A Night to Remember — Sunsets, Lectio, Community

This past Thursday night, May 7th, was the last night in the dorms for our senior residential students. A night that often goes down in legend whenever a class is set to graduate. Naturally, they try and fit as many memorable moments into one night as they possibly can. The Class of 2026 chose to spend that night with Brother Jerome praying Lectio Divina.

Brother Jerome hosts a group of students in the Abbey main room every Thursday night. Freshman through Seniors, all make it a priority to come together as a community and pray the Scriptures. Sometimes it is not always easy to focus on a passage or to quiet your mind, but Brother Jerome encourages the students to stay consistent and listen as all Benedictines should. Many of the Seniors in the picture below are Benedictine Oblates, faithful Christians who promise to live their lives according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. This tradition here at Mount Michael has impacted these Seniors in such a deep way.

The Scripture passage chosen by Brother Jerome was Colossians 3: 12-16

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”

Majority of the Seniors found this passage to be quite reflective. It spoke to them in many different ways, but the underlying theme was the ability to live in community and be part of a brotherhood. Those are two of the biggest aspects of a Mount Michael student. The brotherhood here is unmatched, and it is a testament to all the brothers who came before us.

Brother Jerome has been a rock and a foundation in the journey of faith for these Seniors boys. It was only right for them to show their appreciation one last time before graduation. They gathered on the back deck on the Abbey, just as the sun was setting, met as brothers and smiled to mark the end of an era.

Thank you Class of 2026!