02/20/08
The feast of St Scholastica –a liturgical Solemnity in Norcia– was anticipated this year because Feb 10 fell on the first Sunday of Lent. Nevertheless, all the usual characters played their part. The celebration began with first Vespers at the Benedictine nuns’ convent. Then follows a procession, led by Cross and Candles. The town band follows immediately behind, and in the last place was Fr Prior holding the relic of S. Scholastica –a bone from her finger in a silver and gold reliquary the size of a human arm. When the procession reached the Basilica of San Benedetto, the Archbishop was waiting to greet the faithful and a Pontifical Mass followed. At the end of the Mass, 4 young ladies in classical country dress distributed a special cookie in the shape of a dove with some Mimosa, the official flower of S. Scholastica, to all present.
S. Scholastica and S. Benedict usually bring a joyful repose to the Lenten fast since their principal feasts are in February and March. Many people ask us how we observe Lent and so I thought some might find a short summary interesting. In his Rule, S. Benedict dedicates a whole chapter to Lent (copied below). The cold shower first line is: “The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten observance”. He means that by following the obedient Christ, a monk is always about the business of Lent: purification and growth in holiness. There are two ways that this is made concrete in Lent. Individually, each monk submits to the Prior for approval a list of the ways he will take heed of St Benedict’s admonition to “add something”. These are called the Bona Opera or good works. As a community, the principal way that Lent effects our life is the meal time. Since the meal has a quasi liturgical character, the timing for it follows the liturgical year. From September 14th until Ash Wednesday the monks eat at 3:00 PM. In Lent this moves to 5:30 PM, after Vespers. From Easter until September 13th the monks eat 2 meals, Pranzo at 1:00 PM and Cena at 6:30 PM. Although breakfast (breaking the fast) was probably foreign to St. Benedict’s monks, in Norcia we follow the Italian custom of cafe latte and bread in the morning and we add peanut butter!
We join our prayers to those of our family and friends. May we all draw closer to Christ this Lent that we may “with the gladness of spiritual desire await holy Easter”!
CHAPTER XLIX
On the Keeping of Lent
The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten observance. However, since such virtue is that of few, we advise that during these days of Lent he guard his life with all purity and at the same time wash away during these holy days all the shortcomings of other times. This will then be worthily done, if we restrain ourselves from all vices. Let us devote ourselves to tearful prayers, to reading and compunction of heart, and to abstinence.
During these days, therefore, let us add something to the usual amount of our service, special prayers, abstinence from food and drink, that each one offer to God "with the joy of the Holy Ghost" (1 Thes 1:6), of his own accord, something above his prescribed measure; namely, let him withdraw from his body somewhat of food, drink, sleep, speech, merriment, and with the gladness of spiritual desire await holy Easter.
Let each one, however, make known to his Abbot what he offereth and let it be done with his approval and blessing; because what is done without permission of the spiritual father will be imputed to presumption and vain glory, and not to merit. Therefore, let all be done with the approval of the Abbot.
-Brother Subprior Benedict Nivakoff, OSB