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A View from the towers: “Tuning in” to faith
From St. Paul to St. Benedict, saints and mystics reveal how faith, prayer and service help us tune into God’s enduring love.
By Julie A. Ferraro | FāVS News Columnist
Throughout the history of Christianity, certain individuals have been blessed with visions of the divine or mystical experiences that reveal the incredible depths of God’s love.
The first of these, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, describes how St. Paul was knocked from his horse by a “blinding flash on the road to Damascus.” Jesus appeared to him, spoke truth to his heart and converted Paul from a persecutor of Jesus’ followers to an Apostle to the Gentiles.
Among some of the other noted visionaries, St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers — known as the Dominicans — received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the early 13th century, after which praying the rosary became an integral part of Catholic devotions.
In more recent centuries, St. Bernadette Soubirous had visions of the Blessed Virgin at Lourdes in France, and three children saw Mary as they tended sheep at Fatima, Portugal.
Attuned to the right frequency
For those who may be curious regarding any connection between these events, there really doesn’t seem to be one, except for a soul being “tuned in” to faith, kind of like tuning a radio to a specific frequency to receive the signals that generate sound through the speakers.
This explanation may sound rather simple, but especially in the cases of Lourdes and Fatima, the youngsters who received the visions had a simple, pure faith, open to the message shared by Our Lady for the world.
St. Dominic was well-educated and promoted theological pursuit of faith, but his focus on seeking the truth of Jesus’ Gospels also attuned him to the right “frequency” for his vision.
St. Paul might seem the “odd man out” here, but he was a devout Jew, taught the Hebrew Scriptures and sought the truth in his own way.
Among the mystics, Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Therese of Lisieux and Catherine of Siena are just a few. They were blessed with insights others missed on their spiritual journey, again, as if tuned into direct transmissions from heaven.
St. Benedict, too, was tuned into this frequency, but in a slightly different way. He applied his faith to practical matters, studying the writings of early Christian masters and compiling a “Rule” that has guided thousands — millions — of others across 15 centuries into the modern era.
Benedict reminds us that we, too, can “tune in” to God’s love by living in moderation, balancing prayer with work and sacred reading, and seeing all those we meet as Christ embodied in human form, worthy of love, respect and whole-hearted welcome.
‘A visionary in his own right’
This founder of the Benedictines may not have had visions of Jesus or his Mother, but he was, nonetheless, a visionary in his own right. He developed the foundations of western monasticism, influencing countless lay people and religious as they sought their own path to holiness.
For the community of the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, St. Benedict’s visionary outlook continues to be a creative force as ministries evolve to meet the needs of a 21st-century world.
The monastery chapel is open for those who wish to join in the daily prayers of the community; volunteers and artists are encouraged to apply for residencies that allow them to interact closely with the community.
How we ‘tune’ into God’s love
The Koinonia of St. Gertrude are lay women, living in the monastery, working and praying with the vowed Benedictines, while the oblates maintain their affiliation with the community, integrating the “Rule of St. Benedict” from their own homes.
Spirit Center offers a variety of retreats and programs to refresh and nurture the soul, and the Inn at St. Gertrude provides a comfortable stay on the Camas Prairie.
The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude features a grounded account of how the Benedictines came to Idaho more than 100 years ago, along with the vibrant history of the region.
The Benedictine Sisters being known for their thoughtful care of the acreage entrusted to them, initiatives regarding sustainability and the environment continue to be developed in light of St. Benedict’s recommendation that all resources be treated the same as vessels of the altar.
So, whether a visionary, a mystic or a person of simple faith, how we tune into God’s love is all a matter of perspective!
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