By Father Peter Choy Wai-man
Last week, I participated in the evangelistic drama, “Benedict’s Hymn,” created by the talent show planning committee of St. Benedict’s Church. Many people are curious as to why I participated in this production. Those who know me a little tend to think I am not suited for theater acting. They perceive me as a somewhat awkward person whose lectures or explanations are always monotonous, lacking the lively passion of inflection and expression, with a limited range of facial expressions.
In fact, when the planning committee invited me to portray St. Benedict in the play, I declined immediately. The reason was simple: I knew that acting was not my strong suit. Even if I was willing to give it a try, there was doubt about my ability to participate in all the rehearsals. However, I eventually agreed due to their reassuring words: “Father, don’t worry! You won’t need to spend too much time rehearsing; just be yourself!”
“Be myself!” Initially, I thought of St. Benedict as a serious, quiet character, so I believed I wouldn’t need to deliberately act or rehearse; I could simply portray the role naturally. However, after this experience, it feels less like I brought St. Benedict to life but more like he brought me to life.
The essence of “Benedict’s Hymn” was not to depict St. Benedict’s life but to explore how modern people can practically embody his spirit through several true stories, transforming the “Rule” he left for members of his order into daily guidance for a closer relationship with God.
The first real-life story recounted how a baby named Heidi, who suffers from congenital heart disease, along with her mother and brother, learned to look at God’s arrangements with an open heart. With a sense of reverence towards the Lord, they faced pain courageously, never shying away from his plans. They embodied the first level of St. Benedict’s 12 degrees of humility, which calls us to approach God with reverence and to follow his plans with a sincere heart.
Through the dialogue between a blind elderly woman and her nurse, the second vignette allowed the audience to experience the power of “calm listening,” reminding us that the ninth degree of St. Benedict’s 12 degrees of humility is about maintaining silence, choosing words carefully, and listening to others.
The third act depicted two common issues faced by families in Hong Kong today: the differing choices of a mother and daughter regarding immigration, and the disputes between parents and children over studies and career. It illustrated how, with the spirit of St. Benedict’s humble surrender, they could embrace mutual understanding and enjoy familial love in the Lord.
Confronting life and death is undoubtedly one of life’s greatest challenges. The final scene showcased how two innocent children, Heidi and Lucy, relied on the Lord in the face of death, demonstrating the essence of St. Benedict’s teachings about acceptance and uniting with God.
I am incredibly grateful to all people involved, both actors and those behind the scenes in this performance. Through these four distinct real-life stories, you have brought St. Benedict’s spirit to life for the audience. It is not that we have embodied St. Benedict, rather it is his principles of respecting God, listening, humble surrender and acceptance that have enlivened us.
