“We are always meeting deadlines; we are always running out of time. The message of following the monastic hours is to live daily with the real rhythms of the day. We learn to listen to the music of this moment. We learn to dance a little in our hearts, to open our inner gates a crack more, to hearken to the music of silence, the divine life breath of the universe.” —David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B., in The Music of Silence: Entering the Sacred Space of Monastic Experience (HarperCollins, 1995).
I take this book off my shelf to see two cards drop out, both from deceased spiritual friends. The one from Nyna Keeton is an encouraging note about some of my writing. Another from Joanne Meadors is on a card from San Marco Museum in Florence, Italy, depicting the Fra Angelico painting of the angel beating the drum from The Tabernacle of the Linaioli. The angels playing the harp and the trumpet are also on a card from another spiritual friend with whom I have lost contact.
There is also a photograph of the musical Fra Angelico angels on the altarpiece at the Pierce Chapel at Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock. I remember I went on a trip to Florence solely to see these angels. A book full of angels, a book full of memories still being communicated from spiritual friends I no longer physically see—calling me back to the spiritual life we shared.
Also between the pages of the book is a Forward Day by Day pamphlet about following the monastic hours. This was my first introduction to the hours more than thirty years ago. Years later I would read so many of Phyllis Tickle’s writings about her experience with the monastic hours. The Music of Silence is also an invitation to journey through the day by keeping the monastic hours in some manner. Each of the eight hours is prayerfully described by Brother David, often using the images of the Fra Angelico angels.
Beware of cards and notes you leave in books for unknown reasons. They may become messages from angels unaware.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com
Release party!!!!!!!!!!!
Come and get a signed copy of the new book
Just in time for the holidays
A Spiritual Rx for Advent Christmas, and Epiphany
The Sequel to A Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter
Both are $18
All Money from sale of the books goes either to Camp Mitchel Camp and Conference Center in Arkansas or Hurricane Relief in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast
Seibert’s, 27 River Ridge Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72227
10 to noon, Saturday September 14, 2019
RSVP joannaseibert@me.com