Tag Archives: Br. Daniel Sokol OSB

Men's communities, Reflection, Saints

After Easter, Then What?

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Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB

Brother Daniel published this reflection for the Benedictine Oblates.

St. John on Patmos

Well, the annual awesome Easter Season is upon us, and hopefully we are aiming towards getting more and more ready and willing to do God’s holy will.  We are so blessed to have a treasure trove of so many liturgical wonderful feasts and holy saints to bless us on our journey and guide us through the daily pitfalls of this earthly life!  If only we would consistently and prayerfully ask for their help, and then do whatever it is they suggest, we would, through perseverance, become so much closer to God and our end goal of reaching our heavenly homeland.

Our patron saints and Guardian Angels who are our subtle but “holy helpers” can keep us on track while we work our way towards heaven.  They are happy to help us if we would only have recourse to them for their supernatural assistance.  However, following their advice requires clarity of thought and single-minded perseverance! This is not an easy process; it takes lots of practice.  We must become tuned in to our purpose with “the ear of our heart” (Rule of St. Benedict, Prol 1).  There are numerous hurdles and “roadblocks.” The evil one constantly puts pitfalls on our paths, and flashes of distraction, thus obscuring our road to peace.  We all too often make up weak excuses for our own worldly free will, and this obscures our otherwise clear-thinking process.

Season after season we keep discovering so many ways to serve the Lord and gather innumerable graces for ourselves, for our family, our confreres, our oblates, the poor souls in Purgatory, the homeless, the abused, the wanderers, etc.  Occasionally I think about the holy priests who quietly go about minding their own business saving souls, praying the Holy Mass, day after day—often two or three Masses—and surviving 20, 40 or 60 plus years of quiet labors, not complaining and just keep on persevering while doing God’s holy will, not being enticed or bothered about trifling earthly matters.  These are the real saints on earth!  Consider the enormous good they accrue: the infinite graces they have attained while praying each Mass, and the stability of heart, mind, body and soul.  Monks and lay people can accomplish this kind of focus if only we would not entertain unworthy thoughts, or worldly pleasures, or talk too much!  Peace and tranquility accompany the practice of quiet perseverance in the way of the Lord.

Let us strive towards continuously minding our ways.  Time is a precious commodity that is extremely valuable, and more easily glides by when we become stable.  Note that stability is the first of the Benedictine vows (or promises for Oblates).  When compared to infinity, we have but a mere moment in time, a drop of mist in an immense ocean.

As for the temporalities of this present life, we can thank God that we have a Deliverance Prayer inspired by a potential poisoning incident in St. Benedict’s life that can be used whenever we are pestered by the wiles of Satan: “Begone Satan!  Tempt me not with your vanities! What you offer me is evil.  Drink the poisoned cup yourself.”  This prayer is enhanced by those who carry a blessed Benedictine medal, and sincerely contemplate what the prayer means to them.

Thanks be to God!

Brother Daniel Sokol is a Benedictine Monk at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. PrinceofPeaceabbey.org

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Grumbling, Gossip and the Ruin of Solidarity by Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB

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The devil has a motto which is: “Divide and conquer.” Benedictines have a motto that unites us to God: “That in all things God may be glorified.” As a matter of fact, many of the Church’s prayers contain a unifying theme. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father…Give us this day our daily bread”; The Hail Mary states: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…”; The Sign of the Cross helps unite us with the Blessed Trinity. Jesus prays, “That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (Jn 17:21); St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil…”

St. Benedict is keenly aware that “grumbling” (which is gossip or discontent) can “divide and conquer” any group. That is why he is very strict in teaching against it. “Do not grumble or speak ill of others” (RB 4:39-40).

“This very obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to men only if compliance with what is commanded is not cringing or sluggish or halfhearted, but free from any grumbling or any reaction of unwillingness (RB 5:14); “First and foremost, there must be no word or sign of the evil of grumbling, no manifestation of it for any reason at all. If, however, anyone is caught grumbling, let him undergo more severe discipline” (RB 34:6, 7).

Even the abbot is advised: “Similarly, he should so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling” (RB 41:5).

Jesus ardently desired that His followers are to be united in faith and at peace with all those whom one would come in contact with and live a life of solidarity with Himself and our Father.

Christ’s Priestly Prayer for Unity, John: 17, is saturated with fervent desires for human and divine solidarity. Here is one example.

“That all may be one even as We are One: I in them and Thou in Me: that they may be perfected in unity, and that the world may know that Thou hast sent me (Jn 17: 22-23)”

Jesus taught His apostles and disciples to be ardent in their faith and gave them numerous examples of being heralds of being faithful regardless of the circumstances they were in. After experiencing all that He went through in holy obedience to our Father in bravely facing persecution, denial and the cruelest of deaths ever devised, Christ showed us by example what true loyalty involves.

St. Benedict echoes this sentiment when he writes to us about what Christian solidarity entails, and the rewards that follow. “Never swerving from his instructions, then, but faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom” (RB Prol 50).

Psalm 15 with the Title, “The Guest of God,” gives us a good summary of human solidarity.

O Lord, who will sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks blamelessly and who does justice. He who thinks the truth in his heart, and slanders not with his tongue; who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord; who though it be to his loss, changes not his pledged word; who lends not at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be disturbed.

Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB, is a member of Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California.

Men's communities, Reflection

The Role of Angels in the Rule of St. Benedict

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by Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB

St. Benedict had a vast and mystical understanding of several books of the bible, as well as a solid grounding in about thirty writings of the Fathers of the Church.  He is even to be counted as one among their number by several persons.  Quoting often from the Sacred Scriptures, he has the Lord “looking down from heaven on the sons of men to see whether any understand and seek God (Ps. 13.2); and if every day the angels assigned to us [that is our guardian angels] report our deeds to the Lord day and night, then brothers we must be vigilant every hour, or…God may observe us falling at some time into evil and so made worthless” (Ps 13:3).

Although the motive of fear may be the lowest incentive to action, it still is a valid motivator.  Our corresponding response to the above quote is to practice continuously the sterling virtue of vigilance over our thoughts, words and actions.  This vigilance brings about a certain peace because by doing this, we become closer to our Lord and Savior.  Motivated by the presence of angels, especially our own personal guardian angel, we certainly enhance our monastic vows or promises of Stability, Conversatio and Obedience, and gain many graces.

Sts. Benedict & Scholastica

In Chapter 19 on the “discipline” of Psalmody, we can become more aware of the divine presence in our daily liturgical services.  “In the presence of the Angels I will sing to You” (Ps 137:1 (RB 19:5).  Then St. Benedict adds, “Let us consider how we are to behave in the presence of God and His angels” (RB 9:7).  Unfortunately, some people are adversely affected by any words that seem to curtail their own sense of liberty.  We have all inherited some of the negative results of Original Sin.  Therefore, we need to become more and more aware of how much God loves us by sending His Son to die for our sins and His angels to protect us.  The most important step on the ladder of virtue towards our heavenly goal is being humble before God.

Thus St. Benedict advises “…if we desire to attain speedily that exaltation in heaven to which we climb by the humility of this present life, then by our ascending actions we must set up that ladder on which Jacob in a dream saw angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:12).  Without doubt, this descent and ascent can signify only that we descend by exaltation and ascend by humility” (RB 7:5-7).

How often do we thank God for our Guardian Angel?  Do we even acknowledge their presence, and that God has assigned them exclusively to our care?  God has granted us our very own angel to help us along the rugged path of life towards heaven.  Let us listen carefully to our guardian angel, and be sure to thank him for anything good (or bad, for that matter) that either challenges or rewards us.  By doing this, we become closer and closer to God.

“Angel of God my Guardian dear,
to whom God’s love directs me here;
Ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.”  Amen.

Bro.Daniel Sokol, OSB, is a monk with Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. 

