Welcome back to the Mewsletter!

I’m Br. Ricky, Novice Master and Mewsletter editor. I bring you Benedictine wisdom from the Feline Cloister. 

As Benedict says in Chapter 66 on the porter of the monastery - "Thanks be to God" you are here! RB 66.5

Thanks be to God I'm here, too!!

Amma and I apologize for the lateness of this first quarter Mewsletter. Life interfered. I even had to visit the vet but am feeling much better! 

We introduce two new Worldwide Novices and have a special game for you - with a prize! Without further mewing, let’s get started! We hope that you enjoy and learn from this Mewsletter.

This is a packed-with-info Mewsletter. Take your time!

Mewsletter Contents

Here’s what you will find in the Mewsletter. Read it all or scroll down to the section you want to read.

Our New Worldwide Novices!

Mewsings from the Feline Cloister - "Greed or Glory - Your Choice!"

Felines Unpack the Rule of St. Benedict - "Are You Listening? RB 5.15"

Learning Benedictine Lingo - A fun game about roles within the monastery

Mewsletter Monastery - Monastère de l’Arbre de Vie in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

What is the Tree of Life? - Learn about the amazing baobab tree

Novice Application

Visit the Feline Cloister

Benedictine Lingo Answers



"I'm Felecity, mewing a joyful 'Hello' from Clyde, Missouri. I live in a monastery with the sisters and my monastery mate, Mimi.

I am a curious feline and am very curious about the Rule of St. Benedict. I hope to learn alot through my investigations."

To read all about Felicity, tap here.

"Hi there. My name is Mimi. I live in a monastery in Clyde, Missouri, with the sisters and my monastery mate, Felicity.  I would like to join the Feline Cloister as a Worldwide Novice because I ‘m special! Aren't all felines and humans who follow the Rule specal?

To learn about Mimi, tap here.

Hi! Sr. Espy here. I have a request -

Will all of us who are greedy, please stand up! 

What? Not one of us is standing? Not even me? 

Maybe we need to expand our understanding of what greed is by culling the Rule of St. Benedict. It may not be just about money.

Join me as we take a look at this pesky characteristic of many felines and humans. It is a spiritual danger with consequences to ourselves and to others. And especially to our relationship with God.

At Br. Ricky’s request Resident Novices will choose and unpack a verse from the Rule in each Mewsletter issue. Novices will not only learn more about the Rule but will also be taught to research noted Benedictine scholars and writers. At the end of the article each Novice contributor will share what the verse means to her or him. And to US as we follow the wisdom of the Rule.

Hello! I would like to share with you what I learned about the above verse in Chapter 5 - Obedience.

Please don't rush away! I know that "obedience" is not a favorite word or sought-after practice. Personally, I harbor a lifelong suspicion of authority. Actually, being obedient to anyone is a challenge! 

Br. Ricky knew that I had much to learn about obedience and assigned this verse to straightened me out. The good news is that I learned some really helpful things about the importance and practice of obedience that support the way we go to God.

My research even helped out Lilibet, one of our Worldwide Novices.

Give obedience a listen!

This section explores terms found in the Benedictine Glossary of Amma Jane’s website, St. Benedict’s Toolbox Annex. If you are an old hand with the Rule of Benedict, I invite you to scroll to another section of the Mewsletter or have some treats or take a nap.

Br. Ricky, Cloister Novice Master and Mewsletter editor, designed this section and wants you to have some fun with it as you learn.

Worldwide Novice Mao of Carmel, Indiana, is eager to try the game. He's hoping the prize is a large bag of crunchy cat treats!

Here’s an opportunity for you to test your knowledge about the different roles presented in the Rule.

Below, match the task or description on the left with the monastic role listed on the right. Roles are used only once. Please use a separate piece of paper to record your answers. Correct answers and references in the Rule are at the end of the Mewsletter. 

If you need a hint, you can check the Benedictine Glossary. 

A prize will be given to the first person with all correct answers who contacts Br Ricky!  We’ll use the honor system here. 

To contact Br Ricky, click here or paste in this mew-mail address:

felinecloister@stbenedictstoolbox.org

Here we go! Have fun!

Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas'

Aunt Flossie hisses,

"I will get all the answers right, so

Br. Ricky better give me the prize!"

The Monastery of the Mewsletter

Monastère de l’Arbre de Vie

The Monastère de l’Arbre de Vie (Tree of Life Monastery) is located in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo is in Western Central Africa, the 2^nd largest country in Africa, and the 7^th largest in the world. The land is rich in resources but has been tormented by war and political conflict which has caused suffering and food insecurity. The tensions and warring of different groups bring constant interruptions in the delivery of food and medical supplies.  

This community of Benedictine women is in an area that is landlocked, poor and without infrastructure. Their focus is two-fold: prayer and work. 

The community is working hard to alleviate some of the rampant suffering of the people. The sisters have developed their land for agriculture. They have planted forest trees, fruit trees and vegetables. This allows seasonal workers to be employed and support their families. From their website:

“Not only do our neighbors come to feed on the Word of God, they also come to stock up on vegetables. Two years ago we started planting fruit trees and growing vegetables. Today we have good harvests. Young boys work with us and can thus pay for their schooling and a woman can pay the rent for her house.”

Workers in the monastery’s cassava field

For Benedict, monastic life remains a place of permanent formation, a place where instruction is put into practice. In keeping with this spirit, the community has trained their sisters in nursing, theology, financial management, ago vegetarianism, agro forestry and agro product processing techniques.

Sister Emerence Mbala Kitenge, OSB, of the Tree of Life monastery, shares their goals of care of the earth and for their neighbors.

“We steward our land and extend our learning to our neighbors.”  

Sister Evelyne pressing nuts for palm oil

The magnificent and benevolent baobab tree



Around for 200 million years, this amazing and resilient tree can live up to 3,000 years!

Animals can be sustained through drought by eating its bark. “For humans, the baobab’s fruit pulp can be eaten, soaked in water to make a refreshing drink, preserved into a jam, or roasted and ground to make a coffee-like substance. The bark can be pounded to make everything from rope, mats, and baskets to paper and cloth. Leaves are also used, they can be boiled and eaten, or glue can be made from their flower’s pollen.”

No wonder the name Tree of Life was chosen! The Benedictine community of Monastère de l’Arbre de Vie is the Tree of Life to their neighbors!

Information about the baobabtree is from the website, One Earth

Baking altar bread –

Queen of Peace, Nigeria

Benedictine Lingo Answers

1.   Sarabaite RB 1.8-9

2.   Gyrovague RB 1.10

3.   Cenobite RB 1.13

4.   Abbot RB 2.2

5.   Novice Master RB 58.6

6.   Dean RB 21.2

7.   Infirmarian  RB 36.8, 9, 6

8.   Traveling monastic RB 55.13

9.  Kitchen Server RB 35.17

10. Reader of the Week RB 38.10

11.  Porter RB 66.1

12.  Cellarer RB 31.1, 6

If you got all the roles matched right, contact Br. Ricky.

You may win the prize!

To contact Br Ricky, click here or use this mew-mail address:

Felinecloister@stbenedictstoolbox.org