Last Saturday was the 140th
mention the Derby in
the Benedictine Rule.
Of course not!
He wrote his Rule many centuries before the first running of
the Kentucky Derby.
But on second thought, he did have some sense of an
important race taking place.
He may not have had the “The Run for the Roses” in mind, but
he surely wrote plenty
about running a race
and crossing the finish line.
Right In the very beginning of the Rule, in the Prologue, he
has his monks at the starting gate
biting at the bit.
He instructs them:
run
-- while you have the light of life;
run
-- by doing good deeds;
run -- and do now what will profit you
forever;
run -- with your hearts overflowing with
the inexpressible delight of love.
Then he enlightens them on some of the tricks of the trade:
how to be aware of others in the
race
how to set the pace
how to avoid trouble spots
how to stay focused
how to stay in the race
Benedict doesn’t seem to care about who crosses the finish
line first.
He just wants everyone to give their very best.
The only competition he really supports is found in
Chapter 72 of the
Rule:
Earnestly
competing in obedience to one another
they should each try to be the first
to show respect to the other.
Benedict awards no wreath of roses or claim to fame at the
end of the race.
But he does promise that those who cross the finish line
will know the
inexpressible delight
of love and will receive everlasting life.
Sr. Betty Cahill, OSB
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