Reflections
A Lifelong Love of Learning
As a new school year begins, reflect on the Benedictine love of learning as a lifelong path to God.
For more than 53 years of my life, first as a student, then as a teacher and later an administrator, August was the time to get ready to go back to school. There was always anticipation, an eagerness to start over, to learn new things.
In the Benedictine tradition, the love of learning is more than the pursuit of knowledge; it is a way of seeking God in all things. Saint Benedict encouraged his followers to live with attentive minds and open hearts, always ready to learn from Scripture, community, work, and daily experience. The Benedictine commitment to study grows from humility, the recognition that there is always more to discover about God, ourselves, and the world around us.
At its best, this love of learning embraces the full range of the liberal arts, opening our minds and hearts to all of God’s creation. However, in this short reflection I want to focus more specifically on literature.
Today, research affirms the wisdom of reading. Studies suggest that people who regularly read novels and literary fiction are able to develop a greater capacity for empathy and compassion because stories invite us to enter another person’s experience, see through unfamiliar eyes, and understand lives often very different from our own. Reading novels exercises what researchers call “perspective-taking,” the ability to recognize and have a greater understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others.
To listen deeply to a story, a text, or another person is a spiritual practice.
For Benedictines, this is no surprise. To listen deeply to a story, a text, or another person is a spiritual practice. The love of learning teaches us not only to know more, but to love more fully. It invites us to remain curious, to listen deeply, and to welcome wisdom wherever it may be found. In the spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict, learning is not an achievement to possess but a lifelong journey that shapes us into becoming more compassionate, attentive, and faithful.
As millions of students and teachers go back to school this month, we encourage you to think of ways you might continue to grow in knowledge and understanding. At Sophia we are always ready to welcome you to retreats and programs that increase your awareness of God and God’s people. Be assured of our prayers for all children and teachers and learners this month. May this year be safe and blessed. And may your summer reading be pure joy!
