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by Michael F. Conrad (Author)
On June 14, 2014, the International Lay Cistercians met at Lourdes to discuss The Lay Cistercian Spiritual Journey and what that means. The following reflections come from a document that was unanimously approved by those delegates. There are five elements to this remarkable statement about what it means to be a Lay Cistercian. They are: -The Call -The Response -The Community -The Formation and Transformation -The Life of Christ Of course, all of this leads me to try to have in me the mind of Christ Jesus (my purpose in life) found in Philippians 2:5, The International Lay Cistercians wanted all of us to reflect on the four steps that preceded it. The Life of Christ is not a goal that you achieve overnight and then say, what's next? It is more like a slow, gradual sense of awareness, but one that you commit to for the rest of your life. Seeking to have in you the life of Christ you is a challenge in these days, or any days, for that matter. You know the saying, "Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it." The Lay Cistercian Journey is for this broken-down, old temple of the Holy Spirit, a sinner. -For me, I use the Cistercian practices of silence, solitude, prayer, work, and community as ways to center myself daily on Christ Jesus. -I use the Rule of Benedict, particularly the Chapters on Tools for Good Works (4) Humility, Obedience, and Hospitality as my spiritual principles for living out my Life of Christ each day. -I try to have in me the mind of Christ Jesus by reciting the Liturgy of the Word, Lectio Divina, receiving the Life of Christ in the Eucharist, contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament, reciting the Rosary, Holy Hour, and Reading and Writing about Scripture. Sounds like a full-time job, doesn't it? It is. It takes a lifetime of persistence and perseverance to reach my goal.
Author Biography
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael F. Conrad, B.S., M.R.E., Ed.D., is retired from a full life of trying to make money, seek fame and recognition by the world, all without much success. Coming to his senses, even after the age of 77, he now struggles to have in him the mind of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:512) Still running the race and searching for the prize, he has had a lifetime of activities to help him in his quest: he is proud to have been a U.S. Army Chaplain, pastor of parish ministry, adjunct instructor of Adult Education at Indiana University (Bloomington) and University of South Florida (Tampa) and Barry University (Florida), high school instructor of religion, trainer of managers and supervisors, adjunct trainer for the Florida Certified Public Manager program, instructional designer for the State of Florida, former Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, and currently a publisher, blogger, and author, He is a Lay Cistercian member of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery, Conyers, Georgia, proud father of a daughter, and a humble husband.
