28 January John of Reomay 539

Jack and Thom
Good morning, I love you
101221, 1707

Chipping my way through January – to be done before Christmas I have only John Bosco and Thomas Aquinas (to finish up, for this year). There’s also Francis de Sales, Timothy and Titus; but I don’t count them as required.


January 28

John of Reomay b. 425 d. 539

These dates are according to OSV encyclopedia. 114 is a long time in any era, but sixth century? That’s a long time to be a monastic, a hermit, a holy man….

Born in Dijon, John became a hermit at Reomay. Look it up. It’s still on the map of France. When too many disciples showed up, John skedaddled to Lerins. Hermits were holy men who taught disciples. I guess the crowd got a bit too big for this saintly hermit. Know your limits. Know your niche. Know what you can do. Stretch but don’t find yourself in a situation where you are unable to give your best just because you hesitate to say no, no mas, enough, I’m outta here.

Pioneer of Western monasticism in France. Someone’s gotta be first, a pioneer. A rule of marketing – better to be first into the market than perfect. I guess we’re a market of forgivers of firsters. What will you be a pioneer for? Have already pioneered? Do not be afraid. Jump in. Let your ideas, your dreams, your visions make the world a better place; your corner of the world will seep into the ground water, don’t hold back, we’re depending on you.

John returned to Reomay at the request of the local bishop. Obedience. No matter your vocation, obedience is at the core of our faith. Not my will, Thy will be done. And when God puts us into the hands of others, we owe them our obedience as well. For our wellbeing and the good of all. Listen. It’s impossible to know whose voice God will use to call you. Samuel thought it was Eli calling him.

Upon his return, John of Reomay introduced new rules to the community and founded an abbey – now known as Mount St Jean. Each new leader must bring his rules book. It’s best if we can take a set off the shelf and promulgate them – like John of Reomay’s use of the rules of St Macanus – yeah, the Irish monks had been in the area before mid-sixth century. It’s not so much which rules, it’s persuading people to follow them, convincing them that these are the rules that are right and good and necessary for them, right now. Lead by example and by insistence vis a vis all the rules.

John of Reomay led the abbey for many years. John of Reomay had the great reputation of sanctity and made famous because of the miracles worked through him. What’s the reputation of your leadership, your governance? Is it saintly? And what are the miracles wrought by your efforts? Try a peek at celestebehe.blogspot.com to get a down to earth sense of the miracles that come into our lives; the miracles that we can, as the movie wanted us to do, pay it forward (v. payback the good done to you, pay it forward, three for each one.)

I love you
Dad
1731