FRIAS, Ma. Jia Denise M.

Frias
SEM 3/ 2D

1st Handout

How does the definition of spirituality in the article apply to your

specific situation in life? Mention at least three aspects of Benedictine
Spirituality that you find relevant/applicable to your state of life and
three that are bothersome to you?

I studied in St. Scholasticas College when I was 6 years old up

until I was 16 years old. Benedictine values have always been instilled
in us from day 1 and 10 years of Benedictine education have
inculcated in me the importance of humility, which, according to the
Rule of St. Benedict is the beginning of a spiritual path. I think the
definition of spirituality is applicable in my situation life today because
today, there are so many pressures around and a burden to conform to
societal influences. I should be able to contain these and remind
myself constantly to live a humble life and be thankful of what I have.
This aspect in Benedictine Spirituality is applicable in my life as well as
the human elements to be guarded, which are thoughts, tongue, self-
will and fleshly desires, and understanding of human frailties. An
aspect which is burdensome is that it is only upon climbing all twelve
steps that a monk can hope to find the perfect love of God. I think that
the steps mentioned in Chapter 7 are very doable but theyre not at all
that easy. Another would be that a monk must without qualms accept
all that is crude and harsh and that at all times he considers himself a
poor and worthless workman. I think these two are very burdensome
because most people tend to guard themselves and would find it
difficult to accept all that I crude and harsh. We also tend to give
importance to our self worth, people do it in different ways but for me,
I work hard in my studies and it would be painful for me to consider
myself worthless and would tend to make me lose my drive in
achieving the things I want in life.

As you start your journey to earning a Law degree from SBCA, what
specific step of humility do you find helpful?

The fourth step is achieved when a monk, under obedience,

patiently and quietly endures all things that are inflicted on
him. It should make no difference whether the trials are
painful, unjust or even completely beyond his understanding;
he should neither tire nor give up.

This is the most helpful step in my journey to earning a law

degree from SBCA. There are so many challenges that come way
notwithstanding the already obvious academic challenges since
earning the degree is very demanding as is but of course, there are
challenges that come in my personal life, no matter how big or small,
which make the journey even more difficult that it already is. This step
fits perfectly in the journey of Bedan law students like me and we
should not stop fighting and never giving up. After all, no one ever said
the journey will be easy but I know for sure that it will be worth it.