As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. I hope this list (compiled in September, 2018) is helpful, perhaps even inspiring. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. [CDATA[ Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. Rather, it is a series of embodied practices that forms the monk over the course of a lifetime to make space for the guest. St. Benedict lived in the 6 th century. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister with an ecumenical outreach and vision who has written more than 50 books. For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience.
We always can go deeper in prayer, grow more open to the truth, enrich our understanding of the will of God, and learn what, in this moment at this time, is good, acceptable, and right. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. 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. Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain. 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. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. Quick and easy, no. Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality 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. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Like counselling, therapy and coaching, spiritual direction rests on careful listening to the 'client'. 540-604 CE), who praised Benedict for his discretion and moderation. The fourth Benedictine value is work, or labora. ." The Rule of St. Benedict has often been referred to as a compendium of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ. 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. Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. An atheist is a man who lives without God. If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. 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 . It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. 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). That is why the ministry of hospitality is such an important part of the Benedictine heritage. For most Oblates. 0000002422 00000 n
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. His books includeGratefulness,A Listening Heart, and most recently, a new autobiography,i am through you so. . This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. It is humility that makes us happy with what we have, willing to have less, kind to all, simple in our bearing, and serene within ourselves. It only takes 2-3 minutes to read her article. Or, am I living a lie, allowing myself to be conformed to every whim and temptation of my fallen nature? To complete our personal transformation, we never stop changing. 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. 0000002499 00000 n
The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. Fr. It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. As. Reading the transcript or listening to the podcast is worthwhile. Learn more at www.samuelrahberg.com. It is only in a secondary sense that Benedict himself, speaking through the rule, and the abbot of the community are masters. In Benedict's rule, humility is not the same as humiliations, for humiliations degrade the person. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. Many Oblates rely on. Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. 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. BARTH, KARL (18861968), Swiss Reformed theologian, described by Pope Pius XII as the greatest theologian since Thomas Aquina, A term used to cover a literally bewildering variety of states of mind. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. Closely related to both listening and humility is the virtue of obedience. According to monastic scholar Fr. The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. 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. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. The abbot, elected for life by his monks, maintains supreme power and in all normal circumstances is accountable to no one. 0000000556 00000 n
To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. Eunice Antony, OSB. The Benedictines, strictly speaking, do not constitute a single religious . 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. 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. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. 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. 21 0 obj
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St. Benedict speaks of steps in humility, comparing them to the rungs of a ladder which we climb one by onean image that implies not a strict order of ascent but a more general sense of movement growth. Near the end of his life in 547 AD, Benedict of Nursia wrote a a guide to living, in the company of other humans, the kind of good days that add up to a good life. 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. 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. (320) 363-7112. mholicky@csbsju.edu. 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 such a personal thing that it can be considered part of one's identity. Kyle T. Kramer explains in his 2011 article for America Magazine that hospitality, for a Benedictine, means to welcome all others as Christ, to recognize that despite vast differences, the diverse human family is part of the same God-given belonging, and we need one another to survive and thrive. This means facing our fears, letting prejudice and certitude die in us, and rooting ourselves in the love of God, the alpha and omega of the entire creation, the force that pulls everyone and everything toward a center that can hold. Benedictines hold strong convictions, but experience shows strident, uncompromising voices tend to foster arguments, tensions, and hostilitiesnot peace and love. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. In a. The rhythm of life leads one to times of being alone and times of being in community. Obedience is an act of letting go of the egoistic will. He wrote a Rule for his monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy and he foresaw . Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. d. rees et al., Consider Your Call: A Theology of Monastic Life Today (Kalamazoo 1978). Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. 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. The RB is saturated with Scripture and, as Esther de Waal has suggested in her book Seeking God: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule of St. Benedict (Liturgical Press, 2009), the Prologue exemplifies this as a model of baptismal instruction. For example, Let us get up then, at long last for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Rom 13:11), or Run while you have the light, that the darkness of death may not overtake you (John 12:35). Scripture and baptism undergird the Benedictine vision of Christian discipleship, a vision which relies on a prayerful orientation toward God and relationships which support us in Christ-centeredness. to the Rule is a good way to summarize the goal of Benedictine spirituality and prayer. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." The discipline of slowing down to pay attention renews our orientation toward receiving the presence of Christ. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Hospitality In a podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. Of all creatures, the human person is in fact the neediest. Seeing the Face of Christ in the Poor. Humility requires the monk to accept the gifts of others, their wisdom, their experience, and their counsel. Thus prayer and community, to borrow again from Stewart, are at the heart of the Benedictine school of spirituality. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. 