Hello, Novice { } and { } Welcome back to the Mewsletter. As Benedict says in Chapter 66 on the porter of the monastery - "Your blessing, please." RB 66.5

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

I'm delighted to share that we have two new Worldwide Novices! Read all about it below.

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!

Felines Unpack the Rule of St. Benedict - "Chapter 22 - The Sleeping Arrangements of Monastics, Verse 5 - What to do with those dangerous knives??

Mewsings from the Feline Cloister - Not quite ready.... See below.

Learning Benedictine Lingo - Sarabaties and Gyrovagues

Mewsletter Monastery - Malling Abbey in Kent, England

Novice Application

Visit the Feline Cloister

Benedictine Lingo Answers



"Hello from Memphis, Tennesee. I came to the Feline Cloister seeking a quiet and peaceful life. My sister Pearl, who is also a Worldwide Novice, often bullys me, so I'm hoping that the Rule will help her change this behavior. I'm holding my breath!"

"Hey there! Hope you're having a great day! Just call me Pearl. I'm so excited about becoming a part of the Feline Cloister. I’m joining because I think I need to. I'm told that I can be a bit demanding. I trust that the Rule can help me moderate this trait."

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.

Greetings! Resident Novice Michael James here. The above verse is from Benedict's chapter on the sleeping arrangements of the monastics.

The verse puzzles me. Why did the monastics need to be told to remove their knives before sleeping? Seems pretty obvious to me that it could be dangerous to sleep with a knife. But there must be a good reason otherwise Benedict would not have made this point!

Take a look and see if you agree!!

Resident Novice Terri was excited to write a Mewsing on the use of the heart in the Rule. But she has run into some research and time roadblocks. This has lead to a paw block in the writing.

Her goal is to offer the article in a "Mewsletter-In-Between" for August. The fall-back is to include it in the Fall Mewsletter.

Novice Terri asks for your understanding. She suggests, in the interim, that you look at Amma's article, "Living from the Spiritual Heart." You can reach Amma's reflection by clicking here.

Maximillian is once again puzzled by Benedictine lingo and mews,

“Are these new dances?”

As Novice Master one of the first things that I share with the novices is Chapter 1: The Kinds of Monks in The Rule of St. Benedict. These monk types are Hermits, Cenobites, Sarabaites and Gyrovagues. 

I ask the novices to ponder if they are a sarabaite, gyrovague, hermit or cenobite in their life and faith. All the time or just some of the time?

In the last Mewsletter we looked at the Cenobite, the strong kind, according to Benedict. Cenobites live in a monastery with others, serve under a Rule and a superior. If you missed this Mewsletter you can see it by clicking here. 

Today we'll take a look at Sarabaites and Gyrovagues, two very un-Benedictine types of monks whose actions we must avoid. Here’s a quick description.

In the scenarios below, decide if the feline is a sarabaite or gyrovague. Then think about yourself – Are you a sarabaite or gyrovague, sometimes, in some situations??

The answers are at the end of the email.



Sarabaite or Gyrovague??

A. "I absolutely refuse to be around him any longer. If he wants me on that committee, I will make an excuse and avoid the whole thing.”   

B. Unhappy with the new rector and the mewsic at St. Michael’s in Felinesville, Sara Beth is off to her third church in a year.  

C. “I only do what I want to do. If I have to do something else, either I don’t do it or I do it and grumble.”  

D. After basking in the hospitality of the Swithins Chapter of Cats for Humans, noted for the great cat treats served at meetings, Bob takes a powder when asked to help with the next campaign.  

E. Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas'

Aunt Flossie hisses, "I make my OWN decisions

without consulting anyone else

and that's the way I like it. MY way."

If you would like to learn about the types of monks mentioned in the Rule, take a look at Amma's books:

St. Benedict's Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living

The Rule of Benedict: Christian Monastic Wisdom for Daily Living

The Monastery of the Mewsletter

Malling Abbey - Kent, England

Malling Abbey is a community of Anglican Benedictine women. In 2008 as a part of a three-month sabbatical Amma visited this abbey located in West Malling, Kent, England.  

Founded as a community of Benedictine nuns in c1090 by the Norman monk-bishop Gundulf of Rochester, the Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII. The lands and property passed into secular ownership.

In the late 19th Century the Abbey was restored to its original purpose by a charitable trust founded by Charlotte Boyd. Click on her name and read her most interesting story.

Since 1916 the community has resided in this historic place, offering a place of rest and renewal. 

The modern church and the Norman west front

Worship is at the heart of the life of the nuns at Malling Abbey. Daily they meet together in the church for the seven monastic offices as well as for daily Eucharist. Amma can attest to the beauty of their singing the monastic offices. She was fortunate to hear a concert performed by the nuns. 

Another ministry of hospitality for Malling Abbey is the St. Benedict Retreat Centre. St Benedict’s Centre is an collaboration between the Benedictine Community at Malling Abbey and the Diocese of Rochester. Here, individuals and groups find a quiet and beautiful environment to rest, retreat, study, create, meet and/or work.  

St. Benedict of

Malling Abbey

Benedictine Lingo Answers

A., C. and E felines are Sarabaties. B. and D. felines are Gyrovagues.

If you missed any, no big meow. There is overlap in definitions.

The important thing is to be a Cenobite in your life - be faithful to your communities, seek counsel and follow the good road of the Gospel.