Dear Friends,
“Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples of Jesus had seen him pray at deserted places and even during his ministry. Thus, the wish grew in them that Jesus would instruct them on what to say in prayer and on how to pray. In response, Jesus teaches them the Our Father and he tells them the parable of the friend who will be sure to fulfill the request of his friend even if he has to rouse the whole family at midnight (Luke 11:5-8). He also tells them to pray to God as a Father who will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Luke 11:9-13).
Life in Community, Donald Jackson and Aidan Hart, Copyright 2002 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.
Thus, we, too, can courageously present all our petitions to God. We do not have to be afraid to impose on God. We can urge God to fulfill our requests. That is what the story of the two friends tells us. We can pray to God with great trust because he is our Father who gives us good gifts, who fills us with his Holy Spirit and with his love.
This illumination of The Saint John’s Bible shows the early Christian community at prayer. We see Mary and the apostles gathered in the Upper Room where they awaited the gift of the Holy Spirit. We also see an altar with God’s Word and the Eucharistic Gifts, plus a table set for a meal. Folks of our time have joined the early Christian community.
We need one another in prayer and on our spiritual journey, especially after the past twelve months, which were so different and in many ways difficult for us. St. Benedict Center is open and we have scheduled new retreats. I would like to point out especially the one-day retreat on June 5 titled, Prayer in the Cave of the Heart: The Universal Call to Contemplation. The presenter is Prior Cyprian Consiglio from New Camaldoli Heritage in Big Sur, CA, who will show connections and differences between the contemplative traditions of the East and the West.
For those on retreat, our new interactive state-of-the art displays are available. One features The Saint John’s Bible, the first hand written bible, commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in more than 500 years on approximately 1,150 pages and including 160 stunning illuminations. A second new display tells the story of our Missionary Benedictines monks and their work in four continents in evangelization, education and care for the people. On our website, you can have a first impression of the displays.
Benedictine Missionary Work Display
Monastic Way of Life Display (Not open to the public yet)
I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator