Just as There Is an Evil Zeal of Bitterness
We should practice good zeal by separating from vices and striving for virtue, and ultimately prefer nothing above Christ.
St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of practicing good zeal that leads to God and eternal life, rather than being consumed by bitterness that separates from God. He encourages sisters to show fervent love, honor one another, endure each other's weaknesses, and prioritize obedience and selflessness. Sisters are urged to embrace sisterhood with pure charity, fear God with love, love their Abbess sincerely, and above all, to choose Christ above everything else, looking forward to eternal life together.
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Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting. This zeal, therefore, the sisters should practice with the most fervent love. Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10); most patiently endure one another's infirmities, whether of body or of character; vie in paying obedience one to another -- no one following what she considers useful for herself, but rather what benefits another -- ; tender the charity of sisterhood chastely; fear God in love; love their Abbess with a sincere and humble charity; prefer nothing whatever to Christ. And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!
Sermon Outline
- The Two Zeals
- Practicing Good Zeal
- Anticipating one another in honor
- Enduring one another's infirmities
- Vying in obedience
Key Quotes
“Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting.” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10);” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“prefer nothing whatever to Christ.” — St. Benedict of Nursia
Application Points
- We should strive to anticipate one another in honor and endure one another's infirmities.
- We should love our Abbess with a sincere and humble charity.
- We should prefer nothing above Christ.