Minutes of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Benedictine Oblates of St. Meinrad Archabbey

March 28, 2010 

The meeting was held at the St. Gertrude Parish Center in Madeira.

The meeting was opened with the reciting of the St. Meinrad Oblate Mission Statement.

The Second Vespers of Sunday was prayed using the Liturgy of the Hours for Benedictine Oblates.

The Gospel for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Luke 19:28-40, was used for Lectio Divina. 

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. 

Old Business:

There was no old business.

New Business:

A Benedictine key chain was found at the February meeting.  Please contact Pat if this is yours.

The Oblate Day of Recollection in Dayton, Ohio is scheduled for May 15, 2010.  Fr. Vincent Tobin, OSB, will present “O Lord, Open my Lips.”  Topic:  Conversation with Our God and Savior, Friend and Brother.

Video Conference: Monastic Practices: “Work” by Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B.

Work is a monastic discipline.  We must figure out how to be happy doing this.  When work feels like a threat then we need to figure out what to do about it.  Br. John Mark shared his experience in healthcare where paper and documentation have become legalistic and the work takes precedence over time and energy (this of course happens in many professions).  It becomes a concern with bringing in money; it dehumanizes as we become just another cog – losing the balance and value of life.

We must think of work as good – to consider it as a value to be approached.  Emphasis should be on balance.  St. Benedict tells us that if a job is too large, recruit others and not be too proud to ask for help. 

The Desert Fathers tell us to rise immediately to prayer as it is so easy to shave time from prayer.  The ideal is to drop everything and go pray - to keep the balance.  Yet little by little we neglect duty.  Therefore, we must strive to get work in better control.

A good monk/Christian keeps work in balance.  If out of balance then there is a need to simplify.

Joan Chittister asks, “Work to live or live to work?”  We must ask ourselves what are our priorities in life.  Priority being the wife, child…..

Joan Chittister reminds us to be sure that one part of life is not warring in another part. A healthy attitude to work is a witness to find work enabling.  It is important to want the work to make us feel human.

Prayer is our breath and we must not cut it out of our lives.  If we do, it will cut off our relationship with God.  Br. John Mark’s high school teacher would say “If feeling distant from God – who moved?”

Research on longevity shows that job satisfaction is a major predictor of how long you will live. It is a better predictor than how long you smoked.

It is important to see all work as a means of how we find God.  Motive and approach to work is a way to serve God; it is the means for fulfilling God’s plan.  Although work should sustain us - should feed our body and make us proud, our approach to work should be with the attitude of poverty  – everything we receive are fruits of God and His Kingdom – it is not about “me” but about God.  Self esteem built on what God has done for me. 

Another value of work is that it is co-creative – between self and God.  Our chance to participate with God.  Every bit of work sees God enjoined with human beings to be creative.  Work with God’s creations and building on this - substances for others.

An additional value is that work emphasizes stewardship. We must use gifts/talents well and responsibly.  Use them to build up the Kingdom.  St. Benedict says we must use these gifts as we are accountable – our work must reflect this.

Work restores God’s order.  Joan Chittister tells us that God, through life, takes back the planet one inch until the Garden of Eden grows green again.  Your work should bring value to God’s creation.

Monastic work brings a sense of purpose. The purpose is to bring meaning to our life.  It is important to see manual labor as a great dignity as it serves other.

Br. John Mark made the following recommendations for a healthy approach to work:

1)     Keep track of hours working.

2)     Ask yourself are you working to live or living to work.

3)     What are you going to ask yourself at the end of your life:

I wished I have spent more time at the office

I wished I had spent more time with family

I wished I had spent more time with friends

4)     Monitor how often you use the phrase “I have to do this…”  Feeling like you have to rather than having a choice is an indicator of loss of balance.  Remind oneself that when you choose – it can be replaced.

5)     Learn to say No – it is not un-Christian to say no.

6)     Whatever work you do see it as building on God’s creation – a co-work with God.

7)     Learn a manual trade, such as pottery or gardening.  It is gratifying to work with one’s hands and learn about creation.

8)     Think about becoming a monk or a nun.

God gave us gifts and responsibilities but we must keep them in balance.  Service is not about being miserable.  It is important to find something you enjoy.

The meeting closed at 3:45 p.m. with the praying of the Glory Be.

The next meeting is April 25, 2010 at St. Gertrude Parish Center.