHOP our online bookstore.
Meditation
The monks and visitors share thirty minutes of daily, silent meditation prior to Vespers.
St. Romuald’s Rule
Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching for fish. The path you must follow is in the Psalms—never leave it.
If you have just come to the monastery, and in spite of your good will you cannot accomplish what you want, take every opportunity you can to sing the Psalms in your heart and to understand them with your mind.
And if your mind wanders as you read, do not give up; hurry back and apply your mind to the words once more.
Realize above all that you are in God’s presence, and stand there with the attitude of one who stands before the emperor.
Empty yourself completely and sit waiting, content with the grace of God, like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing but what his mother brings him.
Horarium
We receive many requests for the weekly readings from the monks’ daily office, The Liturgy of the Hours, and for our weekly schedule of psalms and canticles. We are pleased to share them here:
This week’s readings for the Liturgy of the Hours:
Click here to open the schedule for this week’s readings for the Liturgy of the Hours. (PDF format)
The weekly schedule for the psalms and canticles for the Liturgy of the Hours:
Click here to open the weekly schedule for the psalms and canticles for the Liturgy of the Hours. (PDF format)