Chapter 49: How Lent should be observed in the monastery

There can be no doubt that monastic life should always have a Lenten character about it, but there are not many today who have the strength for that. Therefore we urge that all in the monastery during these holy days of Lent should look carefully at the integrity of their lives and get rid in this holy season of any thoughtless compromises which may have crept in at other times. (From para. 1 of Ch. 49 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I can replace thoughtless compromises with a thoughtful, heartfelt Yes! to whatever surprising and perhaps even painful ways grace touches my life. To do this, I need to nurture discipline and attention.