I've Been Enrolled...

Actually, not in the army of the United States, but I was just recently enrolled in the Brown Scapular! I've written a post on the Scapular earlier, however I had not been enrolled before. My priest graciously heard my confession, and then led a ceremony enrolling me in this wonderful devotion. My commitment is that I must recite the Divine Office daily---namely, I'll be doing morning, evening, and night prayers from the Christian Prayer book I have. I definitely urge all of you to become apart of this devotion if you are not already. What a wonderful way to prepare for death and for the Lord's coming! Below I'm going to give you some instruction I received when I got my scapular. It is called "The Rule of St. Benedict (For Daily Living)". As you may know, the St. Benedict medal is on many scapulars (mine is no exception) and the rule of St. Benedict should be observed by every Christian in my mind. Read for yourself and I think you'll see why. I know I have a lot of these to work on!

It is written: Do all things with counsel, and thy deeds shall not bring thee repentance.

In the first place, to love the Lord God with all one's heart, all one's soul and all one's strength.

Then one's neighbor as oneself.

Then not to kill. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal.

Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honour all men.

Not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself.

To deny oneself, in order to follow Christ.

To chastise the body. Not to seek soft living. To love fasting.

To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick.

To bury the dead. To help the afflicted. To console the sorrowing. To avoid worldly conduct.

To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.

Not to yield to anger. Not to nurse a grudge.

Not to hold guile in one's heart.

Not to make a feigned, (false show of), peace. not to forsake charity.

Not to swear, lest perchance one forswear oneself. (to swear falsely)

To utter truth from heart and mouth. Not to render evil for evil.

To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.

To love one's enemies.

Not to render cursing for cursing, but rather blessing.

To bear persecution for justice sake.

Not to be proud. Not a wine bibber, (habitual drinker).

Not a glutton. Not somnolent, (inclined to sleep).

Not slothful. Not a grumbler.

Not a detractor, (slanderer). To put ones hope in God.

To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself

but to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself.

To fear the day judgement. To dread Hell.

To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life.

To desire eternal life with all spiritual longing.

To keep death daily before one's eyes.

To know for certain that God sees one everywhere.

When evil thoughts come into one's heart, to dash them at once on the rock of Christ and to manifest them to one's spiritual advisor (confessor).

To keep one's mouth from evil and depraved talk.

Not to love much speaking.

Not to speak vain words or such as move to laughter.

To listen gladly to holy reading.

To apply oneself frequently to prayer.

Daily in one's prayer, with tears and sighs, to confess one's past sins to God. To amend those sins for the future.

Not to fulfill the desires of the the flesh. To hate one's own will.

not to wish to be called holy before one is holy, but first to be holy, that one may more truly be called so.

To fulfil God's commandments daily in one's deeds.

To love chastity. To hate no man.

Not to be jealous. Not to give way to envy.

Not to love contention, (conflict). To shun vainglory, (boastfulness).

To reverence the old. To love the young.

To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ.

To make peace with one's adversary before sundown.

And never despair of God's mercy.