General Chat

Good morning :-)

St. Benedict's rule

When Benedictines live in community, they are distinctive by what they wear. Each part of their habit has great significance

The men wear a tunic, a long and loose garment covering the body from the shoulders to the ankles. It symbolizes the simplicity, poverty, and humility of the monastic life.

There is also a scapular which is a rectangular piece of cloth that hangs from the shoulders to the knees on both sides of the body. It symbolizes the yoke of Christ, the burden of obedience, and the protection of the Holy Spirit. The scapular may be plain or decorated with a cross or other emblem.

A cincture is a rope or a cord that is tied around the waist to secure the tunic and the scapular. It symbolizes the chastity, self-discipline, and readiness for service of the monastic life.

The hood is a piece of cloth that covers the head and the neck and may be pulled over the face. It symbolizes the solitude, silence, and contemplation of the monastic life. The hood may be worn up or down, depending on the occasion and the weather.

St Benedict’s prayer continues

Not to give way to anger. Not to foster a desire for revenge. Not to entertain deceit in the heart. Not to make a false peace. Not to forsake charity. Not to swear, lest I swear falsely. To speak the truth with heart and tongue. Not to return evil for evil. To do no injury: yea, even to bear patiently any injury done to me. To love my enemies. Not to curse those who curse me, but rather to bless them. To bear persecution for justice's sake.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

St. Benedict's Rule

Those who wish to become a Benedictine – either as a monk or a nun, will go through a time of learning and listening. It is a lengthy process to help the person to discern their calling and grow closer to God.

Not all Benedictines live in monasteries or communities. Yesterday, we heard about Oblates. Oblates desire to live as a monk in the world, seeking God by striving to become holy in their everyday life, in their family, and in their workplace. Oblates are associated with a monastic community, offering their lives to God through prayer and service. Faithfully participating in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, Oblates promise to practice a prayerful life in their particular denomination.

St Benedict’s prayer continues

Not to kill. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honour all persons. Not to do to another what I would not wish done to myself. To chastise the body. Not to seek after pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To hold myself aloof from worldly ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



St. Benedict’s Rule

What is there about the monastic life that attracts people, especially in today’s world? How does it work? How do they function? What happens? Just…..why? So many questions…….

Some people feel called to look deeper and more prayerfully into the scriptures. Some yearn for a life of simplicity, obedience and stability. Some want to embrace life within a community. Many, many reasons why people want to take up this way of life and often it is a continuing process of listening and responding to God’s call.

First of all, one becomes an Oblate. Benedictine Oblates are ordinary people: men and women, married and single, lay and ordained; Catholic and non-Catholic Christians; retired, working in the home and the community.

These people must be upright and at least 21 years old.
They must provide proof of baptism and obtain a letter of recommendation from their priest or spiritual director.
There will be an investiture ceremony where they will receive a small religious habit. They become an oblate candidate for a year, and they will study under a Director of Oblates.

Prayer of St. Benedict – an extract
O Lord, I place myself in your hands and dedicate myself to you. I pledge myself to do your will in all things: To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, in church, we heard a little about the Rule of St. Benedict - it's an interesting topic.

We are all used to seeing vicars, but it’s not so often that we see a monk – except on the TV. Interestingly enough, many men and women still commit themselves to lead this sort of life – the monastic life. It is said that there are around 10,000 Benedictines around the world today. There are both Roman Catholic and Anglican Orders of Benedictines and the lifestyle is fascinating.

Seeking Faith
Gracious and Holy Father,
give us the wisdom to discover You,
the intelligence to understand You,
the diligence to seek after You,
the patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
a heart to meditate upon You,
and a life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Collect (special prayer) for today:

O God, you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,
that we, running the way of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus is continuing to explain that He is the bread of life.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


SUMMER HOLIDAYS

How we holiday with our families has changed radically over the last 40 years. For those of us privileged to be able to travel today, adventures unheard of 40 years ago are within our grasp at the press of a computer key: winter holidays, villa holidays, boutique hotel holidays, foreign city breaks, cruises, ski trips, scuba trips, flights to far-flung places with strange-sounding names.

So what’s next? It’s not easy to predict how we’ll be holidaying with our families 40 years from now. Driverless cars taking us to beaches covered by weather-proof glass domes? Zooming away to other planets?

However, some things haven’t changed for 40 years, nor will they change… the lasting effects of a good holiday, the anticipation of a trip to come, the joy of spending time with people you love away from the routine and worries of everyday life, and the suitcases of lasting memories we bring home with us.

Oh Lord, guide us to demonstrate love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, and kindness during this summer holiday season. Thank you for holidays. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

In the 1970’s, the holiday of choice was still the British seaside and 40 million of us headed to a British beach in 1975. Many of us were now swapping train travel for our own cars, thanks to Dr Beeching who in the 1960s had closed many of the rail branch lines to seaside towns. Car ownership gave us all a freedom never before enjoyed and led to a big increase in camping and caravan holidays
Travelling by plane was a special treat and many of us dressed up in our Sunday best for the privilege. We were learning to love abroad.

