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You are invited to explore the latest
Mewsletter
from the
Feline Benedictine Cloister
2nd Quarter 2024
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Welcome to the Mewsletter!
I’m Br. Ricky, Novice Master and Mewsletter editor. I bring you Benedictine wisdom from the Feline Cloister.
I am delighted to share our summer issue on "Benedictine Travel." Yes, St. Benedict has suggestions for his monastics and for us about how to have a meaningful travel experience.
Check it out even if you aren't planning to travel.
There is a lot more in this issue, too. Ready to explore? Me-e-eow!
Mewsletter Contents
Here’s what you will find in the Mewsletter. Read it all or scroll down to the section you want to read.
Become a Worldwide Novice
Mewsings from the Feline Cloister - "The Touch of God in Travel"
Felines Unpack the Rule of St. Benedict - "Unpacking Benedictine Travel - RB 50 & 67"
The Benedictine Numbers Game - A fun game to test your familiarity with how Benedict uses numbers in the Rule
Mewsletter Monastery - Santa Rita Monastery in Pima County, Arizona
Who Was Santa Rita?
Novice Application
Visit the Feline Cloister
Benedictine Numbers Game Answers
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Become a Worldwide Novice | |
Hello! My name is Novice Dodie, one of the Worldwide Novices of the Feline Cloister. We mew from all over the world. My home is in Eugene, Oregon.
I love being a novice. Br. Ricky, our Novice Master, teaches us all about the Rule of St. Benedict. Every month we receive his Monday Mewsing via mew-mail. We have a special section of the website just for us!
I will bet you ten cat treats that your cat would love to become a Worldwide Novice.
Don't have a feline? No problem. Sign up a friend or neighbor's feline.
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Mewsings from
the Feline Cloister
"The Touch of God
in Travel"
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Jasper, resigned to travel but worried about the long security lines at the airport. | |
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Hello. Amma Jane here. Are you traveling this summer? After the interruption of COVID many of us are eager to visit family and friends or venture to somewhere brand new.
Br. Ricky asked me to write this Mewsing about travel. He admitted that Feline Cloister members abhor travel and are loath to even write about it. I get that. Most, if not all feline travel, is to the vet.
In my article I offer an experience of God's grace on a trip I had to France. Then I give you some to time reflect on the touch of God in your own travels.
Please join me by clicking on the link below. Blessings.
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Felines Unpack The Rule of St. Benedict
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Resident Novice
Sebastian Thomas,
Contributor
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"Unpacking Benedictine Travel"
RB 50 & 67
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“Members sent on a journey will ask the prioress or abbot and the community to pray for them. "
Rule of St. Benedict, 67.1
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Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas has finished his research and reflection on travel in The Rule of St. Benedict. He is ready to share with you the inspiration for spiritual travel found in the Rule.
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Announcing the Winner of Last Issue's Game -
Name That Role
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Br. Ricky is delighted to announce the winner of last month's "Benedictine Lingo" game, Name That Role. The winner is
Beth of Iowa City, Iowa
Congratulations, Beth!
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To see this game in the1st Quarter issue of the Mewsletter, click here. | |
The Benedictine Numbers Game | |
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Feline Cloister Porter Sr. Nikki, OSB-F, studying the use
of numbers in the Rule to help Br. Ricky design the new game
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Here’s an opportunity for you to test your knowledge about Benedict's use of numbers in his Rule.
Below, match the use of each number on the left with the answer on the right. Answers 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.
A prize will be given to the first person who contacts Br Ricky with all correct answers! 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!
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The Benedictine Numbers Game! | |
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The Numbers
A. These 3 are the foundation of Benedictine living
B. 2 kinds of this are permitted because of individual weaknesses
C. This can happen 3 times before a member must leave the monastery permanently
D. 1 or 2 persons who make the rounds to ensure everyone is reading
E. 2 persons who make sure that visitors are well fed
F. 1 monastic who helps newcomers
G. ½ of this each day is sufficient
H. 12 of these bring the monastic to that perfect love of God
I. This is said three times at the beginning of Vigils
J. 8 of these is where God is especially present
K. This person takes care of 10 monastics
L. This person is allowed 4 verbal warnings before receiving the discipline of the Rule.
M. There are 4 kinds of these persons
N. #1 preference for Benedictine living
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Answers
Steps of humility
Prior
“Open my lips…”
Monks
Seniors
Senior chosen for skill in winning souls
Bottle of Wine
The Divine Office – Opus Dei
The vows – stability, obedience, conversion of life
Dean
Number of times the monastic can return to the monastery
Christ
Cooked food
Monastics assigned to the guest kitchen
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Resident Novice Sebastian Thomas'
Aunt Flossie hisses yet again,
"I didn't get the prize for the last game. I'm really annoyed!
