The Expectations of Others
18/November/2007 Filed in:
JottingsWe are currently reading St Benedict's guidelines for eating and drinking (you can listen to today's chapter in the Prayer Box on our Vocation page). As always, I am struck by two things: the flexibility of the Rule as regards detail — eat and drink what is available, but in moderation and with an eye to frugality — and the concern that a general rule should never be allowed to make life difficult for those who are elderly or infirm. This kind of sanity is often lacking in "religious people", whose fervour sometimes outruns their commonsense. It can be even more lacking in those who have no religion themselves but are quite sure how those who claim to be Christian should behave. How often have you heard someone say, "As a Christian, you should/shouldn't . . ."? (It tends to be worse for nuns as the list of things we apparently should and shouldn't do in order to live up to the standards others expect of us is amazing, but that's another post.) In the meantime, please pray for the Sisters of Bethany in Boston diocese. Their convent was owned by the diocese, which is now bankrupt, and they have been given until 31 December to find a new home. A case of the sins of the Fathers being visited on the Sisters. Sad all round.