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UID:12272-1720656000-1720742399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - St Benedict
DESCRIPTION:A SOUL THAT SEES ITS CREATOR \nFrom the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great5 \n◊◊◊ \nLong before the night office began\, Benedict was standing at his window\, \nwhere he watched and prayed while the rest were still asleep. In the dead of night \nhe suddenly beheld a flood of light shining down from above more brilliant than \nthe sun\, and with it every trace of darkness cleared away. Another remarkable \nsight followed. According to his own description\, the whole world was gathered \nup before his eyes in what appeared to be a single ray of light. As he gazed at all \nthis dazzling display\, he saw the soul of Germanus\, the Bishop of Capua\, being \ncarried by angels up to heaven in a ball of fire. \nWishing to have someone else witness this great marvel\, he called out for \nServandus\, repeating his name two or three times in a loud voice. As soon as he \nheard the Saint’s call\, Servandus rushed to the upper room and was just in time \nto catch a final glimpse of the miraculous light. He remained speechless with \nwonder as Benedict described everything that had taken place. Then without any \ndelay the man of God instructed the devout Theoprobus to go to Cassino and have \na messenger sent to Capua that same night to find out what had happened to \nGermanus. In carrying out these instructions the messenger discovered that the \nrevered bishop was already dead. When he asked for further details\, he learned \nthat his death had occurred at the very time blessed Benedict saw him carried \ninto heaven. \nTo understand this miracle\, let us keep in mind that all creation is bound \nto appear small to a soul that sees the Creator. Once it beholds a little of His light\, \nit finds all creatures small indeed. The light of holy contemplation enlarges and \nexpands the mind in God until it stands above the world. In fact\, the soul that \nsees Him rises even above itself\, and as it is drawn upward in His light all its inner \npowers unfold. Then\, when it looks down from above\, it sees how small \neverything is that was beyond its grasp before. \nHow else was it possible for this man to behold the ball of fire and watch \nthe angels on their return to heaven except with light from God? Why should it \nsurprise us\, then\, that he could see the whole world gathered up before him after \nthis inner light had lifted him so far above the world? Of course\, in saying that \nthe world was gathered up before his eyes I do not mean that heaven and earth \ngrew small\, but that his spirit was enlarged. Absorbed as he was in God\, it was \nnow easy for him to see all that lay beneath God. In the light outside that was \nshining before his eyes\, there was a brightness which reached into his mind and \nlifted his spirit heavenward\, showing him the insignificance of all that lies below. \n  \n5 Dialogues\, Bk II\, ch 35.10 \n  \n 
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-st-benedict-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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