Elevated Wisdom

After a delay of many months, the elevator at Mount St. Scholastica monastery is being repaired and will be out of commission for a couple of weeks. Consequently, a number of sisters who live on the third and fourth floors of the monastery are moving to our guest quarters to make it easier for them to get around.

The Rule of St. Benedict doesn’t include any mention of elevators, which is not surprising, given that it was written in the sixth century! The world has changed greatly since then — at a time when owning a single book was a luxury, Benedict could not have foreseen our modern libraries, let alone the Internet. Monastic chores such as cooking and cleaning are now much less labor intensive thanks to refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, and the like. Travel by plane and automobile is much speedier than by mule. Does this mean that the Rule of Benedict is no longer valuable as a guide in modern life?

Like all wisdom literature, the Rule of St. Benedict offers timeless guidance to persons who seek God. It is true that the nature of our work and communication has changed since the sixth century and we have many more conveniences today. However, as in St. Benedict’s time, society is still dealing with violence, greed, corruption, dissension, alcohol and drug abuse, racism, sexism, and other difficulties. If we choose, we can still find a remedy by following the advice of St. Benedict: Listen with the ear of the heart. Practice humility. Welcome everyone as Christ. Make the Gospel your guide. Pray several times a day so you are always aware of the presence of God. Live in moderation, taking only what you need. Curb your tongue and do not murmur. Make the needs of the sick, the elderly, and children (that is, the vulnerable) a priority.

We can figure out protocols for using elevators, the Internet, cell phones, automobiles, the modern marketplace, and other things St. Benedict never heard of if we stay true to his general guidelines of how to love God and our neighbor and curb our desires for possessions, status, and power. Don’t count out the Rule yet — in fact, you might want to keep a copy with a good commentary at your bedside.