great power comes with great responsibility

Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I...I will be here

If in the dark we lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
'Cause I...I will be here

I will be here...
When you feel like bein' quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin'
We'll be together
'Cause I will be here

Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I...I'll be here

Just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
I...I will be here

I will be here....
You can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you

And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true
To the promise I have made
To you and to the
One who gave you to me

I...I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
'Cause I...
I will be here....
We'll be together, forever

'Cause I will be here


I was talking to myself while walking out of the door of the Abbot's office saying, "yesterday, I left the monastery just for one whole day and when i woke up today, I was made Zelator of the community!"

what is this all about?

Well, in our community of monks in Solemn vows and Temporary vows who are still in formation, as well as the Novices and Postulants who are not in vows and who, also, are undergoing monastic formation, a Zelator- one in charge of the discipline of a community, is appointed by the Abbot himself with prior consultation from his Council of Deans (composed of older monks in Solemn vows).

At Christ in the Desert monastery, two brothers are appointed to be in charge of the discipline of the monks who are in formation. Their task is to insist on the observance of the Customary of the House and to work with those in formation so that they learn how to keep all the observances of the House.

The Zelators should themselves know the Customary well and observe it with gracious fidelity.

They correct any monk in formation who is not observing the life as it is outlined in our Customary but also strive to help that monk grow in his capacity of observance.

Each week, the Zelators give a report to the Formation Director about the conduct of discipline of the monks in formation.

All monks in formation will cooperate with the Zelators, but also have the right to appeal to the Formation Director or the Council of Deans if they feel and find out with sufficient evidences that the Zelators are being excessive of their power and authority.

At Christ in the Desert, we presume that those who are here have freely chosen this life and so will cooperate and are expected to live up to the expectations of the community with the disciplines and practices as they must be reflected on its observance as outlined in the Customary.

so, this is what it is all about....
and while i was going to my room after the Abbot has conferred with me about his appointing me as one of the two new Zelators of our monastery,(the other one who's appointed is Dom Andrew) I can't help but to remember my favorite phrase that says: ...in great power, comes with great responsibility. So, folks, wish me the best of luck for this new job! and hopes to earn more friends not enemies in the community of thirteen monks under formation, who will be under me and Dom Andrew's care, and whose discipline observance will lie in our hands!

Happy Sunday to all of you!