By 1979, for the first time in history, Britons spent more on overseas holidays than on holidays at home. For £50 you could spend a week in glamorous Majorca with hotel bedrooms that had balconies and –I unheard-of luxury – ensuite bathrooms! Travel entrepreneurs were developing mass-market tourism abroad on an unprecedented scale.

Was anyone else ever in a car with a roof rack which fell off when the brakes were applied??

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of summertime, the days of light, warmth, and leisure. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


SUMMER HOLIDAYS

It was Lancashire cotton workers in the 1870s who helped develop a genuine working-class seaside holiday system. They saved all year to convert the traditional (unpaid) one-week Wakes holidays into seaside breaks, and in doing so helped change the character of many northern seaside resorts. Wakes Weeks when factories closed were still pretty strong in the north in the 1970s

The right to holiday leave became a legal right for workers in 1939, and by 1975 most workers had two weeks or more paid holiday. (New Year’s Day was made a Bank Holiday in Britain in 1974 and the first Monday in May a Bank Holiday in 1978.)

Thank You, Lord, for the times of refreshment and opportunities to go away on a holiday, so that we may be renewed in body, soul, and spirit. Amen

Cx :-)

Hello all

It's a joy to see and hear the children playing happily, enjoying their Summer school break.

Here's to a season of gratitude, kindness and the simple pleasures of life. May your Summer be blessed with love, laughter and many good things.

Sending a gentle hug for all in need today.

Good morning :-)

SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Apart from religious festivals, the changing seasons of the agricultural year provided times when less work was required (for example, in winter), and the period after harvest in late August and early September was traditionally a time of celebration.

It wasn’t until 1841 that a one-day excursion to a temperance meeting (from Leicester to Loughborough on a chartered train) was organised and sold at a shilling a head. This earned former Baptist preacher Thomas Cook the inventor of the package tour.

It was the Victorians who created an official holiday for workers when they introduced the August Bank Holiday Act of 1873.

Oh Lord, during this summer holiday, guide us to demonstrate love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, and kindness. Teach us self-control. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

The summer holidays are here again, and many folk may be looking forward to going abroad or on a day trip away for a change of scene.

Those who are not having a holiday may be feeling rather sad at what they are missing; but spare a thought for our ancestors who had very few holidays and had to work six days a week almost all year round.

Our word ‘holiday’ comes from the medieval Holy Days that were held to mark important religious festivals in the church calendar. Then, everyone would participate in the religious festival, and no work would be done on that particular day.

Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday were the three most important holy days during the medieval period. However, a local saints day might be an important event locally.

Lord God, Creator of all things, guide our steps and strengthen our hearts during these months of summer and vacation days. Grant us refreshment of mind and body. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A Summer Blessing
May you walk with God
This summer
In whatever you do
Wherever you go

Walking with God means...
Walking with honesty
And with courage,
Walking with love
And respect
And concern for the feelings of others

May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation

Talking with God means...
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed

May you talk with God
Every day. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia for the "Remember when?"
postings. I can remember when daily life seemed to have been so much simpler way back then.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
(Psalm 118 v 24) NIV bible.

Happy Sunday blessings everyone.

Good morning :-)


Sunday - The Lord's Day

This was, traditionally, the day that families spent time together. The shops were closed, and only essential services remained open. Many families went to church and returned home to share lunch together around a table and then to relax and enjoy each other’s company during the rest of the day with various activities.

Lord, as Christians, help us to remember that this is a day of celebration, of worship to a living Lord who holds heaven out to us and proclaims life over death. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Remember when....?

Saturday - Cooking Day

How times have changed. So many household chores are now much easier and, of course, are often shared with the man of the house. In the old days, many men worked long hours in factories and mines and returned home exhausted. Understandably, women needed some sort of routine to keep the home running as smoothly as possible.

Help me, my Saviour, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with the clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Remember when?

Friday - Shopping Day

O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Remember when?


Thursday - Cleaning Day

Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Amen.

Cx :-)

My goodness, Cynthia, your son did well. To carry on for 75 miles and raise so much money is no mean achievement. Congratulations to him.

Amen to the prayers you and kandj have posted. I can think of nothing worse than losing a child and to do so in such terrible circumstances must be beyond devastating. I will be holding in my thoughts all the families that have been affected and the community that are supporting them.

Hello all

Let us pray for the families in Southport and for the Community as they come to terms with the tragic loss of the young children. Amen.

Good morning :-)

What horrendous news from Southport this week. Praying for those grieving families

Lord, we pray for:

The young victims who had simply gone out to have fun: May they rest in your eternal love.

Their parents, families and all who mourn; immerse them in your love and lead them through this darkness into your arms and light.

For those who are critically injured; wrap your healing arms around them and return them to health.

For those who attended the scene; may they be given peace.

For those who offer comfort, both the words they use and all that's left unspoken; fill each heart with love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, whose own suffering brought us life, here and for eternity.
Amen.


and for today:

Remember......? Wednesday - Mending Day

O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others. Amen.

Cx :-)