Br. Ricky better give me the prize for this game! Hiss!"
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The Monastery of the Mewsletter
Santa Rita Abbey
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Santa Rita Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the high desert of Southern Arizona. The monastery was founded in 1972 by Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey, in Wrentham, Massachusetts. At Santa Rita the love of God, neighbor, and all creation come together in a life of prayer, sincere conversion, humble service, simplicity and joy. | |
The principal industry of the monastery is the production and mailing of Altar Breads. Altar breads are not magically created in a cellophane wrappers. These breads take human hands, work and love of Christ. For an informative slide tour showing how altar breads are made, click here.
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Sr. Rita preparing a shipment
of altar bread
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A second industry is sculpture created by Sister Esther Sawal, OCSO. Arriving at the monastery from religious life in the Philippines, she has channeled her artistic talents into sculpture. | |
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“No matter how simple the work, hands that labor are united with Christ in the work of recreating the world. Our work is not just something that earns our living but an essential aspect of our spiritual gift of self to the redemption of humanity.”
To learn more about work in the community, click here.
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Sister Esther at work in her
sculpting studio.
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The slide show, “A Day in the Life of Santa Rita Abbey,” presents a wonderful picture of the Cistercian life in the monastery with the alternation of prayer, work, and rest. Click here to view this slide show. | |
The Cloister felines also loved reading about the journeys of several of the community members. To reach this section, tap here. | |
The sisters of Santa Rita Abbey | | |
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The Feline Cloister gives a thumbs up to a documentary film created by producer Victoria Westover. The film chronicles the life of the cloistered nuns at Santa Rita Abbey.
In “Final Vows” sisters candidly share their joys and struggles. While each woman’s journey is unique, they all felt a call and chose to join this community of prayer and work. Made from small moments of daily life, the film serves as a meditation on aging and caring for others and asks viewers to consider if this lifestyle offers any wisdom for our society. The film will be released in the Fall of 2024.
You may view a moving six-minute trailer by clicking here.
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Who was Saint Rita of Casia? | |
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Born at Roccaporena in central Italy in 1381, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded.
Over the years, her austerity, prayerfulness, and charity became legendary. When she developed wounds on her forehead, people quickly associated them with the wounds from Christ’s crown of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christ’s passion. Her care for the sick nuns was especially loving. She also counseled lay people who came to her monastery.
Rita died in 1457.
Beatified in 1626, Rita was not canonized until 1900. She has acquired the reputation, together with Saint Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. Many people visit her tomb in Cascia, Italy, each year.
To read more about Saint Rita, tap here.
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Visit the Feline Cloister | |
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Meet the members of the Order of St. Benedict-Feline (OSB-F).
They will mew the fine points of The Rule of St. Benedict.
Explore articles written by Cloister Feline Benedictines and meet all the novices!
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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.
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Felines - You Too Can Become a Novice!
Help You and Your Human Learn More
About the Benedictine Way of Life
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Pumpkin mews, "May I become a Worldwide Novice, Susie?" | | |
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I hope you enjoyed and learned from this issue of the Mewsletter. I loved learning about Santa Rita Abbey.
Have a wonderful and safe summer.
Your Feline Friend and Companion,
Br. Ricky, OSB-F
Novice Master and Mewsletter Editor
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Benedictine Numbers Game Answers | |
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A. The vows – stability, obedience, conversion of life RB 58.17
B. Cooked food RB 39.1
C. Number of times the monastic can return to the monastery RB 29.3
D. Seniors RB 48.17-18
E. Monastics assigned to the guest kitchen RB 5 53.17
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F. Senior chosen for skill in winning souls RB 58.6
G. Bottle of Wine RB 40.3
H. Steps of humility RB 7
I. “Open my lips…” RB 9.1
J. The Divine Office – Opus Dei RB 8-19
K. Dean RB 21.2
L. Prior RB 65.18
M. Monks RB 1
N. Christ RB 72.11
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If you got all the answers right, contact Br. Ricky.
You may win the prize!
To contact Br Ricky, click here or use this mew-mail address:
Felinecloister@stbenedictstoolbox.org
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