(17) Charism of Service

"Benedictine spirituality refuses to glorify a life of false frugality or
fabricated irritations...[Rather Benedictines] are to 'keep watch of
their own souls' guarding themselves against the pitfalls of any
position: arrogance, disinterest, unkindness, aloofness from the very
people the position is designed to serve."
[Joan Chittister, O.S.B., THE RULE OF BENEDICT: INSIGHTS FOR
THE AGES, Crossroad, 1992, pp. 104-105.]

Comment: Sister Joan is a famous monastic, and a former prioress.
In recent years she has come up and close to the many issues and
problems faced in modern society. And she seems a "natural" when
it comes to incorporating Benedictine wisdom in her discussions.

Interestingly, I had previously wrritten an essay about the Benedictine
Soul that especially leaned more towards one's inner development.
But here--with Sister Joan--we encounter the other side of the coin.
There's a balance when it comes to Benedictine life. There's the
more passive, contemplative life, and there's the quiet active life of
service. And the two should be seamless, if you will.

Most of my Benedictine contacts have been active in religious pursuits,
either as theologians, spiritually-oriented philosophers, and most often
as teachers in their Benedictine schools. Occasionally one finds a
Benedictine monk who has delved into science. (An aside, but once
I heard a retired abbot mention that if he had his life to live over, he
would become a physicist first and then a priest. Having studied
science and systems from a spiritual perspective, I quite understand
where this former abbot was heading. :)

In future, whether in the monasteries, maybe beyond the walls, active
Benedictines will move into even more diverse professions that
represent their charism of service. I know that Benedictine sisters have
begun to more into new territories that reach beyond their particular
religious perspectives. These days many female Benedictines are into
nursing, into hospital administration, into social services, etc.

Perhaps not too far off in time, we will see this active aspect of the
Benedictine Tradition proliferate as more and more non-traditional
monastics begin to relate their spiritual tradition with their naturally
more diverse activities in the communities and societies in which they
live.

And, yes, as Sister Joan mentions, the Benedictine soul need be wary
falling into the pitfall of negatives that detract from their active life.
On the other hand, perhaps a more appropriate approach would be to
not only stress, but *study* more seriously the active part of their life.
The possibilities, the potentialities, lay waiting when it comes to the
Benedictine charism of service.

These days the horizon for service has blown sky-high, including ever
new and fresh territories in which one can lend a hand. So, yes, why
not have a retired Benedictine abbot ponder over what could be--even
in the field of science. He recognized that the New is upon us.