Abbot Gregory's Renewal of Vows Homily 2024
I was very touched by Prior Mauritius’ reflections on the life of Saint Benedict in the
Dialogues of Saint Gregory. I have to admit that I had never taken them very seriously,
and to see in them a profound account of the spiritual journey of Saint Benedict as he
matured in his vocation was illuminating.
First of all, I find it encouraging that Benedict was not born perfect. It is good to see that
he had to grow spiritually, psychologically and emotionally, so that his ‘arrival’ at that
place where he could be the spiritual father of his monks was the result of a long, and
often hard, journey.
I think each of us can relate to one or more of the stages of detachment which Benedict
faced, and this should give us hope. We are really no different than he was, all of us
beginners on this way to God, all of us needing the grace of the Lord Jesus to reveal to
us those parts of ourselves that need to be given away, and to be given the courage to
renounce them.
The steps of detachment which Prior Mauritius showed us reminded me of the steps of
humility in the Rule, and though I’ve not tried to make any direct one-for-one
correspondence, it is intriguing to note that Benedict’s “coming to himself’ at the end of
his period of purification in the cave fits nicely with the end of Chapter 7 of the Rule:
Now, therefore, after ascending all these steps of humility, the monk will quickly
arrive at that perfect love of God which casts out fear. Through this love, all that
he once performed with dread, he will now begin to observe without effort, as
though naturally, from habit, not longer out of fear of hell, but out of love for
Christ, good habit and delight in virtue. All this the Lord will by the Holy Spirit
graciously manifest in his workman now cleansed of vices and sins.
In reflecting on our community discussions yesterday, I was struck by Fr. Laurence’s
remark about Christ. What came to my mind was the second line from the Holy
Thursday hymn “Ubi caritas”: Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. My Latin is not
great, but I believe that a moderately accurate translation is: “The love of Christ gathers
us into one.” What struck me is that, as often can be the case, the phrase “Christi
amor” can be interpreted two ways: the “love of Christ” means Christ’s love for us, but
also our love for Christ. It is both of these which gather us together in this community.
Our vocations are rooted in an experience of our love for Christ and a desire to live as
fully as possible in his Presence. That desire is fueled by Christ’s love for us which has
been given to us by the Holy Spirit in and through the Church. It is that love of Christ in
us and for us that brings us together and keeps us together, despite all our differences
and difficulties.
As we renew our profession today, let us recall that deepest longing in our hearts which
led us to embrace this way of life. With Saint Benedict, let us resolve to renounce any
attachment, whether interior or exterior, which would hinder our embracing this infinite
and amazing love of Christ. And let us ask God’s grace to see each other truly as
Christ sees and loves us, so that he may lead us all together to everlasting life.