We each hunger to make a meaningful contribution to our world. xref
He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. Bndictine D.O.M. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. It is only in a secondary sense that Benedict himself, speaking through the rule, and the abbot of the community are masters. It is my experience that the simplicity of this message oftentimes seems just too difficult to accept. 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. We stumble through being in right relationship. Spiritual Direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which a person, desiring to be attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with the spiritual director on a regular basis to become more attuned to God's presence and to respond more fully to that presence. An atheist is a man who lives without God. Awareness of God In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. These prayers, which included the saying or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our Daily Office. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. 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. In a. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. 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. The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. praying the Divine Office) as well as regular silent . 480 to 547 CE in Italy. It is likewise through that response that one becomes free to be and develop as the person one is called to be. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. We practice clumsily like beginners running through piano scales. The Rule of St. Benedict structures this for the monk. Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. Benedictine obedience is ultimately directed not to other humans or to ourselves, but through the agency of others and the deepest yearnings of our own hearts, in love, to God. "No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." - Rule of St. Benedict 72:7 A Raven is Collaborative Collaborative Ravens create a spirit of teamwork. Humility helps be more authentically, beautifully, and lovingly human. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. While everyone has their values and principles, the spiritual person knows that one-size does not fit all. This practice is not particular to Benedictines, however. The Rule of Benedict opens with the word "listen" (ausculta ). 480 to 547 CE in Italy. Benedictine simplicity of life is understood properly with the reality of Christ and his mission in mind. St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the Rule. (f`eav They pray the Office together, with no voice standing out above the others. d. rees et al., Consider Your Call: A Theology of Monastic Life Today (Kalamazoo 1978). Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. Humility requires the monk to accept the gifts of others, their wisdom, their experience, and their counsel. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. Hence they are rich compared with many who come to the monastery for help. 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. It was not founded by a particular saint. 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. 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. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should use them in that order. He simply organized a form of cenobitic life in complete conformity with the demands of the monastic vocation, which is but integral Christian life. Music students practice their instruments. It is that same balance that has made it attractive today to those countless lay men and women who are not living vowed lives in a monastery but who are associated with Benedictine monasteries as oblates attempting to live their lives in the secular world according to the spiritual values set out in the rule. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means, , Fr. Perhaps the most useful definition is that given by Jean gerson: "Theologia m, Omnipotence is derived From the Latin omnis (all) and potens (capable of making or producing). 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. 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. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. Just because these spiritualities are different does not mean they are contradictory. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. Harry Hagan, OSB My part in this little show began as a description of the novitiate and how it brings new people from exclusion to inclusion, from fascination to identification, and from dependence to belonging. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. 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. 0000001554 00000 n
[CDATA[ 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. In this, affective piety and the contemplative study of the mysteries of God were no longer so strictly united as in the preceding centuries, in which the patristic tradition had been preserved. Since Benedict was a monk, the spirituality which is based on his rule, is fundamentally monastic. What makes spiritual direction distinctive is its It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. 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 contemporary society, Christian spirituality is generally defined as a set of beliefs, values, and way of life that reflect the teachings of the Bible, the holy book of Christianity. In other words, to be a good Franciscan means to be a good Christian. thats most of the time. One of the sure signs of monastic maturity is the honest acceptance of one's need for other people in community. What calls us to attention? It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. The monk's own attitude toward his life then is one of stewardship. The rule did not become a text of the past or a dead document; rather it continued to live and to vivify, but its very fecundity, its inexhaustible youthfruits of its discretionexplain how it was able to inspire different realizations. 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. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. 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. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. 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. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. 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 . This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. variety in physical characteristics, languages, and ways of life is really our . 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. Benedictines carry on a monastic tradition that stems from the origins of the Christian monastic movement in the late third century. 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.. 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 . We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. Furthermore, he avoids anything that would be excessive or beyond the capacity of the average monk. Benedict shows us the value of ordering our day around communal prayer (i.e. By integrating their prayer and work, they manifest Christ's presence in society.". Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. It is humility that takes the monk beyond the myth of his own grandeur to the grandeur of God. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Humility helps us accept our gifts and talents joyfully while letting go of our false selves. In a very special way God speaks through the Scriptures, through the liturgy of the hours (opus Dei ), and through personal prayer. c. smith, The Path of Life (Ampleforth, England 1995). Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Out of these . Demonstrate good will, humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, peace, and discipleship. Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. 0000000820 00000 n
Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. The Benedictine practice of Moderation in All Things is another that is trending today, under the word balance., Obedience is a concept 21st-century souls dont generally like to consider. As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. 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. is an herbal liqueur produced in France. 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. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. But what does the Bible teach on this issue? 6 Characteristics Of Benedictine Spirituality . 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 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. Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and 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? FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. 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. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. 0
While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. The Benedictine practice of Moderation in All Things is another that is trending today, under the word balance. In the blog Echoes from the Bell Tower, Fr. Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. Here are some of the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality: For Benedict, the spiritual life was about listening to Godthrough prayer, Scriptures, the depths of our own experience, through listening to others in our community and the wider church. Tradition assigns no other end to monastic life than to "seek God" or "to live for God alone," an ideal that can be achieved only by a life of conversion and prayer. In The Rule of Benedict for Beginners, Wil Derkse reveals how elements from Benedictine spirituality and the Benedictine lifestyle may be . (320) 363-7112. SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. . is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. Saint Clare of Assisi (16 July 1194 - 11 August 1253, born Chiara Offreduccio and sometimes spelled Clara, Clair, Claire, Sinclair, etc.) Successful organizational . We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. What is Benedictine Spirituality? Closely related to both listening and humility is the virtue of obedience. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Am I growing in my true identity as a son or daughter of God? 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. Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 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. The devotio moderna is an example. Humility is also a dominant theme in Benedictine spirituality; in fact it is closely related to contemplation. 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). In the 7th and 8th centuries it was often combined with other rules, especially that of St. Columban (d. 615). Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. backgrounds including non-Catholic ones find deep spirituality in the Divine Office and the other Benedictine practices in the Rule such as the emphasis on work and lectio divina (slow prayerful reading), is difficult to state briefly. Some of the key characteristics of Benedictine spirituality include: Liturgy of the Hours; Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of Scripture) Eucharist; Benedictine Spirituality includes the willingness to: Seek God; Use the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict as a guide; Listen to one another . In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. 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. This grows our ability to rest in stability. The first word of the Rule of Benedict is Listen. The Benedictine practice of listening is the heart of Benedictine spirituality, for not only are we instructed to listen constantly to one another in community, to leaders, to guests, to the sick, to our inner selves, and most of all, to God, we must also attend to [what we hear] with the ear of the heart. As Good Samaritan Sister Clare Condon writes, Listening with the ear of the heart can be a scary experience because it can call me to radical change, to a transformation of my limited human perspective. Contact. Benedictine Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki, a major force behind the ministries and outreach that shaped the Benedictines of Erie, Pennsylvania, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, died Jan. 6 at . Humility is the ability to recognize one's rightful place in the universe and to see oneself as a mysterious combination of strengths and weaknesses. Of all creatures, the human person is in fact the neediest. 22 Feb. 2023
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