St Benedict's Blessing - Fruitfulness of the Spirit and Author of Heaven

Blessing to all and especially ... "to those whom he was arming against the cruelty of the world and the violence of the devil: 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'" (from quote below)


I, Aramis, believe that when we write or read other commentaries on the culture today about concerns over religionists terrorizing the world we must always re-member who (or what) we ourselves are birthing (see previous post, God in a World of Violence). Are we birthing ressentiment by way of getting caught up in bad imitation of the other and therefore fanning fire with fire or are we birthing Him? From the Meditation of the Day in the Magnificat today: "And of course this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith, but only if it is not tepid or timorous but confident, a faith unfeigned, a hope unshaken. Not only is the world overcome by it but heaven is won." It is our faith gifted to us by Our Lord that overcomes the world as we go out and share it with those close as well to those who are foreign to us - both are our sisters and brothers.

The Reign of God at Hand

Saint Benedict’s blessing is in the fruitfulness of the Spirit and the Author of heaven, who speaks through the Prophets: “I will be as the dew.” Of him also it is said: “Your dew is the dew of light.” And certainly in Christ is the blessing of the Father, for the Father proclaimed of him: “Blessed be everyone who blesses you.” In very truth therefore the man who trust in the Lord is blessed in the Lord because whoever puts his trust in the Lord inserts himself into him. The tree drinks in the sap of life and the waters of fertility from wherever its roots have penetrated. And surely he has sent out his roots to the waters who – I use the words of our master, Benedict – “has put his hope in God’ and from the very Source of All Good drinks in the waters of life full of blessings and grace.

Through this loving and devoted confidence sins are forgiven, healing obtained for bodily ills and more especially for ills of the soul, dangers averted, fears despised, the world overcome; all things are possible to the one who believes, there is no doubt about it. To those in sins, Christ says: “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you;” to those to whom he gives health of body or soul: “According to your faith be it done to you,” and: “Your faith has made you well”; to those terrified and in danger of shipwreck: “Have faith in God,” and: “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” to those whom he was arming against the cruelty of the world and the violence of the devil: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

And of course this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith, but only if it is not tepid or timorous but confident, a faith unfeigned, a hope unshaken. Not only is the world overcome by it but heaven is won.

Blessed Guerric of Igny (+ 1157) was an abbot and a close friend of Saint Bernard.
tip from Doctors of the Catholic Church and the Magnificat