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St David

Daffodils and leeks a-plenty to celebrate St David's day! Much as I love Wales, I have always found Celtic monasticism a little hard to take, especially the "aquatic" variety associated with David himself. There is something dourly athletic about it all, reminiscent of the Desert Fathers at their least approachable. If one were to take the current sections of RB at face value, one would have to admit something of the same in Benedict. Happily, I do not know of any monasteries where corporal punishment is still practised, nor do I think many communities adhere to the details of his prescriptions regarding warm baths or sleeping arrangements. But chopping and changing to suit oneself is dangerous. Possessiveness, whether of books, burgundy or basset hounds, can lead to serious problems in the common life; while excommunication at the social rather than ecclesiastical level is still an ever-present possibility. (Our latest podcast will be posted on Sunday evening, but you can now listen to previous podcasts on our archive page.)