What calls us to attention? Brendan Rolling, OSB of St Benedicts Abbey of Atchison, Kansas quotes Abbot Martin Veth: To will what God wills and because He wills it, this is the essence of patience. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. New Catholic Encyclopedia. 4. He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. This practice is not particular to Benedictines, however. From the 13th century, Benedictine monasteries have often felt the influence of spiritual movements coming from non-monastic sources. In other words, to be a good Franciscan means to be a good Christian. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. 4qAB0Lfb+ ``v@ BK j The Benedictines, strictly speaking, do not constitute a single religious . Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. Benedictine spirituality is simple and down to earth. This listening is not merely an intellectual or rational activity; it is intuitive, springing from the very core of the monk's being where he is most open to God and most open to the word of life that God speaks. This is a life devoted to the "Benedictine values of community, consensus, peace, balance, hospitality, humility, simplicity and care of the planet in our daily lives," Judith Valente writes in an article for Global Sisters Report. U`` . Ignacio Gonzalez, OSB writes that the Benedictine practice of Conversatio requires that we never stop asking hard questions about our personal growth. We each hunger to make a meaningful contribution to our world. In a podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. 6v-7r of the Bodleian library in Oxford. Benedictine monastics make a three-fold commitment to stability, conversion (conversatio), and obedience. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). He is author of Ice Break: A Collection of Poems (Aetos Publications, 2019), Enduring Ministry: Toward a Lifetime of Christian Leadership (Liturgical Press, 2017), and The Gospels in Poem and Image (Aetos Publications, 2016-2019). Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Benedictine, member of the Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B. When the monk has zeal for God, he will come to see that he is consumed not only with love for God but for everything and everyone else that God has created. is an herbal liqueur produced in France. The rule invites the monk to recognize the presence of God in his life, a presence which is neither gained or won or achieved but simply given. Benedict calls the monastery a "school" because it is the place where the monk is to be taught by God. The Benedictine tradition has frequently presented examples of spiritual men and women, many of them venerated as saints, who in the line of their monastic vocation have sought to unite themselves to God by the eremetical or solitary life, normally in dependence on their superior and in the neighborhood of their monastery. Through this experience, he came to believe that authentic spiritual growth happens only when we life with and among flawed human beings whose faults and failings are only too obvious. In community we struggle through the practice of being in right relationship with people who are stubborndullundisciplinedrestlesscareless scatterbrainedirritatingand tiresome. It is only in our communitiesfamilies or monasteries, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches and organizationsthat we make spiritual progress by learning to love and accept others for who they are, not for who we wish they would be. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. But the monk's development, like that of all human beings, requires both material resources and the help of other people. . He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. A devoted monk, he established the Rule of Benedict. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. 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. Mindfulness is a trending word these days yogis, psychologists, educators, physicians, and practically everyone else is talking about the importance of quieting our busy minds in order to become more aware of the present moment. In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. Benedictine Spirituality It may seem odd that some of the best guidelines for achieving balance in our world today, where stress has become the norm, come from a sixth-century Italian monk who at one point chose to live by himself in a cave. Strong communities embrace stability and are open to necessary change. One of the sure signs of monastic maturity is the honest acceptance of one's need for other people in community. Only after we have come to understand our desires are we capable of relinquishing them in service of others. Patience does not relieve us of our natural feelings of aversion, irritation, and indignation, but it controls and rises above these feelings Our Lord felt the natural impulse to avoid suffering, but He set aside and refused to listen to this feeling: Father not my will but Thine be done.Where does this patience show itself? 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Hence they are rich compared with many who come to the monastery for help. Roman Roots. 1. It is humility that takes the monk beyond the myth of his own grandeur to the grandeur of God. Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? The monk needs time along and needs time in community. The word "Benedictine" is relatively modern; it scarcely existed before the 17th century. In The Rule of Benedict for Beginners, Wil Derkse reveals how elements from Benedictine spirituality and the Benedictine lifestyle may be . Belief in One God: The most important teaching of Islam is that only God is to be served and worshipped. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the, The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. Eunice Antony, OSB. People are tired and worn out from striving against unhealthy systems. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. ), member of any of the confederated congregations of monks, lay brothers, and nuns who follow the rule of life of St. Benedict (c. 480-c. 547) and who are spiritual descendants of the traditional monastics of the early medieval centuries in Italy and Gaul. This will not subscribe you to a contact management software program, and you wont get an onslaught of computer-generated emails begging you to buy my books and services. Brendan Rolling, OSB of St Benedicts Abbey of Atchison, Kansas, Sister Joan tells us that a Benedictine lifestyle is an an oasis of human peace. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Obedience means "to listen intently," and this vow is undertaken in a spirit of faith and love in following Christ who was obedient to the will of the Father. The ideal of this pattern of conversion is meant to be incarnated in a special way for the community in the abbot, who is expected to be a symbolic center exercising a centripetal force that draws individuals into a truly Christian community of life for God and others in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. 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. There is a temptation to complicate it, to . Mindfulness is a trending word these days yogis, psychologists, educators, physicians, and practically everyone else is talking about the importance of quieting our busy minds in order to become more aware of the present moment. 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. They pray the Office together, with no voice standing out above the others. The Benedictine practice of service to others is intimately entwined with the reverence for all creation, and another of the great foundations of Benedictine spirituality. thats most of the time. Im interested in connecting person-to-person with others who share my values, who want to participate with me in building a meaningful network of relationships that will serve to support us on our spiritual journey. He did not intend to impose uniformity; he foresaw and intended diversity and reserved to each monastery the possibility of adapting the rule's prescriptions to various circumstances, provided the essential values of monasticism were safeguarded. This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. You will likely recognize the timeless quality of the values which has caused them to endure for centuries and continue speaking to the many layers of our human experience (personal, familial, communal and societal). It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. The meaning of stability in our day and time refers to staying rooted where we arein relationship with ourselves and with others, in order to grow in the spiritual life. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. 0000004832 00000 n The primary prayer of all Catholics is the Eucharistic liturgy in which they celebrate and share their faith together, in accord with Jesus' instruction: "Do this in memory of me."The Catholic bishops at the Second Vatican Council decreed that "devotions should be so . When I consider Benedictine hospitality, I like to extend this notion to the dialogues we initiate with those of other religious and spiritual backgrounds, especially with non-Christians. Be willing to wait. "Let everyone that comes be received as Christ" is one of the most familiar and oft-quoted phrases of the Rule. Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. Benedictines believe that the Christian life is best lived not through the extremes of any harsh religious asceticism but in the daily context of good, balanced life in community. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. Benedictine spirituality is essentially contemplative even though many who follow the rule are deeply involved in intellectual or manual work as well as in ministerial service to others. In a blog hosted by Holy Wisdom Monastery of Madison, Wisconsin, Lynne Smith, OSB, The website of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas tells us, Modern monks like to point out that first word in the Rule is to Listen,, This article explains that silence is healthy, Monsignor Charles Pope seems to be saying in the blog post, A Reflection On the Benedictine Vow of Stability, ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability, The Friends of St. Benedict website says The, offers people a plan for living a balanced, simple, and prayerful life., Joan Chittister puts it, Benedictine practices build a spirituality that will enable us to go on beyond disappointment, beyond boredom, beyond criticism, beyond loss., the monks and oblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbley, in this post on Environmental Stewardship on the blog. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. Emerging out of the high middles ages, it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ as the mystery of God's presence in human flesh. Demonstrate good will, humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, peace, and discipleship. Being poor with the poor has characterized many religious from the time of the Middle Ages, but Benedictines, because of their cenobitic life and their cultural inheritance, are often rich. Poet/Writer. But it also requires that he let go of false expectations concerning others. More than a billion Muslims share a common set of fundamental beliefs that are described as "Articles of Faith." These articles of faith form the foundation of Islamic belief system. Benedictine prayer has several characteristics that make more for a spirituality of awareness than of consolation. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. The principles of evolution just enumerated enable us to understand why within one and the same Benedictine spiritual tradition there could appear and subsist different tendencies. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (Latin: Ordo Sancti Benedicti, abbreviated as OSB), are a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church following the Rule of Saint Benedict.They are also sometimes called the Black Monks, in reference to the colour of their religious habits.They were founded by Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century monk who laid the foundations of . Digital nun, writing for ibenedictines.org tells us,The practice of mindfulness, which for a Christian must always be the practice of mindfulness of the presence of God, is not something we learn in a few hours or even a few years. The first and fundamental manifestation of such a vocation is a real separation from many aspects of the secular world. Using philosophical and theological lens, this paper attempts to 1) present the Benedictine Leadership vis--vis Care ethics 2) proffer that charity or care is the driving force of a transformational leader and, 3) purport that a caring leader, directly or . However, it may involve the following characteristics: Antiquity of 3,000 and 1,500 years. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. The School of Benedictine Spirituality is willing to help people enhance their spirituality, which is claimed to be a search for the sacred that is seen as "a blend of humanistic psychology with mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions aimed at personal well-being and personal development" ( Benedictine spirituality, 2013, par . It can be described as a state of mind that provides their values and influences how they live their lives and exercise their judgment in such things as deciding between right and wrong. In Benedict's rule, humility is not the same as humiliations, for humiliations degrade the person. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. The abbot, elected for life by his monks, maintains supreme power and in all normal circumstances is accountable to no one. Ancient Tradition. Every four months, we begin again at the beginningso we read the Rulethree times every year. It is the balanced spirituality that one finds in the Rule of Benedict that has made it attractive to many men and women throughout the ages. Hence, conversion to Christ and response to his love through the power of the Holy Spirit are the goals of obedience. The Rule of Benedict has resonated through more than 1400 years and today is followed around the world by thousands of monastics and oblates (people associated with monasteries who live and work outside the monastery). In the East it dates back to the 3rd century with St. Anthony, and in the West to the 4th century with St. Martin and other founders of monasteries. It shows itself in the way (emphasis mine) you put up with the many things of your daily life, sickness, death, war, persecution, mishaps and misfortunes of every kind. In other words, without awareness of God and without gratitude, indeed, without the interweaving of all these practices into our lives, patience cannot exist. Balance is less about achieving perfect equilibrium than it is a pendulum which continuously swings back toward a central point. The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means, , Fr. It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. Music students do their instruments. The term was applied to two principal types: the hermits who lived alone or in small unorganinzed groups, and the cenobites who lived in community. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). (61.6). We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. A particular spirituality is a specific system, or schema of beliefs, virtues, ideals and principles which form a particular way to approach God and therefore all life in general. Adrian Burke, OSB writes, Benedict insists in his Rule that we must balance our lives with prayerand work, with readingand recreation, with restand activity. Benedictines attempt to incorporate all of these important aspects into every day. 0000002192 00000 n Thus when St. Benedict appeared, monasticism was already solidly implanted in Egypt, Syria, Palestinethe whole East and in Ireland, Gaul, Italy, Spain, and Africa in the West. You can read more about the Liturgy of the Hours by clicking here, but the best way to learn about Liturgical prayer is to find a monastery and experience it. As. 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. Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. Am I growing in my true identity as a son or daughter of God? 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. Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. Ive drawn this list of 22 (+ 1 = 23) Benedictine practices (arranged alphabetically) from Stepping into the Oblate way of life, published by St. Benedicts Monastery in 2017, when Laureen Virnig OSB served as Director of Oblates. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. But what does the Bible teach on this issue? e. de waal, Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict (Collegeville 1984). This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. Recommended titles: Michael Casey, A Guide to Living in the Truth, 2001; Anselm Grn, Benedict of Nursia: His Message for Today, 2006. The King Priory, Fr this issue signs of monastic maturity is broad. 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