PrinceofPeaceAbbey.org

Reflection

Perseverance and Stability by Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB

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The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of our stability and the foundation of our faith.  He it is who provides the courage, the stamina, the example, the guidance, the witness and the perseverance to follow Him safely along the path of life to His everlasting kingdom and to join Him in heaven for all eternity.

Since Jesus is our rock of safety and our heavenly goal, we call upon Him daily for His divine guidance and protection. “Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety.  You are my rock and my fortress; for your namesake you will lead me and guide me” (Ps 30:3-5; c.f. Psalm 70:3).

A lifetime of perseverance in the way of the Lord brings us an abundance of graces. Every time we receive an answer to a prayer, a link of understanding for some small trial, a signpost of peace and approval or any favor for that matter, we magnify it still more by giving thanks to God our Savior.

Every time we offer thanks even for a small or a large and difficult task, we multiply the graces significantly.  God will never be outdone in generosity!  Our life can be filled with trials and difficulties, and these if done with a willing spirit, we advance in the spiritual life. God always gives what is good for our eternal salvation provided we follow His promptings.

The gift of perseverance is a necessary virtue. For Scripture has it: “Anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved (Matt 10:22), and again, Be brave of heart and rely on the Lord (Ps 26[27]:14).”

We will find a multitude of examples and grace-filled sources of encouragement if we prayerfully read the Scriptures, the Apostles, the Fathers of the Church (early or modern), and the Lives of the Saints, especially if we follow their example and earnestly ask for their peace, protection and encouragement.

Stability has as much as to do with the mind, the heart and the soul as it does to being stable in one place, organized, and clear of all clutter.  Our quiet time spent in prayer on a regular basis brings peace, quiet and a more willing receptiveness to the will of the Lord.

Following a regular schedule brings clarity of thought and closeness to God.  We do well to daily practice discipline and pay attention to the necessary spiritual priorities in our life.  These are just a few of the secular and spiritual “virtues” mentioned in this article.  They are, “the tools of the spiritual craft” which our holy Father St. Benedict advises (C.f. RB 4:75). There is a connection between patience, stability and perseverance.  I stand firm in doing God’s will.

Perseverance helps us keep our eyes on the ultimate reward of joining Our Lord and Savior, Mary, Joseph and all the angels and saints in everlasting glory in heaven.  We pray, “Thy Kingdom come…”, that is, in our hearts, our minds, our soul and our bodies, indeed in all of our actions.

Let us all join in with each other as we pray for perseverance in stability and safety along with the psalmist as he places his hope and trust in God and writes: “In You O Lord I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me and save me.  Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock, my fortress. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the criminal and the violent.  For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God from my youth.  On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; constant has been my hope in you.  A portent am I to many, but you are my strong refuge!  My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your glory day by day”.

Amen! (Ps. 70:1-8 C.f. Ps. 30:1-6)

Br. Daniel is a Benedictine monk at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California.

General interest, Liturgical Year

The Divine Liturgy by Brother Daniel Sokol, 0SB

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We may be surprised to learn that our earthly worship is an anticipation of, and a participation in, the heavenly worship. In heaven, the angels and saints perpetually proclaim the glory of God. They proclaim His glory, His honor, His beneficence, His virtues, His mercy, His Justice, etc., etc.

The “Opus Dei” (Divine Liturgy) refers to “the work of and for God” because He is working within us in order to make us more worthy of being in His presence. “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.  Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.”

Christ serves forever as the Mediator, the Great High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle of God.  The more worthy we participate in the divine liturgy, the closer we become to Christ.  We are blessed to have a beautiful Church which helps us to have a more worthy focus as we sing and pray the Divine Liturgy.

Even the liturgical furnishings of the Church provide their own significance for the overall worthiness of a proper liturgy.  The ambo is the place where the scriptures and their commentaries are pronounced with great reverence.  The candles are a reflection of Christ who is “the light of the world.”  The silver and gold chalice(s) are made of the finest materials. The presider’s chair is a carryover from the Jewish people as the rabbi usually sat while giving instructions.  Holy water and incense have particular rites for blessings and reverencing persons, altars, houses vessels, medals, bibles, cars, etc.

