A Guide to Living in the Truth by Casey Michael

Author:Casey, Michael [Casey, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780764865596
Publisher: Liguori Publications
Published: 2012-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

Patience is not mindless endurance. It is an acceptance, in union with the sufferings of Christ, of whatever pain life brings. It is not the quantum of suffering borne that sanctifies, but the willingness to relive in one’s own situation the form of life chosen by Jesus for himself. What matters most is our practical acceptance of the way of Christ.

Suffering is the real test of discipleship. Fair-weather followers are easy to find. It is only fidelity in hard times that proves the genuineness of love. This is why Benedict wants to know how novices handle difficulties and humiliations (RB 58.8). Bearing with misunderstanding and harshness not only witnesses to inner steadfastness: often it has the effect of concentrating effort and strengthening the soul. A young tree that is too protected from the wind never develops a sturdy root system, whereas the apparent callousness of leaving the seedling somewhat exposed makes for stability and growth in its maturity.

The means by which we gauge whether hardship is likely to lead to patience is the monk’s state of mind. It is not so much the magnitude of events or the degree of pain that is the measure of patience. True patience is marked by tranquillity in all circumstances. Here we have to avoid quantitative judgments. We know from experience that it is sometimes harder to remain calm in small matters. Major disasters bring to the surface our best qualities. It is the itch of petty pricklings that particularly provokes our rage. Many are the heroes of major battles who fall by ambush in unguarded moments. Patience is not to be deferred until a major calamity strikes; it is a disposition worth cultivating in all the minor reverses of daily interaction. One of the great characteristics of a genuine monk is interior quiet. An aggrieved mind will never attain contemplation.

The last phrase in verse 35 has been transmitted to us in several different versions. Here we see the development from Cassian’s Institutes to the Rule of the Master and thence to the Rule of Benedict. We also see a variant reading of the text, almost certainly not authentic, but found in many ancient manuscripts and illustrating the manner monks traditionally interpreted the verse.

Inst 4.39.2 in omnibus servet oboedientiae ansuetudinem patientiaeque constantiam

in all things he keeps obedience’s meekness and patience’s constancy

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.