How does this kind of life make a difference to those who live it?
These key elements of faith in Christ -, stability, community, openness to growth and change, and listening to one another - satisfy the deepest human needs to be loved, understood, accepted and forgiven. This bears fruit in qualities evident in the life of the school:
- Humility: Together we learn to create peace under pressure. We accept that we are not perfect, and recognise that we need forgiveness and the ability to forgive others, and to be open to their wisdom. (RB7)
- Hospitality: Benedict finds God in people. We encourage all who live and work here to do the same by being welcoming to one another, offering peace and compassion where needed. This is particularly so in the Houses. Hospitality is especially valuable in an age where there is so much loneliness and hostility - there is no room for either here. Hospitality is also offered to the wider community in a variety of ways.
- Good Stewardship: We recognise that we live in a privileged time and place. We try to encourage a sense of gratitude for all that we have been given, and try to avoid the pitfalls of negligence, greed or extravagance. (RB31)
- Gentleness: A kindly word is of greater value than a gift, however precious (RB 31:14). St Benedict offers the ability to resolve conflict and difficulties, and to console, through listening (RB 4,27, 31:14, 46, 64, 72)
- Leadership and responsibility: In the Rule, those who lead are called to be living signs of Christian witness, to speak with the right words, to be able to listen and to be willing to learn from others, young and old. In our school, those who lead try to do so in the spirit of the Rule (RB2,3, 64) to encourage the strong but not to overburden the weak.
"Whoever you may be then.... be faithful with Christ's help to this small Rule which is only a beginning"....(RB73) .