| Comments by Raymond R. Fodrie on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 14:06 |
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Thank you again for your response. Could you explain the purpose behind being a vegetarian? I understand what it says in the Rule, but as you know the Rule is fine but it's not scripture and through scripture we are allowed to eat anything. Also, what sort of self-denial do you practise? I mean there's not anything different (i.e. strange) that goes on is there?
Thanks,
Ray
Some people are vegetarian because they believe it provides a better nutritional balance. Although that is not the reason for our practice of abstinence from meat, the oldest priest in the world today is a Trappist monk, Fr. Nicolas Kao Se Tseien, born Jan. 15, 1897. Last year he celebrated the 100th anniversay of his first communion! The average age of the eight monks who have died here since 2000 is 83, and our oldest monk is 99.
Some people are vegetarian because they object to the intensive farming practices that are becoming more common to produce meat and animal products at current and projected levels for developed nations. According to the United Nations Population Fund each U.S. citizen consumes an average of 260 lb. of meat per year, the world's highest rate. Others are vegetarian only because they are poor. They are not against eating meat, but regularly eat vegetarian food out of economic necessity. For them meat is a luxury. We can afford to eat meat, but our practice of abstinence does bring us into closer unity with the poor of the world.
The National Academy of Sciences reports that most of the world's population today lives on vegetarian or near-vegetarian diets for reasons that are economic, philosophical, religious, cultural, or ecological. Cistercians are not vegetarians by conviction but by vocation. On some occasions (e.g. a meal with our family in the guest house, or meals taken on a journey, or meals for those who are infirm) we enjoy having a hamburger or steak like anyone else. But in our vocation, following the Rule of St. Benedict, we choose to abstain from eating meat day to day. God has called us to a life of prayer and penance for our own good and for the good of all in the world who can be helped by our prayers and sacrifices. Christianity does not prohibit eating meat, but it does encourage prayer and penance by abstinence and fasting.
There are other ways people have practiced penance in the past: hair shirts, self-flagellation, spiked bracelets, belts and chains worn tightly around the waist or arms, infrequent baths, etc. We do not practice any of these. St. John Vianney once said, “My friend, the devil is not greatly afraid of the discipline and other instruments of penance. What defeats him is the curtailment of one’s food, drink and sleep. That is what the devil fears. Oh! How often have I experienced it! Whilst I was alone—and I was alone during eight or nine years, and therefore quite free to yield to my attraction—it happened at times that I refrained from food for days. On those occasions I obtained, both for myself and for others, whatever I asked [in prayer].”
Abstinence, fasting, rising at 3:15 AM or earlier to pray, poverty, chastity, and obedience, along with a generous endurance of the small and large hardships that come to us unbidden, and loving patience with one another's defects of body and character are forms of penance we embrace in our lives as monks today. |
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