There is a special quality to hearing someone read aloud, especially when they are good readers. My wife read to me and our daughters as we traveled on long road trips to visit grandparents or as we moved from one Army installation to another. Those were sweet times that soothed the soul. The girls would be quiet and listen until she finished a chapter. Then they would beg for one more chapter. I would drive and get lost in the word pictures drawn by the author and shared by my wife. She is a good reader.
When I visit Belmont Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Gastonia, North Carolina, I enjoy the readings during dinner with the other monks. We sit quietly and eat while the reader opens a book and shares with the community. Readings may be from a commentary of The Rule, homilies of Church Fathers, or Holy Scripture. Regardless, the brother who reads is well acquainted with the text and it shows in the reading. The others appear to enjoy the practice as much as me.
I began visiting Belmont Abbey before learning anything of the Rule of St. Benedict. In fact, it was at the Abbey that I first read The Rule. It was on the little desk in my guest room. It was exciting to read this chapter and learn the intentionality that goes into the practice of The Reader. This is a lesson for all of us living either cloistered or outside the walls of the monastery. We ought to be intentional about doing whatever we are about to do and doing it well.
The Reader is selected based on ability, not seniority or other role in the community. The Reader is prepared for the task. The community prays for the Reader and he is blessed. The Reader also prays for the Lord’s strength during the readings. Three times he prays, “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim you praise.” There is another lesson for us in this preparation. We must prepare by study, becoming familiar with the text before reading it to others. We need the support of the community and blessing of the community. And we submit the task to the Lord for His praise.
Reading is not intended to be an overwhelming burden, but an opportunity to share one’s ability to the benefit of the whole community. Benedict constantly provides for support of any task by every member. On occasion, I have been asked to speak at luncheons and dinners. This is always a challenge to eat, visit, and be ready to speak. Meals are seldom enjoyable on these occasions. I have never had someone make accommodations for this challenge. However, Benedict sets aside the Readers eating time to proceed the regular meal and join the kitchen staff. Additionally, the reader is given drink before he begins to read. The Rule offers great respect and compassion for others.
In our daily rhythm of life, we may enrichen our families and communities by offering a time of reading and listening during meals. My family often gathers for Sunday lunch and we have a time for listening to a listen read by one of us to the others. These are precious times that exercise skills of reading and listening that may otherwise be ignored.
