KANSAS MONKS
Obl ates Abbot provides ‘tools’ for a good Lent
Each Lent Abbot Barnabas selects a book for all the monks to read during Lent. We then meet every Tuesday evening to discuss certain chapters of the book. One of the monks, a volunteer, leads the discussion. This Lent the Abbot selected Mark Braaten’s book, Prayer as Joy, Prayer as Struggle. In 11 short chapters the Rev. Braaten truly brought various aspects of prayer to life. Each chapter is entitled with some phase of what prayer might be at any given time for each person. Some of the titles of the chapters might whet your appetite to buy the book—“Prayer as Thanksgiving,” “Prayer as Request,” “Prayer as Hope,” “Prayer as Listening.” Mark Braaten is the senior pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Tyler, Tex., and you can buy his book at a book store or directly from Liturgical Press in Collegville, Minn., at its Web site, www.litpress. org. I especially relished the Chapter on “Prayer as Listening.” I have been reflecting on the various prayers that are proper to each celebration of Mass Brother Martin Burkhard such as “Opening Prayer,” “Prayer over the Gifts” and “Prayer after Communion.” I would like to take some examples from the prayer after Communion and the strong challenge leveled by that prayer. At the end of every Mass we are directed to go on our way and live out what we have just celebrated. It is so easy to sit back and think that something is over and we now return to our everyday life. On the contrary, what we celebrate in daily or Sunday Mass must become a reality in our lives of faith. What first struck me in one of the prayers after Communion was the phrase “May we become what we have received.” In some way or other I have tried to recall this at the end of every Mass since that time. When we truly listen we hear things that may well change our way of thinking and acting.
Some other phrases that offer challenges follow: “Help us to live by your words”; “May these mysteries give us a new purpose”; “May the new life given us increase our love and keep us in the joy of your kingdom”; “May your celebration have an effect in our lives”; “By these mysteries help our faith grow to maturity.” It seems to me that any Brother John Peto one of the above challenges us Director of Oblates greatly as Christians. I firmly believe that our faith will only become real when we find it a daily challenge. Each of us is offered many opportunities throughout the day to become more alive in our great love of Jesus. I would like to add a couple of notes about oblates. This message in each issue of Kansas Monks is my principal way of keeping in contact with the many oblates of the abbey. The high cost of postage prohibits sending a separate newsletter to every oblate. I do however send a short note to those oblates who try to attend meetings on a regular basis. If you would like to be added to that list please let me know. The biannual convention for oblate directors and two oblates from each oblate community will be held at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Penn., from June 26 to July 1. At this meeting there will be an election for Prayer as Joy, Prayer as Struggle by Mark Braaten is available from Amazon.com for President and Vice $10.16 President of NAABOD (the National Association of Oblate Directors). I have served as Vice President for the past four years and will not be running for office. Please pray that we will elect officers who will serve well the men and women living the Oblate way of life.
- Have you ever considered becoming an Oblate of St. Benedict? - Does it mean I make vows? Do I have more prayers to say? Does it cost money? - Do I have to make radical life changes? Come and see or contact me, Br. John Peto, jpeto@kansasmonks.org 913-360-7896 10
