Dear Friends,

In Chapter 49 of the Holy Rule St. Benedict says that the life of a monk ought to have the character of a continuous Lent. He urges "the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times." At first blush this may sound a little gloomy. However, I believe that this admonition simply reflects St. Benedict's keen understanding of human nature and of the spiritual journey we all share. His vision of the world and of humanity is not gloomy, but it is realistic. That spiritaul journey is one that is lived by real people in a real world - whether by monks in a monastery or by Christians in their own setting - and it involves what has traditionally been called a spiritual combat, a struggle against sin and evil in our personal lives.

St. Benedict observes that monks and, in fact, most people of faith, need help from time to time to refocus their attention on Christ. Our daily lives &endash; including certainly the lives of monks - are filled with many distracting demands and enticements. It can be difficult to avoid getting caught up in our own world and the seduction of one sin or another. Self-preoccupation and sin dull our ability to hear the word of God deeply and to recognize Christ in our neighbor and in the world around us.

In keeping with the Church's centuries old tradition, St. Benedict identifies the twin remedies of repentance and self-denial as two means for refocusing our attention on Christ. In order to receive Christ into our lives we have to recognize our sinfulness, seek forgiveness, and accept the grace needed to change. This is the point of the special season of Lent.

St. Benedict does not linger too long on this point alone. He quickly adds that all Lenten practices should be done with the Resurrection of the Lord in mind. He wants the monk to "look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing." It is with this end in mind that we repent and embrace self-denial. We long to be transformed by the cross of Christ and his ultimate triumph over sin and death. In his Resurrection we find the hope to believe in the possibility of our own transformation even here on earth, and thereby to hope in our final and eternal life with the Risen Christ forever in heaven. In the Resurrection of the Lord, in our celebration of the Easter Solemnity, we come to know the great love God has for each of us. In that marvelous event the Lord holds out to each one of us the promise of life unending wih Him.

As we enter the final days of Lent and prepare to celebrate the Liturgies of Holy Week, please join with all of us at Mount Angel in praying for a deepening of faith, hope, and love in our individual lives, in the lives of our families and friends, and in our world.

May the grace of Easter enlighten and console you!

                                           Abbot Nathan