Reflection for theVigil Feast of St. Benedict

We are all in a very hallowed place this evening. A place where our sisters have sung praises to God for over 100 years. It is a marvelous story to tell. This chapel has changed over the years but it continues to be a place where our God is always praised! 

The windows tell the stories of our Founders, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. They, too, are unique! Over the years, many people have spent time sitting in their presence. Judy Valente, one of our oblates and a well-known author, after spending time in this chapel, authored the book entitled 

“Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home and a Living Faith.” It is a beautiful and heartfelt book that has encouraged others to come and see! 

I would like to draw your attention this evening to the first window on the south side of this chapel. Many of you can not see it right now but I’m sure that most of you are familiar with it. As you remember, Sister Elizabeth took us on a wonderful journey with the windows on the North side of this chapel using Visio Divna, Maybe she will do the same for us on the south side. 

But our attention is on this one window where we see St. Benedict, whose feast we will celebrate tomorrow. At the top of the window, we see an angel with a staff, a symbol and a guide for Benedict. We see the Holy Spirit is whispering in his ear and he is holding the Holy Rule! 

What has always fascinated me was the word, “Obsculta.” That word is lined up perpendicular on the left side of the figure of Benedict. The Latin continues on the window,” Obsculta, O Fili Praecepta Magistri.” Michael Casey’s translation reads, “Bend the ear of your heart to receive gladly the advice of a kind Father and fulfill it in practice.” The word, Obsculta, therefore is a powerful word. It is extremely important for us. The word itself is symbolic. That is, it contains or holds within itself that for which it stands. And what does it stand for? What is made present through the reality of “Obsculta?” There is obedience, poverty, conversion of life, sacrifice, community, love, forgiveness, joy and more. The word, Obsculta means much more than hearing with one’s ears! 

This careful listening is a matter of the heart. It is a spiritual event! Our ancestors viewed the ear as a funnel which collected words and channeled them to the inner garden of the heart, not just the ears. It emphasizes surrendering self-will to Divine Wisdom, fostering a loving relationship with God and applying spiritual lessons to daily lives. 

I would like to end with a short sonnet about Benedict and his Rule: 

With nothing made too harsh or hard to bear, 
No treating or retreating with contempt, 
A little rule, a small obedience 
That sets aside, and tills the chosen ground, 
Fruitful humility, chosen innocence, 
A binding by which freedom might be found 
You call us all to live, and see good days, 
Centre in Christ and enter in his peace, 
To seek his Way amidst our many ways, 
Find blessedness in blessing, peace in praise, 
To clear and keep for Love a sacred space 
That we might be beginners in God’s grace. 

By Malcolm Guite