Poetry in Ordinary Time: St. Benedict's Day

Icon of St. Benedict of Nursia
Source: Wikipedia commons

Thanks to the Anglican Sisters of St. John the Divine, who reminded your Editor that today is the Feast Day of St. Benedict...and shared this lovely sonnet in his honour, written by that wonderful poet priest, Malcolm Guite...

Benedict

You sought to start a simple school of prayer,
A modest, gentle, moderate attempt,
With nothing made too harsh or hard to bear,
No treating or retreating with contempt,
A little rule, a small obedience
That sets aside, and tills the chosen ground,
Fruitful humility, chosen innocence,
A binding by which freedom might be found

You call us all to live, and see good days,
Centre in Christ and enter in his peace,
To seek his Way amidst our many ways,
Find blessedness in blessing, peace in praise,
To clear and keep for Love a sacred space
That we might be beginners in God’s grace.

-- Malcolm Guite, from The Singing Bowl, Canterbury Press, 2013

To hear the poet read this aloud, click HERE.