Recently I read a book by Francis S. Collins, The Road to Wisdom: on Truth, Science, Faith and Trust. Dr. Collins as a scientist, a man of faith, and a servant leader, oversaw the work of our nation’s medical research agency the NIH through turbulent times. He led this Institute under three very different presidents. I found this book very worthwhile and have recommended it to our nurses on staff here at the monastery. What surprised me was the benediction with which he closes his book. So, I share it with you, and what I have found out about its origin.
A Franciscan Blessing by Sr. Ruth Fox, OSB, 1985
May God grant you discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them, and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
May we all be blessed by enough foolishness to do what others claim cannot be done:
to travel down this road to wisdom with joy, and to help
catalyze the emergence of a loving, civil, compassionate, optimistic,
and visionary democratic society. Come, my friends, and be part of that dream.
Daniel Miller, of The Sacred Braid, came across this blessing and printed it. Then he decided to investigate and trace it to the author. It led him to Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardton, North Dakota, and the Benedictine Sister Ruth Marlene Fox. She responded to him, and relayed the circumstances in which it was written. As chaplain for the Catholic students at Dickinson State College (now Dickinson State University) in the 1980’s, Sister Ruth was invited to offer a prayer at the graduation breakfast for the senior class. Not finding a prayer to her liking for the occasion, she set pen to paper, blessing not only a religiously diverse gathering of students some thirty years ago, but many since then with her prayer (and versions that her original prayer inspired). As she writes, “And the words of the prayer gradually came to me (given by the Holy Spirit).”
Sr. Ruth Fox, OSB is very familiar to this community, as she came here to give a retreat on Benedictine women some time ago. The sketches hanging in our front entry are originals by Sr. Emmanuel, who drew them as Sr. Ruth was giving her reflections on each woman during the days of the retreat. By the end of the retreat we had this series to ponder from then on. You can view them as well.
May you be blessed by this special Benedictine blessing. Living by it will be a challenge!
