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Chapter 10 – Praying in Summer

This short chapter is merely a paragraph. The obvious purpose is to offer guidance for praying in the shorter nights of summer. However, there are deeper lessons to be learned. Benedict observes the effect of the seasons on the length of days and nights. He adjusts the prayer time accordingly, adjusts not abandons. An important aspect of The Rule is reflected just below the surface of this chapter. Rhythms of life are important to health; physical, mental, and spiritual. Our spirit connects all other aspects of being together. We ignore the spiritual to the peril of the physical and mental.

Spiritual wellbeing is not the product of liturgical structure, but liturgy offers the scaffolding to grow spiritually. As Jesus proclaimed, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”[1] Just as with physical wellbeing, the spirit requires discipline, nourishment, and rest. The discipline of scheduled prayer and study both exercises and nourishes the spirit. We also honor the spiritual Sabbath rest. Joan Chittister writes, “Benedict choses to abbreviate the prayer time of the community rather than the sleeping time…gives short shrift to the notion of Benedictine spirituality as asceticism for its own sake or religion gone berserk or self-destruction masking as piety. No, the message of Benedictine spirituality is a consistent one: live life normally, live life thoughtfully, live life profoundly, live life well. Never neglect and never exaggerate.”[2]

Chapter 10 addresses the Vigil office of prayer in the shortened nights of summer. However, he portrays an important lesson – spiritual formation rather than form, is the goal. In each Liturgy of the Hours the seed of formation is in the pause from the busy-ness of life to invest in relationship with God. If where I am in life permits me to pause for Mattins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Evensong, and Compline long enough to acknowledge that God is with me right now, I am blessed. If I can pray for myself and others, I am blessed. If I can pray through the ancient liturgical prayers and study Holy Scripture so that I commit it to memory, I am blessed. Wherever I am in the busy-ness of life, I am blessed when my spiritual formation is a natural part of my living.

I recommend each of us begin to incorporate prayer into the rhythm of life, ever so briefly as you find to be possible. Do not be surprised that your Mattin prayer as simple as, “Good morning God” begins to grow into much more as you find refreshing drinks of living water for your spirit.

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[1] Mark 2:27.

[2] Chittister, Joan, A Spirituality for the 21st Century, New York, NY: Crossroads, 2016. pg. 106.

Danny Nobles

email: dan@christmission.us. I grew up in rural Alabama, the youngest of six boys. Inheriting values of faith and service to others from my parents. Connie and I met in Kansas. We married and raised two daughters. Today, 43 years later, we live in North Carolina and enjoy 7 grandchildren. Retired from the Army, I entered seminary and earned a PhD, studying the stresses faced by Christian leaders and ways of promoting their wellbeing. Seeking a different path of spiritual growth, I discovered the Order of St. Benedict, and found a community of faithful disciples who seek to be with our Lord more than trying to do Christianity. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? As I learned to pray contemplatively, it was as if my second lung began to breath. My life became less hectic and my soul found peace. To me, monastic spirituality is being with God in community. As we serve others, we realize that God is serving through us. My advice to others - seek to be with God rather than insisting on doing for God. As He fills you with Himself, He will do mighty things around (and sometimes through) you.