1. Saint Benedict Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. The word "Benedictine" is relatively modern; it scarcely existed before the 17th century. Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. How are you feeling called to commit that value to practice in the days ahead? This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. 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. Catholic spirituality includes the various ways in which Catholics live out their Baptismal promise through prayer and action. 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. We practice clumsily like beginners running through piano scales. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. What calls us to attention? 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. The monk's own attitude toward his life then is one of stewardship. 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." Furthermore, he avoids anything that would be excessive or beyond the capacity of the average monk. BARTH, KARL 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. Benedictines read a portion of the Rule of Benedict every day. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. From the middle of the 20th century there appeared in Europe, America, Africa, and elsewhere monastic foundations that, drawing their inspiration from ancient sources, tended to return to forms of monastic life that are simpler and more contemplative. 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. Commit to daily, weekly or monthly prayer disciplines. Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. This grows our ability to rest in stability. 0000004832 00000 n
For most of us, though, stability can have a figurative element beyond our experience with a [], 2023 Benedictine Center of St. Pauls Monastery, Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3), Prayer and Community: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 2 of 3) - Benedictine Center, Lectio Divina and Preferring Christ: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 3 of 3) - Benedictine Center, My Day with the Sacred Fire | Benedictine Center, Saturated with Peace: Experiencing Personal Retreat | Benedictine Center, Wholehearted Living as the Lamed Vav | Benedictine Center, Practicing Sustained Lectio Divina | Benedictine Center, What Discernment Means to Me | Benedictine Center, Sabbath: Well-being, Not Endless Work | Benedictine Center, Moderation and Rhythm: A Benedictine Help Against Social Isolation | Benedictine Center, Stability: The Benedictine Value of Locatedness | Benedictine Center, The Erector Set: Adapting to Others | Benedictine Center, Sharper: Benedict's Tools for Good Works | Benedictine Center, The Benedictine Commitment to Learning | Benedictine Center, We Dare To Hope (Part 1 of 2) | Benedictine Center, We Dare To Hope (Part 2 of 2) | Benedictine Center, Life, A Continuous Advent | Benedictine Center, Rooted in Love: My Sustained Lectio Divina | Benedictine Center, Just Wave: Following that Holy Nudge | Benedictine Center. The ascetic and contemplative orientation of the monastic life was accompanied historically by such cultural activities and manifestations as were compatible with a separation from the secular world, conversion, and a life of personal prayer. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. 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. We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. Just as all these people practice to become more proficient, spiritual seekers practice in order to become better at living a spiritual life. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). 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. It may be an old liqueur but it has a well-deserved place in the modern bar. This invitation to listen came to Benedict from the heart of the Old and New Testament traditions. In this article, 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. The Cistercian Order reinforced the eremetical character of the cenobitical life itself. Listen here: //
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The whole spiritual life of the monk consists in listening to God by "inclining the ear of the heart." 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. The Rule of St. Benedict structures this for the monk. 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. 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. The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. 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. He writes: "The will develops its own gifts, seeking to perfect them in the order of nature and of grace so as to bring the faithful soul to spiritual maturity. Benedictine prayer has several characteristics that make more for a spirituality of awareness than of consolation. By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Monastic Spirituality. Benedictine Spirituality - also known as Monastic Spirituality. Having the mind of a beginner, being receptive to starting anew, starting fresh, starting overthis, too, is a Benedictine practice. Benedictine writers often appealed to methods of prayer and asceticism that were foreign to the monastic tradition. The Rule revolves around five practices: Prayer, Work, Study, Hospitality and Renewal. Benedicts rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life. (February 22, 2023). This religious practice refers to St. Benedict and his spiritual practice. Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. Much research has been devoted to this topic, ranging from practical to academic. 0000005209 00000 n
There is a temptation to complicate it, to . Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 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. For Benedict, prayer had a particular structure and process. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"Mjbegi0csMdpEDVeqSUEXsusxBikAj9UyKZw_VuRiag-86400-0"}; Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. Many Oblates rely on Give Us This Day, a monthly prayer book with simplified daily prayer for morning and evening, to help us participate in the Divine Office when we are away from the monastery. Hence he is able to receive others in the community, including guests, with kind consideration. Which brings us back to awareness of God, to the beginning again. 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. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. Directly translated, Lectio Divina means divine reading. 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. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. 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. Listen to the Holy Spirit speaking through scripture and through the insights of others. The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. Benedictine spirituality is a fresh alternative in an increasingly fast-paced world. In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. The rule is marked by a strong sense of the individual monk's personal worth and dignity. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. Impact. 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). 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. On a personal level the rule calls the monk to live a life marked by frugality, simplicity, and gratitude for the many gifts of God. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. Successful organizational . 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. What helps us practice setting down our agendas in order to be more fully present? This pattern of sharing is a basic characteristic of a cenobitic community. 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. , but instead, holiness of life the cenobitical life itself September, 2018 ) is helpful, perhaps inspiring. 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