Father Richard Heilman co-opts the Benedict Option

Warning: Reflexive Jack Handey reference imminent:

"Go, Bob, go!" yelled one of the generals. "Give me that" said the big-guy general as he took the microphone away.

Thanks for obliging me.

Father Richard Heilman has co-opted the discussion about the "Benedict Option" to make his own points about how to re-evangelize the culture. He calls what is missing, or at least weaker, in our society the "Grid of Grace". He provides concrete examples, and includes quotes around the phrase "Benedict Option" when he references it in the body of the article. So good for him. His conclusion interweaves nicely with my Family Option suggestion.

These are the ones who have their homes adorned with such things as crucifixes and pictures of the Holy Family; these are the ones whose prayer life is alive with the many practices and devotions we inherited from mighty saints before us. These are the ones who talk openly about God to family and friends on a regular basis. These are the ones who cannot leave home without rosary in hand, as they depend upon the power of such things as Holy Water and Blessed Salt and Benedict Medals. These are the ones who frequent Confession, understanding that a collection of small sins leaves them prone to commit the bigger ones. These are the ones who dedicate their lives and the lives of their family to the mission(s) of their parish. These are the ones who truly live “God fearing” lives, as every decision they make is weighed against whether it is pleasing to God, as they fear ever disappointing God, who they love so much!

Once we restore the home and parishes as powerhouses of grace, we will then see these souls pulsating with the very life of God – grace – and then, we will see them hungry, once again, for “the more” of their faith. Hunger emerges from a soul filled with supernatural grace!

This is the real “Benedict Option.”

The link he provides to the "Seven Daily Habits" is worth a look.

It might be worth thinking of this "Grid of Grace" as something which every Christian in some way can contribute to, not just draw from. So I can receive sanctifying grace from receiving the sacraments, then I pray for the intention's of the Pope and others in the church and for the needs of the world, etc. and that leads to a distribution of actual grace a subset of which is sometimes called prevenient grace which allows for more sanctifying grace to be received. It would be nice to have a flow-chart for this. Feel free to make your own, or you can pray that the Holy Spirit would help me get over my laziness and do it myself.