Opus Dei (VIII)

Sunday, 10 February 2019

CHAPTER VIII. Of the Divine Office at Night
10 Feb. 11 June. 11 Oct.
In winter time, that is, from the first of November until Easter, the brethren shall rise at what may be reasonably calculated to be the eighth hour of the night; so that having rested till some time past midnight, they may rise having had their full sleep. And let the time that remains after the Night-Office be spent in study by those brethren who have still some part of the Psalter and lessons to learn. But from Easter to the first of November let the hour for the Night-Office be so arranged that, after a very short interval, during which the brethren may go out for the necessities of nature, Lauds, which are to be said at day-break, may follow without delay.

The passage from Chapter VII (On Humility) to Chapter VIII (On the Divine Office during the Night) is, in effect, the monk’s passage from the passion and death of Christ to His holy resurrection, His ascension, and His priesthood of glory, for “Jesus is not

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With few and reasonable words (VII:11)

Friday, 8 February 2019

8 Feb. 9 June. 9 Oct.
The eleventh degree of humility is, that when a monk speaketh, he do so gently and without laughter, humbly, gravely, with few and reasonable words, and that he be not noisy in his speech, as it is written: “A wise man is known by the fewness of his words.”

The Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Degrees of Humility occur at the same time as the feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary in our proper liturgical calendar. Silence and humility become the virtues of predilection of souls who approach the Most Pure Heart of Mary, and who linger in her company. Our feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary was instituted by Saint Jean Eudes on February 8, 1648, and later adopted by Mother Mectilde de Bar and the Benedictines of the Most Holy Sacrament. The feast falls most appropriately within the Octave of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary; it is a liturgical rumination of the prophecy of Saint Simeon and, at the same time, of the two Lucan verses concerning the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

And Simeon blessed them, and said to

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In much talking thou shalt not avoid sin (VII:9)

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

6 Feb. 7 June. 7 Oct.
The ninth degree of humility is, that a monk refrain his tongue from speaking, keeping silence until a question be asked him, as the Scripture sheweth: “In much talking thou shalt not avoid sin”: and, “The talkative man shall not be directed upon the earth.”

When Saint Pambo the Great was about to die, it is said that he remarked to the Presbyters Origen and Ammonios and to other holy men who were at his side: “From the time that I came to this desert, I have not repented, up until now, of any word that I have spoken; and in this state I am departing to God, as one who has  not yet begun to serve Him.” The aforementioned men recounted to me that, when asked by anyone about a Scriptural phrase or some other matter of a practical nature, the Saint never offered an immediate response, but would say that he had not yet found the answer. Three months would often go by, and he would not give an answer, saying that he had not yet understood the point at issue.

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In the footsteps of the saints (VII:8)

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

5 Feb. 6 June. 6 Oct.
The eighth degree of humility is, for a monk to do nothing except what is authorised by the common rule of the monastery, or the example of his seniors.

A brother asked an Elder: “If I am living together with other brothers and I see something inappropriate, am I to say something?” The Elder replied: “If they are older than you, or of the same age as you, it is better to remain silent, for you will be at rest. In such a circumstance, consider yourself younger than they and remain heedless.

A brother asked Abba Poiemen: “Tell me, how can I become a monk?” The Elder replied: “If you want to find rest, both here below and in the age to come, in every situation say, ‘Who am I?’ and do not judge anyone.”

Someone asked an Elder: “Why can I not live with brothers?” The Elder replied: “Because you do not fear God; for if you were to keep in mind the Biblical story of how Lot was saved in Sodom because he did not condemn anyone,

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Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus

Saturday, 2 February 2019

MYV copy.jpgThe Anniversary of a Heavenly Friend
February 3rd is the 68th anniversary of the death of one of my dearest heavenly friends: Mother Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus (Yvonne Beauvais), Augustinian Canoness, Hospitaller of the Mercy of Jesus, of the Monastery of Malestroit in Brittany, France. Born in 1901, Mother Yvonne-Aimée died, after a life of extraordinary love and extraordinary suffering, at 49 years of age on 3 February 1951. On the very day of her death she was preparing to undertake a visitation of the monasteries of her Order in South Africa.

Beloved of Jesus
Yvonne Beauvais’ life was indescribably rich . . . in bitter sufferings and in the most astonishing charisms. From the time of her girlhood she knew of Our Lord’s tender love for her. She believed in it. She trusted it, and she staked her life upon it. At the age of eleven Yvonne offered herself and her whole life to Jesus, writing in what appears to be her own blood: “O my little Jesus, I give myself to Thee completely and forever. I shall always want what

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Support the monks of Silverstream Priory:

Situated amidst pasture land and forest in the eastern reaches of County Meath, Silverstream Priory was founded in 2012 at the invitation of the Most Reverend Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, and canonically erected as an autonomous monastery of diocesan right on 25 February 2017. The property belonged, from the early 15th century, to the Preston family, premier Viscounts of Ireland and Lords of Gormanston. In 1843 Thomas Preston (1817-1903), son of Jenico Preston, the 12th Viscount (1775-1860), built what today is Silverstream Priory.

Silverstream Priory is a providential realisation of the cherished project of Abbot Celestino Maria Colombo, O.S.B. (1874–1935), who, following the impetus given by Catherine–Mectilde de Bar in the 17th century, sought to establish a house of Benedictine monks committed to ceaseless prayer before the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar in a spirit of reparation. The community of Silverstream Priory holding to the use of Latin and Gregorian Chant, celebrate the Divine Office in its traditional Benedictine form and Holy Mass in the “Usus Antiquior” of the Roman Rite. Praying and working in the enclosure of the monastery, the monks of Silverstream keep at heart the sanctification of priests labouring in the vineyard of the Lord. They undertake various works compatible with their monastic vocation, notably the development of the land and gardens, hospitality to the clergy in need of a spiritual respite, scholarly work, and publishing.

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