In order to proclaim a worthy liturgy, it is necessary that a lot of preparation goes on beforehand.  The main celebrant, the readers, acolytes, musicians and singers, etc. all have their sacred part in the most sacred of sacrifices.  Even the congregation, according to Vatican Council II, are urged to take an active part in the divine worship, singing and praying their parts.  St. Augustine writes, “Whoever sings, prays twice.”  The priest needs to deliver a well-prepared homily that edifies and helps to explain the readings and often can be applied to the current state of world and Church affairs.

Even processions are important.  The entrance procession with incense (which represents the prayers of the faithful) is reminiscent of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The altar of sacrifice is reverenced and incensed because it refers to Christ and His sacrifice. The procession of bringing gifts represents ourselves, our gifts, our family, our offerings, our life, etc.  At the end of Mass, the recession out of Church challenges us with great conviction to “Go out to all the world and share the good news!”

We are not to sit by and merely watch the whole ceremony of any given liturgy; we need to participate with enthusiasm for our salvation through the God-given gift of faith.

 (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (Jan. 6, 2014)

Gestures are to be done with great respect.  Entering into the Lord’s Earthly Temple, we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross using holy water, then bow to the altar and genuflect to the tabernacle.  When the gospel is announced we mark our forehead, lips and heart saying “May the Lord be in our mind, on our lips and in our heart.”  We make a profound bow of the head on the feasts of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin at the mention of their names, which represent their persons.  There is a myriad of preparations, carefully learned and practiced that go into the overall presentation of a very fine liturgy, especially in a church that radiates dignity and holiness.

Let us revise some of these faith enhancing practices so that our whole life can become a worthy gift to God for all that He has done for us.  Let us listen attentively to the prayers we pray and foster an awareness of God’s manifold gifts given in our lives through the sacraments, through each other.

Let us remember to be thankful to God for every grace or favor we receive, even the unfavorable ones.  That way we can be sure we are still advancing on the road to holiness!

Br. Daniel Sokol is a Benedictine monk at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California.

www.princeofpeaceabbey.org

Reflection

Five Ways to a Closer Relationship with Christ by Br. Daniel Sokol, OSB

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Five Ways to a Closer Relationship with Christ  &
Five Steps to Living Our Faith in Christ
  1. Social

Exemplary, Holy People:  We want to imitate the behavior of people who are doing or have done well, e.g., Apostles, Saints, Good Parents, Mystics, recent Popes, Spiritual Writers, Good Relatives that made a positive impression on us, etc.  We want to imitate them so we can become good like them!  Note that we are not highlighting self-help programs or gurus that do not include God, but real, known, certified and proven life-long Holy People who have earned their measure of Goodness and Respect.  They have earned their status as Noteworthy Persons to imitate, each with his or her own unique set of Virtues.

Ourselves:  We must recognize and acknowledge our God-given Goodness and Dignity, our call to Holiness.  By “owning” the Positive Aspects and Truths of our Faith and the Rewards that follow, we Cooperate towards building up the Kingdom of Heaven, the Mystical Body of Christ.

  1. Rewards

Benefits of Following Christ.  Authentic following of the self-emptying Example of Christ and known Saints makes us feel better about being a Good Citizen, a Good Catholic, a good all-around, Well Adjusted, Highly Motivated, Positive Human Being.  Worthy People are the ones we like to associate with and imitate, thus we know that we are doing right for God. They truly Live the calling to Imitate Christ; they Affirm and Inspire us by their Holy Example.  Living the Christian Virtues brings about its own rewards, such as Freedom, Peace, Harmony and Happiness.

Rewards of Heaven.  The knowledge of Being Happy in Heaven forever and ever and ever makes us want to go there—more and more and more!  Eternal Happiness in God is well worth any price you can name, especially in light of its permanent, eternal nature.  As we become more Christ-Like, we enjoy a Greater Share in His Divinity; We become more “Divinized”.

