Transcript of Abbot Clement
=s Talk on Wednesday, January 12, 2005(Acceptance of Brother Finbar (Brian) Ramsak into Monastic Life)
It is clear that the spiritual life is not some kind of hodgepodge where we know we have to eat, sleep, and work and so we sprinkle a little bit of Divine Office here and little Lexcio here and maybe a little devotion here and that makes the spiritual life.
Spiritual life is a soul event and a soul encounter. Which means it entails a view of our values, a disruption of our priorities, and a reconsideration of our world view. Obviously Benedict sees this and so he says you have to test the person that comes and enters. Today the test is to be a postulant.
We all have experienced the struggles and difficulties and there is something that really happens, namely, we have all heard many voices from many directions and in that we found and heard the Word of the Lord address us so we come to the monastery and we are accepted. But obviously it=s not so simple to continue to be faithful to hearing the Word of God because the novice is told that he has to be in noviciate and he has to have an elder to guide him. Which means the elder is to train him and help him learn to discern, to be formed anew, so that he can hear the Word of God for the rest of his life. So it is with each of us here, not just Brian.
The fact is, that is not the deepest significance of the call. The deepest significance of the call is the Word that addresses us is a faithful Word. It is a Word that is backed up by a tremendous commitment and love that=s incomprehensible. God wants to give himself totally to you and me.
So to be called to monastic life, to be called to religious life, is no small gift. We rejoice that Brian has heard the Word and that he said, yes. We also know that he will need, not only the guidance of Fr. Michael, but the support and encouragement from us. We ask him now to step forward and be ready to say Ayes@ fully.