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. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. Benedictine spirituality is practical and profound. 0000002499 00000 n 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. They pray the Office together, with no voice standing out above the others. Obedience is an act of letting go of the egoistic will. The Prologue through RB 7 are a foundational primer; RB 8-20 speak of liturgical prayer; RB 20-67 include teachings for the common life; and RB 68-72 offer a theology of monastic life with an emphasis on love (Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition. 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." RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality, Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. It is a matter of self-respect and purpose which we see clearly in the changing nature of retirement. Life in common is the Benedictine monastic path toward God. 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. Fr. In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. This practice is not particular to Benedictines, however. 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. Saint Gregory has written that Saint Benedict, in entering his solitude, had no other desire than "to please God alone", "soli Deo placere desiderans." These simple words, better than any others, explain the monastic vocation. It underscores the tenets of Care ethics in conjunction with Benedictine Spirituality. 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. These three characteristics refer especially to intellectual activity. What makes spiritual direction distinctive is its 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. 0000001968 00000 n Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. (Six Hallmarks of Benedictine Spirituality) by Fr. In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. 480 to 547 CE in Italy. 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 . Benedictines are called to strive for silence and have a love for silence. SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. What are the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality? Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. 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. 0000001056 00000 n Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. Music students practice their instruments. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. Be willing to wait. This little rule for beginners serves to develop a spirituality made up of practices, which Benedictines incorporate into their relationship with God and their interactions with the people with whom they live and work. Finding God in All Things. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. 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. This religious practice refers to St. Benedict and his spiritual practice. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. Impact. Bndictine D.O.M. 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. The Nazirite's spiritual disciplines included not drinking wine or eating grapes, not cutting . Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 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 . St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the Rule. The years 1987 and 1990 saw the publication of two unprecedented and immediately popular reference works, The New Dictionary of Theology and The New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship.The present work, The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality, edited by Michael Downey, is intended as a companion to these, with a parallel aim and purpose.The NDCS is a collaborative attempt to take stock of . Teaching Artist. We are no more self-sufficient than the poor whose dependence on the service of others cant be hidden. The Rule of Benedict teaches that Monastics should serve one another (35:1). On the blog Catholic Beer Club, Br. Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. We stumble through being in right relationship. 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. Ignacio Gonzalez, OSB writes that the Benedictine practice of Conversatio requires that we never stop asking hard questions about our personal growth. Saint Clare of Assisi (16 July 1194 - 11 August 1253, born Chiara Offreduccio and sometimes spelled Clara, Clair, Claire, Sinclair, etc.) 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. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. 0000000742 00000 n Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. Chanon gave Ignatius the book Exercises for the Spiritual Life written by Benedictine reformer, Fr. Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. That is why the ministry of hospitality is such an important part of the Benedictine heritage. In The Rule of Benedict for Beginners, Wil Derkse reveals how elements from Benedictine spirituality and the Benedictine lifestyle may be . 0000000820 00000 n She reminds that in the Rule of Benedict, in the economy of monastic life, prayer is work and work is prayer. While [t]ime set aside for prayer can be a great blessing, we can turn all of our daily tasks into prayer when we bring to them the awareness of ourselves in relationship with our ever-present God. It is my experience that the simplicity of this message oftentimes seems just too difficult to accept. Continue to Prayer and Community: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 2). Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. 1. That kind of movement toward moderation is especially important as we live the open and complex questions. 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. Benedictine spirituality is a fresh alternative in an increasingly fast-paced world. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. 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 rhythm of life leads one to times of being alone and times of being in community. Thus the rule refers frequently to the "divine commandments" and often cites the Bible, particularly the gospel. 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. This pattern of sharing is a basic characteristic of a cenobitic community. It is likewise through that response that one becomes free to be and develop as the person one is called to be. What helps us practice setting down our agendas in order to be more fully present? It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. 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. The second characteristic of the monastic vocation is that it demands a life of which a privileged part is given to prayer. 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. Vincentian spirituality is centered around this concept. Garcia Jimenez de Cisneros in . 9 13 Gymnasts do routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. An atheist is a man who lives without God. Benedict's Rule and Spirituality. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. 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. Romey is the driving force behind "Being Benedictine in the 21st Century: Spiritual Seekers in Conversation," a conference planned for June 2020 at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison. Benedict calls the monastery a "school" because it is the place where the monk is to be taught by God. Belief in One God: The most important teaching of Islam is that only God is to be served and worshipped. 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). Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. How are you being called to participate in Gods work of reconciliation, healing, and in shaping structures that support values like these. This invitation to listen came to Benedict from the heart of the Old and New Testament traditions. In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. 0000002422 00000 n Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The Rule of St. Benedict (RB) became a foundational text for monasticism in the West, having emerged in the sixth century as the Roman civilization was collapsing. published by Liturgical Press, by clicking here. Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. God speaks to the monk through Christ, but the monk is called to see Christ not only in the superior but also in the guests, in the sick, in the young, and in the old. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. k. vermeiren, Praying with Benedict: Prayer in the Rule of St. Benedict (Kalamazoo 1999). What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. 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. 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. It is only in a secondary sense that Benedict himself, speaking through the rule, and the abbot of the community are masters. 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. We each hunger to make a meaningful contribution to our world. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. 1. . 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. 6v-7r of the Bodleian library in Oxford. Hospitality As time went on we decided that we needed a clear focus on the values. Awareness of God In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. The monk needs time along and needs time in community. Unfortunately, Jesus never indicated discipleship would be easy. 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. He is called to live in the rhythm of alternating between receiving and giving, accepting the gifts of God and others, while sharing generously jut as others share generously with him. Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. Benedictine hospitality requires us to moderate our own views and voices, and in this day and age, as in all ages, moderation is supremely radical. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. 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. 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. Encyclopedia.com. They are all intertwined. It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. There were also other forms of monastic life, but they were more or less eccentric in comparison with the two main types and sometimes led to abuse. For most Oblates. 6 Characteristics Of Benedictine Spirituality . For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality, "Benedictine Spirituality "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. We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. 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 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. [CDATA[ 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. 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. Read the full essay to learn more about how humility helps us grow in the love of God and deepens our bonds with each other. 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. The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative . This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. Of all creatures, the human person is in fact the neediest. 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. Bibliography: Marked for Life: Prayer in the Easter Christ (London 1979). Because I couldnt find relevant, simple answers online to the questions, What is Benedictine Spirituality? and What are Benedictine practices? 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