St Oswald's Magazine StOM 1507 | Page 17

Anglican Calendar of Prayer for July 2015 5th 12th 19th 26th Osaka, Japan - The Rt Revd Andrew Haruhisa Iso Peru, Southern America – The Rt Revd Dr Harold William Godfrey Port Elizabeth (S Africa), The Rt Revd Neeba Nopece Quebec (Canada) The Rt Revd Dennis Paul Drainville Anglican Calendar of Prayer for August 2015 2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th Renek (Sudan) The Rt Revd Joseph Garang Atem Rochester (11, The Episcopal Church, USA) The Rt Revd Dr Prince Singh Ruvuma (Tanzania) The Rt Revd Dr Matemus Kapinga San Diego (1X, The Episcopal Church, USA) The Rt Revd James Mathes Sebel (Uganda) The Rt Revd Paul Kiptoo Masaba “Library voice please” (quote) We learn by example and those who attend or visit places of worship, including St Oswald’s, will remember the days that inside buildings of religion you could “hear a pin drop”. Unfortunately, regardless of age or sex of persons, invasion of our own and our neighbours silence is invaded every minute of every day by voices and loud conversations, the attachment to new technology, the roar of transport and “white noise”. St. Benedict of Nursia, a simple Italian monk of the sixth century, more than 1500 years ago composed his now famous Rule that is still as meaningful today. Numerous spiritual principles have their origins in Benedict’s great Rule - Discipline; Humility; Work; Hospitality and then there is Spiritual Reading, or lectio divina. Visit almost any Benedictine monastery at meal time and you’ll be treated to a form of this ancient tradition practiced out loud, when a designated monk reads while the others eat. In the refectory the reading is done by one of the brothers, while everyone else eats in silence. Does this describe and draw the picture of our service of Holy Communion at St Oswald’s? The Rule puts it this way: “There is to be complete silence, so that no whisper nor any voice other than that of the reader be heard there. Whatever is wanted for eating and drinking the brethren should pass to one another, so that no one need ask for anything. If, however, something is wanted, it should be asked for by some sign or sound rather than by speaking.” Morag, Magazine Editor StOM Page 17