May 2 is the memorial for Saint Athanasius, Doctor of the Church.

He is seen here trampling down Heresy. 
Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome.  Source.   
FAST FACTS
1. Abbot Isaac's Saving Grace request - mouthwash 

2. Volunteer drivers for monks

3. Oblate class - No reading  

4. May 3 Mass

 

5. Altar flowers

6. Picnic suggestions

 

7. Prayer Newsletter

 

8. Those Divine Benedictines

 

9. Past broadcast emails

 

10. Know your abbey

 

11. Are you missing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Saint Scholastica
This wonderful sister of Saint Benedict knew the love of God and its power.  Here is her story from Chapter 33 of the Life of Benedict.
OBLATES

A brief definition of "Benedictine oblate" is here.

 

 

 

Are you expanding your Benedictine library? The Novice and Oblate Resources Page on the blog has many books fit for any proper library. 
Dear Oblates, Oblate Novices, and Friends of Saint Leo Abbey,
1. Abbot Isaac's Saving Grace request

Abbot Isaac said for May,

 

"We have a lot of toothpaste, soap, and shaving cream as well as shampoo.

 

"What we are in a big need of is: Mouthwash: Maybe Colgate, Scope, or Listerine. Those are the more common brands, I believe. However, whatever the oblates can help us with is a blessing."

 

Visit The Saving Grace page. 

 

 

For Oblate Sundays:

 

Find quality personal care items that are BOGO or with a good coupon. Help our dear monks. That's The Saving Grace.

 

And remember our Drive-Thru drop-off service Oblate Sunday is provided by Dan Spears -- drive up and say Hi!!

 

Dan is there from 9:30-45am.

 
2. Volunteer Drivers for Monks

From Abbot Isaac: 

 

"We need to have some volunteers to be drivers for the monks when they have medical appointments. These are usually  around the area, Dade City and Zephyrhills. The volunteer drivers will free some of the younger monks to do other jobs in the house."

 

If you can volunteer, please reply to this email.
3. Oblate Class - No reading Assignment
Abbot will speak and also bring in some of the monks. Visit the Oblate Sunday page.
4. Mass on May 3

The Mass on May 3 will be for children with special needs. Reserved seats will provided for the families and children. All families with special needs children are invited to attend.
5. Altar Flowers Sign-up

 

Oblate Gerri Jackson was approached by the young monks for ideas to secure altar flowers.

 

Gerri suggests a sign up where those in the oblate program may pick a Sunday or other days and bring any potted blooming plants/vased flowers/sprays . . . etc . . .

 

The abbey is trying to brighten up the church and altar.

 

The Easter flowers are now faded and mostly gone so color is needed.

 

The link to the sign-up form will be posted here by April 29 at 5:00 pm.

 
6. Picnic Suggestions

With the completion of the picnic, what are your thoughts for improvements for next year?  Please give any comments and ideas by replying to this email. Thank you to everyone who made the picnic a worthy event.
7. Prayer Ministry Newsletter
Please email your prayer requests to: 

 

To receive the Prayer Ministry Newsletter giving all the prayer requests you need to "opt-in" -- please reply to this email with the following information:

 

"Please add me to the Prayer Ministry Newsletter email list.

 

"My name is: _______"

 
8. Those Divine Benedictines

May 2 is the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Abbeys memorial of Saint Athanasius (293-373).

 

He is a Doctor of the Church.

 

His book "On the Incarnation of the Word of God" is recognized as the classic explanation of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

 

As still a young deacon he attended the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea in 325, where he led the side of Truth against Arius who claimed there was a time before God the Father begat Jesus when the Jesus did not exist - thus making Jesus not equal to the Father.


 

Saint Athanasius became Archbishop of Alexandria and throughout his life, often in exile by the Arian-supporting church and emperors, fought the Arians.


 

At the high tide of the Arian heresy it was said the whole world had gone Arian and was against Athanasius, to which came the reply, "then it is Athanasius against the world," that is: "Athanasius contra mundum."


 

But virtually equal in its impact on the time in which Athanasius lived is Saint Athanasius' other classic work, "The Life of Saint Anthony." It is the account of the great (non-Arian) monk who lived in the wilderness.


 

The Life of Saint Anthony has been said to be the primary way Egyptian monasticism was introduced to the West and thus stands in the direct ancestry of the Rule of Saint Benedict.


 

Together, Saint Athanasius' two great works, "On the Incarnation," and "The Life of St. Anthony," complement each other.  The true divinity of Jesus is also the call for people to seek God as the highest calling - the ascetic and monastic life free of world made only in the image of man rather than in the image of the Jesus who is fully divine and coequal with the Father.

 

 
9. Past broadcast emails
Since December 1 past broadcast emails are posted in PDF versions HERE.

10. Know your Abbey 
The three panels near the end of this email contain links to:

Left: Rule of Saint Benedict

Center: iBreviary -- use your phone or tablet to pray with the monks at home or at the abbey (FREE).
 
Right: Saint Gertrude the Great-- one of the eight sunrise saints in the abbey church.
11. Are you missing?

1. Black and red insulated food bag left at picnic.

 

2. Brown runner.  There is a brown runner left over from the Christmas party. 

 

3.  Red knife with sheath. There is a nice red knife someone left.

 

If you are missing these items, please reply to this email.
ABBEY CONTACTS

Abbot Isaac, O.S.B., Oblate Director
IsaacOSB@yahoo.com 

 

Brother Stanislaw, O.S.B., Novice Director
stanislawsullivan@hotmail.com

 

Abbey Reception Office
(352) 588 8624

 

Gift Shop, Brother James, O.S.B.
(352) 588 2606
br.james@saintleo.edu 

 

Guest House & Retreat Center: (352) 588 8184  
KNOW YOUR ABBEY

And try Ken Conrad's wonderful Kindle version.
  

This is the one used by Saint Leo Abbey monks.  There is a paid version by another publisher, but it is not always exactly the same as the one used at Saint Leo Abbey. So this FREE one is the one to get.
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The only female saint called the Great. More info. Her amazing book of prayers is part of the reasons she is honored as one of eight sunrise saints in the Abbey church. Her light greets you along with that of Saint Walburg.