  1. Marks of Progress

We can log our daily Progress in Honest Journaling, marking of Calendars, charting our Progress.  Remember the Good we have Accomplished by Participation in the Graces that Christ earned for us, and still offers twenty-four hours each and every day and night.   Journals or notes help review the trials we encountered and Progress Achieved.  They recognize and Appreciate the many graces God has Gratuitously Bestowed upon us for our good and our work to Share these gifts with others.  It is good to Savor these Precious Moments and to Offer Thanks.  This is expressing pure Honesty, not false pride.  And remember that Heaven will be filled with Grateful People.

  1. Keep Good, Healthy Control of our Own Environment(s)

We want to maintain Healthy Control of our own environment for the Good of our souls.  Think about how we Want to Change for the better, and devise a Plan.  We can Simplify our home, our heart and our environment.  We work to Maintain clean, Healthy Living conditions both physically, mentally and especially spiritually.  We put good, Achievable Limits on the use of the TV, Internet and cell phones.  Turn them off and Enjoy the Silence.  Bring in Prayer, Contemplation, Reading of Sacred Scripture and Spiritual Writings such as the Fathers of the Church, Lives of the Saints, Documents of the Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, etc.  Abbot Claude used to say, “Don’t read good books, read only the best.”  We can Capitalize on how to Improve our internal and external environment without becoming a fussy perfectionist.  Enjoy your own yard, take a walk around the block, visit a park for a time of Rest and Refreshment.  Bring your lunch and Enjoy the day as yet Another Gift God has given to us.

  1. Spiritual, Physical, and Healthy Asceticism
    (Self-denial for the sake of the Kingdom)

We can focus on how to make Holy Progress in the proven, ancient and Holy Art of Asceticism.  How?  First of all, we must recognize that no true Spiritual Progress can be made without our own Cooperation, our own Sacrifices, and our own authentic Participation in the life and example of our Savior.  Being of Service to our neighbor is one of the marks of Healthy Asceticism.  Being Fair and Civil to people we don’t like generates Peace and Trustworthiness.

True Sacrifice will often cost us some time, some inconvenience, some effort.  Jesus Christ was constantly dying to Himself in order to Accommodate the teeming masses of people ranging from the merely curiosity seekers, those outraged at His behaviors, the hungry, the weak, the envious, the rule-bound religious authorities, the faint-hearted, those who had nothing else to lose, and the Holy Remnant who had enough faith to follow and Believe in Him who is and was.  Christ endured with Holy Love for our Eternal Salvation inconvenience, suffering, being degraded and death.

So, how are we to map out ways to more Fervently Accomplish the will of Christ in our own daily lives?  What are some Positive Steps we can make to Improve the lot of all mankind?

Five Steps to Living Our Faith in Christ

 Step #1: Ask God to Enhance our own Faith, regardless of how little or how much we already have.

Step #2: Learn how to die to ourselves often, so that we can Accommodate the manifold Graces Offered, and become more Available to our neighbors.  Thank Him for any Progress made.

Step #3: Seek out our own Peace in God by fostering this Peace and Harmony among all people we meet or associate with, often at the cost of our own inconvenience.

Step #4: Be more eager to practice Sufficiency and not excess, to Fast, to Prayerfully Read Scripture, to Contemplate God’s Love for us and His Love for our neighbors.

Step #5: Become more Approachable by being Patient, Kind and Accommodating.  Learn how to give Support and Encouragement to one another.  Always be Grateful for what you receive.

Perseverance in these proven methods will reap multiple Rewards, the most important of which is following after the will and Example of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, while working towards Achieving the Kingdom of Heaven, both here and hereafter.  Christian Discipline brings on great and Lasting Benefits for ourselves and for the entire Body of Christ.  For some who are well-versed in the practice of all of the Virtues, their Hope is a Positive, ever-present reality and source of Divine Energy throughout their entire lives.

Brother Daniel Sokol, OSB, is a Benedictine monk at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California.