First comes the word of God that addresses me, touches
me, calls me into question, wounds and judges me, but also heals and frees me.
Both prayer and silence can only be an answer to God's word and may not precede
it.
Thus Benedict requires that prayer should be frequent, but short. In it the
monastic is to respond to the word of God and express his or her readiness to
follow God's demands with deeds. Thus we find in Benedict's Rule no teaching on
mystical prayer, but very sober instruction to open one's daily life to God
again and again in every situation.
What is crucial is not our doing, but
living before God, in God's presence, listening to God's word that addresses us
and shows us the way. In prayer the monastic responds that she or he has heard
God's word and is now ready to follow it.
Benedict of Nursia His Message for
Today
Anselm Grun OSB
