St. Benedict and a Balanced Life
St Benedict was born around 480 in Italy.
He moved to Rome around 500 to further his education. There he observed that the lives of the people around him were out of control, they were fearful, angry, they lacked a sense of purpose and deep friendship and they were not happy. Benedict wanted more for himself, so he left Rome and settled in Subiaco to live a life of work and prayer. Many people were attracted by his holiness and miracles and they needed someone who could give the structure, guidance and leadership for their lives. For them, Benedict built 12 small communities in the valley of Subiaco. He then formed a simple way of life that would allow them to achieve what all people want: Happiness. Do you desire a simpler way to go about life to be happy?
All people need a family or community
St. Benedict realized to be happy and fulfilled all people need a family or community of friends, meaningful work, and a deep friendship with God. regardless whether you are 5 or 105 we all need this or we go crazy. These are the building blocks to happiness. Do you have these three ingredients in your life in the right order and the right proportion: prayer, meaningful work; and family and friendships. Reflect on your life – how would I rate each one of these three. Are they right where they need to be, do I have too little of one, too much of another? Am I missing one of them altogether? Am I spending enough time with God, talking, listening and just being with Him that I can really call it a personal friendship? The same goes for my spouse and each of my kids or grandkids or my parents. Am I spending time with friends? Good relationships with family and friends require you to take the initiative. If everyone stands back and waits everyone ends up lonely. Do I have meaningful work? Do I give so much time and attention to work that it harms the other good things I need?
Ora et Labora
The motto of the Benedictines is Ora et Labora, Prayer and Work. Without the Big Three of Friendship, prayer and meaningful work our lives get out of control and we go crazy. The great disciplinary force for human nature is work; idleness is its ruin. The purpose of his Rule was to bring men "back to God by work and obedience, from whom they had departed by the idleness of disobedience". Work was the first condition of all growth in goodness. It was in order that his own life might be "wearied with labors for God's sake" that St. Benedict left Rome for Subiaco. It is necessary, comments St. Gregory, that God's elect should at the beginning, when life and temptations are strong in them, "be wearied with labor and pains". After the barbarians overran Italy, conquered it and became bored with lives that had no meaning, they came to Benedict and he began by putting them to work which gave them the discipline and order to grow in every other area of life. Work is not a punishment and the goal is not to retire and do nothing but pursue pleasure. When we work we use our freedom and initiative to take risks, create and take responsibility. As we work we grow in the image and likeness or God – because this is who God is and what he does. God has worked from the beginning of creation until now and he will do so forever. So if you want to be who you are called to be – a man or woman made in the image of God – then we need to work to be happy.
The good things we need to be fulfilled
Benedict knew that happiness was to possess the good things we need to be fulfilled. In General God designed the Human Person to need certain good things to thrive:
1. Physical and Psychological goods (food, shelter, health, safety, security, exercise, rest; Order, and stability, variety and growth
A family or community of friendship whom you love and who love you – someone who has your back
Knowledge
Meaningful Work
Beauty
Identity (our specific place in the world)
Most importantly, a relationship with God because we were made for union with God and nothing less will satisfy.
The way of life Benedict provided for the lay-people living around him came to be known as the Rule of St. Benedict. The rule was a structure or a recipe for their lives to ensure they would get the things the needed to be happy and keep them from the things that destroyed happiness. Benedict created nothing new – he was wise enough to recognize what all people in every age need to flourish and be happy and he proved a structure and a means to achieve it. We need the same 7 good things to be happy. We also need a Rule, a structure, a recipe for our lives and families that we may reach happiness.
We can even become attached and addicted to good routines.
A balanced life is good but it is not the goal – union with God is the goal. God may allow things to happen that strip or deprive us of one or more of these good things to set us free to desire and receive Him more completely. This is what John of the Cross calls the Night – because God’s immense blessings can only fit in a heart that is empty – that is, unconditionally open to whatever God does or allows in our lives. Grace builds on nature. Make a rule or recipe for your life, your family and the culture of your company or school. Live it like a habit, like a second nature. Then be ready to let go of it when God intervenes to receive something greater – union with God.