It is God who is the primary author of life for Benedict's disciples; hence the monk's obedience is above all to God and God's word which the monk finds mediated into his life through a wide variety of persons and experiencesin the rule, in the abbot, in the community as a whole, in the young and the old, in the sick and in guests, in the liturgy of the hours and in personal prayer, in sacred reading, in work, and in silence. (320) 363-7112. mholicky@csbsju.edu. In 1887 Pope Leo XIII, who was enamored of the Benedictines, reestablished the College of Saint Anselm in Rome. It is such a personal thing that it can be considered part of one's identity. More than a founder in the juridical sense of the word, its author had been an educator, or better, a spiritual father, and he aimed at forming consciences capable of spiritual liberty. What gives the Rule of Benedict its exceptional quality has commonly been called its "discretion," in the double sense of the word: discernment and moderation. But the monk's development, like that of all human beings, requires both material resources and the help of other people. The Cistercian Order reinforced the eremetical character of the cenobitical life itself. Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. %PDF-1.4 % A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. The concept that we are not above nature but are part of it, stems from the practice of humility, of knowing who we are, how we are, and to whom we belong. j. chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (New York 1992). On the constitutional level, Benedict's supreme achievement was to provide a succinct and complete directory for the government and the spiritual and material well-being of a monastery. 6v-7r of the Bodleian library in Oxford. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . Adrian Burke, OSB writes, Benedict insists in his. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Benedictine spirituality is simple and down to earth. An essay by the Sisters of St. Marys Monastery in Rock Island, IL explains that the Benedictine practice of humility is the opposite of humiliation. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." As time went on we decided that we needed a clear focus on the values. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. 0000002192 00000 n There are three primary commitments in the Benedictine way that form the spiritual backbone for the rest of the spiritual practicesobedience, stability, and conversion. It is my experience that the simplicity of this message oftentimes seems just too difficult to accept. St. Vincent teaches us to see Christ in the poor and suffering, so much so that the poor become our Lords and Masters and we their servants. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. He realizes that attachment to oneself and one's talents or goods brings anxiety, a bondage that ties the human spirit down to the earth and allows no enlargement of either one's horizons or one's heart. This is not simply a change in my opinion or even in my ideological stance, but a much deeper change in my attitude, a real change in my way of being and doing. Listening is integral to the practice of conversatio, indeed to all the practices, which, as Laureen Virnig OSB teaches to Oblates in formation, are inseparable woven together to make of our spirituality a living tapestry. Thus prayer and community, to borrow again from Stewart, are at the heart of the Benedictine school of spirituality. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. 22 Feb. 2023 . How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. Fr. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Only in later centuries and especially since the 19th century has it occupied a more important place in monastic life than in the observance of the majority of non-monastic religious congregations, with the consequence that it is usually considered a special feature of monastic life and spirituality. Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. In his book Humility Rules: Saint Benedicts Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem, Augustine Wetta, a Benedictine monk, teaches, The sum of all virtues is reverence. In this 2-minute video, Father Mark Goring (Companions of the Cross) says This profound and humble [Benedictine practice of] reverence for all things is one of the great foundations of Benedictine spirituality. He explains that this reverence flows from prayer. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. A monk spends his whole life becoming humble. Benedictine spirituality took shape long before the split between Eastern and Western branches of the church in the 11 th century and the further divisions that resulted from the Reformation in the 16 th century. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. While submission is an act of youth, true obedience can only come as a response of maturity. This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. c. smith, The Path of Life (Ampleforth, England 1995). In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. The root of the word obedience means "to hear" and is about making a commitment to listen for God's voice in the world and respond when you hear the call. Because I couldnt find relevant, simple answers online to the questions, What is Benedictine Spirituality? and What are Benedictine practices? I decided to publish this summary of 23 habits Benedictines seek, through lifelong practice, to cultivate into a lifestyle. Hence, conversion to Christ and response to his love through the power of the Holy Spirit are the goals of obedience. Lynne Smith elaborates, All this service is sacred and to be done with reverence service is seen as a form of prayer, a way of seeking God. This practice is also linked inextricably to gratitude, as we give thanks for the ways we can serve and for those who serve us. One of the great challenges in the rule is that the monk obey others not only in their strengths but also in their weaknesses, for it is tempting to see others in their weakness as simply burdens rather than as gifts. 3 Views. The third Benedictine value is conversatio morum, which translates to "conversion of life." This value involves a commitment to personal and spiritual growth, and it involves constantly seeking to improve oneself and to live in a way that is consistent with one's values and beliefs. Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? Only after we have come to understand our desires are we capable of relinquishing them in service of others. This grows our ability to rest in stability. The devotio moderna is an example. Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? Downloaded from the web site of the Bodleian library: Created: 8th century date QS:P,+750-00-00T00:00:00Z/7, we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day, Benjamin Schfer, who calls himself an intercessory musicianary, blog theologian, and pilgrim on the narrow road of learning to love, writes in depth about ways to foster awareness of God, requires that we never stop asking hard questions about our personal growth, The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website, Interviewed by Krista Tippett for her podcast, Kyle T. Kramer explains in his 2011 article for America Magazine that hospitality, for a Benedictine, An essay by the Sisters of St. Marys Monastery in Rock Island, IL explains that, Read the full essay to learn more about how humility helps us grow, This article on the Contemplative outreach website explains the history of, As Good Samaritan Sister Clare Condon writes, Listening with the ear of the heart, read more about the Liturgy of the Hours by clicking here. BARTH, KARL The abbot, elected for life by his monks, maintains supreme power and in all normal circumstances is accountable to no one. Benedict, RULE OF Saint.This work holds the first place among monastic legislative codes, and was by far the most important factor in the organization and spread of monasticism in the West.For its general character and also its illustration of St. Benedict's own life, see the article St. Benedict of Nursia.Here, however, it is treated more in detail, under the following heads: I. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. For vowed monastics, stability is literala long-term commitment to a specific place and community. It is not possible to formulate a singl, Etymologically the word "contemplation" derives from templum, which signified the space marked out by a seer with his divining rod as a location for, Barth, Karl [], [] Learn more about Benedictine spirituality. h|X+8v&yh{#||(E AM3. St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the Rule. The monk's listening is to be modeled after the prayer of Jesus who spent long hours listening and attentive in the presence of his heavenly Father. It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. Hence the spirituality that we find implicit in the Rule of Benedict was dependent in many ways on earlier sources, though he was certainly wise in what he incorporated and what he left behind. We go forth into the world as contemplatives in action, discerning God's desire for our lives here, now, and acting on God's invitation. The thing that distinguishes monks from other religious in the Catholic Church is not primarily a matter of governmental structures or observances; all of these are found in other forms of consecrated life. Benedictine simplicity of life is understood properly with the reality of Christ and his mission in mind. 480 to 547 CE in Italy. It sets up a framework of life, an institution, of which the essential and constitutive elements are firmly determined: life in common under the government of a superior called an abbot, who has the help of a prior and other officials and takes counsel of the whole assembly of monks, even the youngest in the community. ." Poverty of spirit, simplicity, sharing and giving, self-denial prompted by love, freedom of heart, gratitude, care for persons, and sound judgment with regard to created things should proceed from exposure to God in prayer. My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . [], [] is both. Acts 18:18). Having the mind of a beginner, being receptive to starting anew, starting fresh, starting overthis, too, is a Benedictine practice. As Sister Julie explains on the blog A Nuns Life, The Liturgy of the Hours is made up of specific prayers said at various time (hours) during the day and night. 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