The listener

This morning's Mass in St. Paul's basilica was celebrated by a monk whom I'd never seen before, but who spoke with some considerable authority... and in simple Italian!

His point was that the Rule of St. Benedict enjoins the monks to pray with their eyes closed, not to shut out the world, but in orer to listen more attentively. When the Rule was translated into Japanese, the character that was used for the expression 'to listen more attentively' means 'to listen with fourteen hearts'. Mary, the one who really heard God's Word and pondered on it, was truly the one who listened with fourteen hearts.

Nice thought!

Happy feast of the Assumption and may God bless you with fourteen hearts also!
Sr. Janet