Subject: Biblical Contemplation from
the previous Blogspot of Bl Guerric of Igny.
His distinctive style has simplicity of clarity in Scriptural unity.
The COMMENT below, by William, plunges into the Lectio of the monastic meditation.
He says, "The "eternal eye" is for me the omnipresence of our loving Father, the appeal of Our Lord's gaze, the vision of the Spirit."
The COMMENT below, by William, plunges into the Lectio of the monastic meditation.
He says, "The "eternal eye" is for me the omnipresence of our loving Father, the appeal of Our Lord's gaze, the vision of the Spirit."
Two further Readings taken from Guerric’s Four Sermons on St. Benedict.
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11 July 2012 MEDITATION OF THE DAY
MAGNIFICAT: St. Benedict Patron of Europe
The Faith They Preached
YOU ... will be sanctified through faith and meekness. And your meekness will remain unblemished, if faith precedes it. But it must be a faith that is true and unfeigned; a faith not dead but living and vigorous. And not only living and vigorous, it must be the constant and fearless faith of Moses of which Saint Paul writes:
"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king." Kings are fierce but faith is fiercer, for it sees that their power has no foundation. Because of this it scorns all the folly of those who persecute it, secure in its own superiority. It is more ready and strong to endure to the end than their fury is to persecute ...
Faith is laid down as the groundwork and foundation upon which those everlasting goods we hope for are to rest. Without this faith it is impossible to please God, with it, it is impossible to displease him. "Your eyes, O Lord, are upon faith," said he who forever stood in your sight through faith. And indeed it is only right and fitting, in fact you owe it to us, that your eyes, Lord, should return the gaze of faith, because my eyes are always upon the Lord who replies in all sincerity: "You understand what faith is." ...
The faith which now stands before God anxious to behold his will, will then stand before him serenely to behold his glory. Be watchful, brethren, stand firm in your faith. The man whom faith arouses with fear is not able to slumber through negligence; the one whom faith establishes in hope cannot falter through lack of confidence. But let all that you do be done in love so that meekness is joined in faith until it may be said of each one of you: "The Lord sanctified him through his faith and meekness." May the Holy of Holies grant you this, who lives and reigns through endless ages. Amen.
BLESSED GUERRIC OF IGNY Blessed Guerric of Igny (+ 1157) was an abbot and a close friend of Saint Bernard.
From the Liturgical Sermons, Vol 2, Cistercian Fathers No. 32, Kalamzoo, MI, 1971
From the Liturgical Sermons, Vol 2, Cistercian Fathers No. 32, Kalamzoo, MI, 1971
Monastic Leactionary.
Alternative Reading Night Office.
Alternative Reading Night Office.
From a homily by Blessed Guerric of Igny (Sermo IV in festo S. Benedicti: PL 185,111-112)
Through his faith and gentleness the Lord sanctified him. These words were written of Moses, but they may today be applied not unfittingly, I think, to blessed Benedict. For since he was filled with the Spirit of all the saints, it is reasonable to believe that he had not a little of Moses' spirit. If the Lord took some of the spirit of Moses and put it upon the whole group of elders who assisted him and were chosen to share his ministry, how much more must he have put that spirit on a man who more truly and more spiritually carried out every ministry in its fullness? Moses led those who came forth from Egypt; Benedict was leader of those who forsook the world. Moses was a legislator: so was Benedict. Moses was minister only of the letter that kills; Benedict was minister of the spirit that gives life. Moses wrote much that is difficult to understand and inapplicable today or impossible to put into practice; Benedict is the author of a very sound rule of life that is clearly written and remarkable for its discretion. Finally, the leader of the children of Israel did not bring into the promised rest those he had led out of Egypt. Our leader, as the standard bearer of an army of monks, has gone before us by the straight way, the way stretching east, into the kingdom of heaven. It is therefore not unreasonable to think that he equaled in merit one whom he actually surpassed in ministry. Nor does it seem unfitting to apply to him what scripture says of Moses: Through his faith and gentleness the Lord sanctified him, especially since Benedict, who lived what he taught, teaches us those two virtues in particular.
Brethren, it is the command of our gentle and peace-making Master that we should be at peace with one another. Yet before that he says: Have salt in yourselves. He knows well that peaceful gentleness nourishes vices unless the severity of zeal has first sprinkled them with the sharp taste of salt, just as mild weather causes meat to grow wormy unless the heat of salt has dried it out. Therefore be at peace with one another, but let it be a peace that is seasoned with the salt of wisdom; try to acquire gentleness, but let it be a gentleness filled with the warmth of faith.
