God's mercy is greater than any sin...any sin.
Any sin. Yes, even that.
Embrace the mercy of God.
Then begin again. If you stumble, then begin again.
He understands.
BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY
St Benedict's Way: A Practical Guide
The famous Rule of Saint Benedict
Benedictine Spirituality
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. Benedict’s wisdom and commentary has provided the foundation for Benedictine communities throughout the centuries, and continues to influence many of us in the community of St. Paul’s. Benedict’s Rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life.
Here are some of the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality:
Grounded in Listening
For Benedict, the spiritual life was about listening to God—through prayer, Scriptures, the depths of our own experience, through listening to others in our community and the wider church.
Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective
For Benedict, prayer had a particular structure and process. Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. These prayers, which included the saying or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our Daily Office.
Lectio Divina
Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed.
Rooted in Stability
Benedictine monks and nuns made a commitment to living in a specific location, within a specific community, as the context for their spiritual growth and development. The meaning of stability in our day and time refers to staying rooted where we are—in relationship with ourselves and with others, in order to grow in the spiritual life.
Conversion of Life
By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life.
Balance
Benedictines believe that the Christian life is best lived not through the extremes of any harsh religious asceticism but in the daily context of good, balanced life in community. No one thing—prayer, work, rest, study—was to be done in the extreme. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life.
Prayer and Work. Ora et Labora
CLICK THESE LINKS
READ THE RULE OF BENEDICT
From St Meinrad Archabbey and this is for general information purposes only as each monastery or abbey has its own oblate community
How do I pray?
First, acknowledge to God that you need Him in your life. That you can't manage alone. Say the prayer of the sinner in the Temple:
And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying:
"O God, be merciful to me a sinner."
-Gospel of St Luke 18:13
Now that you know where you stand before God -- a sinful person in need of His mercy....get the conversation rolling.
Talk to Him.
Express your sorrow for offending His love for you. Make a commitment to do better.
His mercy is limitless. His love is unconditional. He knows your darkness. He wants to bring you into the Light.
So, surrender to Him. Let Him in.
If you stumble and fall He will lift you up. Together, you are a team moving towards heaven and along the way you'll do some amazing things to make people and the world a little better.
Our goal...our end....nothing other than Heaven. Life forever in bliss with God.
LOTS OF PRAYERS HERE
SISTER HILDA SCOTT, OSB
speaks on Benedictine spirituality.
Sister Hilda is a Benedictine nun from Australia
PRAYER IS OUR BEST WEAPON AND STRENGTH
Prayer is your only strength. In prayer we gather the strength to conquer difficulties, to accomplish good works, to increase perfection of our virtue, to achieve total union with God, and this is our true life. Prayer is a Christian's defence. He must keep this weapon in hand at all times.
The Very Rev Peter Semenenko, C.R. (1814-1886)
Superior General
Co-founder, Congregation of The Resurrection CLICK
We're praying for you. Every day.
This is our ministry.
What is our Parish Prayer Apostolate?
An apostolate is a good work. It is faith in action. It is the doing of believing. Our prayer apostolate is what we do as a parish family. All parish members are asked to commit to praying everyday -- several times every day -- for the needs of others especially those persons who have asked for our prayers.
We pray for you. We pray every day for the sick, the dying, the suffering, the lonely, the addicted, the abandoned and the marginalised, anyone who is hurting and most in need of prayer. We pray for those in spiritual or physical danger. We pray for the pope, our archbishop and the church everywhere, especially where it is persecuted.
We pray for countries and communities throughout the world. All of this we do everyday, several times a day. And on Sunday we gather as a family and pray collectively for the same intentions. Other members are committed to saying the rosary for those in need of prayers or for those who have asked for our prayers. Others will fast on a day during the week for those who need or ask for our prayers. God hears our prayers -- ours and yours and together we ask for God's abundant healing and blessing.
"Pray for me, please..."
Many people have asked our little community to pray for them and for their needs and intentions. This we do. Everyday. Several times a day.
If you have a need or prayer intention please let us know. We will pray for you. We also have priests who will remember you in their daily Mass.
Even if you don't contact us we still pray for you.
We may not know you or your burden but God does.
No matter your need or burden you can live your day knowing that there is small Catholic community in Bimini Bahamas lifting you and your intentions
up to God everyday and doing it several times every day.
Use our online prayer intention form on the
PRAY WITH US page.