It acted and penetrated not as a legislative text imposed from without by authority but rather as a leaven by virtue of its intrinsic power. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. From the 13th century, Benedictine monasteries have often felt the influence of spiritual movements coming from non-monastic sources. Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. It was considered as proposing a spiritual program, while daily life was regulated by "customaries," to which succeeded, from the beginning of the 16th century, "Declarations" and "Constitutions" as well as the "Ceremonial." By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Benedictine monks and nuns made a commitment to living in a specific location, within a specific community, as the context for their spiritual growth and development. 4qAB0Lfb+ ``v@ BK j a. de vog, The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary (Kalamazoo 1983). Benedicts wisdom and commentary has provided the foundation for Benedictine communities throughout the centuries, and continues to influence many of us in the community of St. Pauls. 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. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. As. It appeared little by little wherever the Church took root, a spontaneous manifestation of the Holy Spirit urging Christians to become monks in response to the counsel given by Jesus in the Gospel: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions , follow me " (Mt 19.21). For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. 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. But it also requires that he let go of false expectations concerning others. St. Benedict lived in the 6 th century. Benedictine detachment does not imply a disparagement of good things, nor a fear of their power, but rather a just appreciation of all things as gifts of God. Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. The Benedictine motto, "Prayer and Work," highlights this simplicity of obedience to our daily duties. 3 Views. No one thingprayer, work, rest, studywas to be done in the extreme. Adrian Burke, OSB writes, Benedict insists in his. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. He entered the Dominican novitiate c. 1315 in his na, Benedictine College: Narrative Description. startxref In other words, to be a good Franciscan means to be a good Christian. Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. In other words, the core of Franciscan spirituality is the universal call to holiness that all women and men receive at baptism. This emphasis on silence is so that we can learn to listen to God more acutelyThis kind of sensitivity and awareness makes it easier to pray at all times. This article explains that silence is healthy for community life and fosters the learning of reverence for all creation. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. 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). h|X+8v&yh{#||(E AM3. <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> Demonstrate good will, humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, peace, and discipleship. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. However, it may involve the following characteristics: Antiquity of 3,000 and 1,500 years. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). ." Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain. 0 The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. 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. "Benedictine Spirituality Successful organizational . Vincentian spirituality is centered around this concept. Living the Benedictine spirituality, as a monk, an . In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. 0000004832 00000 n Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? 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. We stumble through being in right relationship. It was not founded by a particular saint. It strives to answer questions about the meaning of life, how people are connected to each other, truths about the universe, and other mysteries of human existence. Benedict's community might well be called a formation community in which all, including the abbot and other superiors in the community, are in the process of being formed all of their lives into the likeness of Christ by attentive listening to the word of God, and a loving response to that word mediated into the life of the community by Christ's own offer of friendship through the communication of the Holy Spirit. There was societal chaos and political dissatisfaction and we might wish that the conditions of those times did not sound so familiar to our modern ears. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. (320) 363-7112. mholicky@csbsju.edu. 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. 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. 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. Among the many available lists of core Benedictine values, I find that of Saint Johns Abbey to be one of the most helpful. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. Obedience is a concept 21st-century souls dont generally like to consider. How are we being invited to swing back toward Christ-centeredness? [contact-form][contact-field label=Name type=name required=1 /][contact-field label=Email type=email required=1 /][contact-field label=Website type=url /][contact-field label=Comment type=textarea required=1 /][/contact-form], Downloaded from the web site of the Bodleian library: [1]. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. [CDATA[ The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. Interviewed by Krista Tippett for her podcast On Being, Brother David talks about gratitude as the true wellspring of joy. Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. Acts 18:18). This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative . 0000000556 00000 n Prince of Peace is a community of Benedictine monks that has been in San Diego County since 1958, but their community spans more than 1,400 years of uninterrupted tradition dating back to St. Benedict. In chapter 72 of the rule, Benedict encourages his monks to be zealous, "supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body and behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. In 2007, Benedictine educators collaborated and distilled from The Rule of St. Benedict ten core values of transformative importance that ought to animate Benedictine institutions of learning. Benedictine spirituality helps us to: Focus our eyes on God and His Word Be a people of humility Live and pray in community, rather than being too individualistic Maintain prayerful discipline in our lives 1. Listen to your body, to the negative and irritating things like our fatigues and headaches and muscle aches, revealing to us the lack of balance and health in our lives.. 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. 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. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. //