Laurentia Johns - The Way of Benedict: Eight Blessings for Lent

Like the Rule of St Benedict on which it is based, this little book carries far more wisdom than one might at first imagine. The Way of Benedict offers the reader an honest appraisal of how the author, who has been an enclosed Benedictine nun for more than a quarter of a century, has come to understand the monastic principles by which she lives. Even more usefully, she shares countless insights that can help those of us whose lives are un-cloistered to open ourselves to the many blessings that we so regularly miss. This is a book to read slowly, to read repeatedly, to share with friends and to give to any who long for more order, peace and joy in their daily lives.

Stephen Cherry , Dean, Kings College Cambridge

This beautiful book introduces us to the Benedictine Rule as a wise way to live. Sr Laurentia outlines the teaching of St Benedict with great clarity and then suggests practical steps to live it out in daily life. In fractious times, this is a timely reminder that wisdom is universal.

Abbot Christopher Jamison , author of Finding Sanctuary and Finding Happiness

This book is a gift and a blessing for all of us, through Lent and indeed throughout the year. It is a treasure trove of beautiful and joyful moments alongside challenges and points for action that move us along our path. Reading it is like having a spiritual director sitting alongside you, encouraging and nudging you in a gentle way to turn again to face God. It is also profoundly practical and rooted in daily life, with examples that help us to reflect honestly on our relationships with God, with other people and with the earth. Like the Rule of St Benedict, there is nothing harsh or burdensome here. Instead, the book points us towards listening, gratitude and balance in our lives. It leads us towards a radical way of living in, and engaging with, that world which God made and loves .

Linda Jones , Head of Theology, CAFOD

Readers ready for a fresh approach to Lent will appreciate finding eight blessings (though I found more) in The Way of Benedict . Sr Laurentia maps the route with gems from Scripture and the monastic tradition, inspiring us to look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing, as Benedicts Rule teaches (RB 49:7). Taking Lent as both a liturgical preparation for Easter and a metaphor for our lifes journey to God, she explores the blessings of bedrock practices such as worship and welcoming, as well as the subtler graces of new beginnings and going beyond our comfort zones. Always realistic about the hard work and personal growth needed to participate fully in the divine life, Sr Laurentia also reminds us of the loving God who is eager to bless even our smallest efforts. Readers who journey on The Way of Benedict might well discover not just a broader understanding of Lent but also a livelier desire for resurrection.

Mother Johanna Marie Melnyk OSB , Prioress, Holy Angels Convent, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA

The ancient wisdom of St Benedict has so much to offer today to anyone seeking to live more authentically in a world of constant change and turmoil. This book is born of deep engagement and attention to the profound desires of the heart and is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Benedictine way more deeply. Sr Laurentia writes beautifully, drawing the reader into a greater contemplation of the generous grace of God, whether starting out to understand, or an old hand at prayer. This is a Lent book that will be read for its joyfulness the whole year round.

The Very Revd Dr Frances Ward , writer and theologian

Laurentia Johns is a Benedictine nun of Stanbrook Abbey, Yorkshire, England, where the main work is prayer and the praise of God. Since the 1990s, she has been involved in sharing the riches of the Christian monastic tradition with seekers of all kinds, including newcomers to the monastery, guests and oblates for whom she has also had pastoral responsibility. An experienced communicator on the Rule of St Benedict, Sr Laurentia has extended her ministry beyond the abbey via a variety of publications, talks, workshops, broadcasts and digital reflections.

THE WAY OF BENEDICT

Eight blessings for Lent

Laurentia Johns OSB

In memoriam

Allen Johns
19322016

John A. Johns
19632017

I am grateful to SPCK for the opportunity to reflect afresh on the Rule of St Benedict, one of the oldest guides in existence to living the Christian life. For Benedict ( c .480547), the life of a monk we can say of any committed Christian should always have a Lenten character (Rule of Benedict, henceforth RB, 49:1). We shall explore this idea below but its worth stating at the outset that it definitely does not imply that Christian/monastic life should be dour. Quite the opposite: orientated on eternity with God, all our days should be marked by joy and spiritual desire (RB 49:7).

Two lines of thought converged to shape this book. First, the Lenten character of the Benedictine way suggested an approach that looks at the whole Rule.

Second, the invitation to write the book came at a time when I was preparing to celebrate my Silver Jubilee, a time of consciously counting blessings, one of the greatest of which for me has been living under the guidance of St Benedict. This prompted the idea of looking at the Rule as a series of blessings. But how to marry this with the Lenten theme? Providentially, a homily that I heard seemed to offer a synthesis, which made me think there could be some mileage in a Benedictine Lent book based on blessings.

Biblical scholars and theologians could fill tomes on the concept of blessing but this particular preacher himself no mean biblical scholar put it succinctly: a blessing is a smile of God. To receive that smile is to be bathed in the merciful love of God; it is to receive the gift of peace and everything good; it is to be blessed. The book of Numbers records how the Lord, via Moses, taught Aaron how to bless the people. He was to say to them:

The L ord bless you and keep you;

the L ord make his face to shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

the L ord lift up his countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

(Num. 6.2426)

Gods blessing a smile and a eureka moment for me. Just as Lent is essentially about turning back to God, so, in order to receive Gods blessing/smile, we have to turn to face God.

Each chapter in this book explores one way we can turn back to God and the blessings that flow from such a turning, not only through the 40 days of Lent but every day on the lifelong journey to God.

The book unfolds in eight chapters, which, more or less in sequence, span the Rule of St Benedict. However, in order I hope to avoid superficiality, certain topics, for example prayer, reverence, a healthy use of time, are treated in some depth.

Benedict has no specific chapter on the Bible in his Rule: the Word of God illumines every page. As we live not simply on bread but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (see Deut. 8.3; Matt. 4.4), it seemed important for a Lent book to have a chapter devoted to Scripture. So , The blessing of the Word, departs from the pattern of the rest of the book to focus on this key theme.

In so short a book, no attempt has been made to be comprehensive, neither is this a commentary on the Rule, but rather a series of reflections that will, I hope, encourage you to engage with the text yourself. It will probably be helpful to have a copy of the Rule at hand to read alongside each chapter. Various translations are readily available and one version may be found on the Stanbrook Abbey website, .