You are invited to explore the latest Mewsletter from the Feline Benedictine Cloister Fall, 2022

Hello. Welcome back to the Mewsletter. Thanks be to God that you are here!  I’m Br. Ricky, Novice Master and Mewsletter editor. I am delighted to bring you Benedictine wisdom from the Feline Cloister.  May what you read here not only give you a path to a fulfilling life, but also offer a chuckle or two. Mewsletter Contents Here’s what you will find in the Mewsletter. Read it all or scroll down to the section you want to read. New! The Worldwide Paradise Cloister Mewsings from the Feline Cloister - "Turning From The Crickets" Felines Unpack the Rule of St. Benedict - "Prologue 19-20 - The Sweetness of Christ" Learning Benedictine Lingo - Who/What is the Porter? Benedictine Scholars  Novice Application Visit the Feline Cloister 

Honor Your Beloved Departed Animal Friends in the Worldwide Paradise Cloister

The Feline Cloister invites all humans to honor the memory of their beloved departed animal friends in the new Worldwide Paradise Cloister page on the St. Benedict's Toolbox website. 

The Worldwide Paradise Cloister is open to all animal friends - felines, canines, birds, reptiles and little animals like gerbils. Losing a beloved animal friend is difficult. Writing a simple remembrance can be healing. If you don't need to honor a beloved pet right now, please look at the Worldwide Paradise Cloister page. The words and stories touch the heart.

Visit the Worldwide Paradise Cloister

Mewsings from the Feline Cloister "Turning Away from the Crickets" by Sr. Maggie, OSB-F

What's this about crickets??

I had a long mew with Amma last week.  She’s concerned that there are Cloister members who are straying from their deeper purpose – to love God and others and to follow the guidance of the Rule.  Amma asked me to prepare a PawerPoint presentation to help members refocus on their deeper purpose. Please join me as I share the story of what is going on and mew some thoughts.   I believe that each one of us, feline and human, can learn from these straying Benedictines. For... Is there anyone among us who does NOT get distracted from our life with God or fly off on some kind of tangent?

Click here to join Sr. Maggie

Felines Unpack The Rule of St. Benedict

At Br. Ricky’s request Cloister 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.

Novice Terri - Contributor Prologue 19-20 - The Sweetness of Christ "“What, dear sisters and brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Holy One calling to us? See how God’s love shows us the way of life.”   Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue 19-20

Hello! I’m Novice Terri. Welcome to my favorite verse in the Rule – Prologue, Verses 19-20.   My mew sings when I read and reflect on these words. Click on the link below to find out why.

Explore Prologue 19-20 with Novice Terri

Learning Benedictine Lingo

In this section of each Mewsletter you will be introduced to a term that is 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.

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Smokey is curious about Benedictine terms

The Benedictine Term for Today - Porter

Benedictine Term Quiz Who or what is a porter in the Benedictine monastery? Which of the following do you think might fit the Benedictine porter? A.   A monastic who has a part time job carrying luggage and other loads, especially in a railroad station, airport, or hotel. B.   A feline Benedictine employed to carry supplies on a mountaineering expedition. (Really????) C. A dark brown bitter beer brewed from malt partly charred or browned by drying at a high temperature. D. The monastic who makes sure the front door outside lights are working. E. The monastic who makes porter wine. 

Is this a Benedictine Porter? Well…yes, but not as St. Benedict envisioned. Check out the brewery Mount Angel Abbey 

Br. Randolph, OSB-C (Order of St Benedict – Canine) says, “Canines carry human luggage, not felines!"  Is Br. Randolph a porter?

Which descriptions did you choose that fit your idea of a porter? “D” comes the closest. A porter's role is to greet visitors at the entrance to the monastery. Light is needed when it's dark so that the visitor feels welcomed. To learn about the porter, click here. Then scroll down and click on “Porter” for more information. Or, if you really want some interesting information about the porter, check out Br. Ricky's research notes on the porter of the monastery. He had fun doing the research!.

Zip to Br. Ricky's Research on the Porter

Fr. Martin Grassel, O.S.B., general manager and head brewer at the Benedictine Brewery, Mount Angel Abbey

AN INTERESTING FACT: The beer brewed now at Mount Angel follows the early monastic tradition and is “crafted for a higher purpose.” It’s likely the only beer in the US that receives a priestly blessing at every stage, from raising the hops to pulling the tap. Mount Angel Abbey’s Benedictine Brewery and Taproom is one of a very few monastic breweries currently operating in the United States.

A Little Bit About Mount Angel Abbey Mount Angel Abbey Marion County, Oregon, was founded in 1882 by Father Adelhelm Odermatt, a monk of Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland (Amma says, "Check out the great organ on this link!) He had come to America with Father Frowin Conrad who founded Conception Abbey.  (See the Summer issue of the Mewsletter for information about Conception Abbey and Engelberg Abbey. Click here.) Father Adelhelm did not like some of the changes that Father Frowin made to the monastic practice. He left to establish another monastic community, a dream fulfilled in Oregon. In the late 19th century Mount Angel Priory founded a college and then a seminary, now the oldest in existence west of the Rockies. Mount Angel, a translation of the Swiss “Engelberg,” became an Abbey in 1904. With the completed construction of Benet Hall (1959), the abbey guest and retreat house, made it possible for the community to expand its work of traditional Benedictine hospitality and retreats. Today Mount Angel Abbey strives to be a place where all can “seek things above” in peace and solitude. The Abbey keeps vital the ancient traditions of Divine Office, love of learning, and hospitality. Amma says that she would like to spend time in their immense library. 

Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey

Visit the Feline Cloister

Meet the members of the Order of St. Benedict-Feline (OSB-F). They will mew the fine points of The Rule of St. Benedict.

Their mission is to teach felines and humans about The Rule of St. Benedict and how the Rule can help us find peace and joy in daily life.

Jump to the Feline Cloister

Benedictine Scholars quoted by Feline Cloister Writers

Sr. Scholastica Muffin, OSB-F, PhD-F  To learn about Sr. Scholastica, click here.

Br. Terrence Sebastian Furling, OSB-F, PhD-F To read about Br. Terrence, jump here.

Felines - You Too Can Become a Novice! Help You and Your Human Learn More About the Benedictine Way of Life

‌ Jump to the Novice Application

"I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Mewsletter. And I really hope that you found it interesting and learned some new things, too. I am a bit late for the Quarterly Newsletter and am targeting February, 2023 for the next issue. There's a lot more on the newly designed website for Benedictine living. I'll meet you there!"

Visit the New St. Benedict's Toolbox Website

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