The fourth Benedictine value is work, or labora. Her muscular Christianity is grounded in the spiritual practices of the Rule of Saint Benedict, such as silence, hospitality, humility, and peace. The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . 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. [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]. The Rule of Benedict opens with the word "listen" (ausculta ). Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. 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. 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.) 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. (320) 363-7112. mholicky@csbsju.edu. Benedictine Spirituality - also known as Monastic Spirituality. Be willing to wait. Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Benedictine spirituality is a fresh alternative in an increasingly fast-paced world. 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. Its principal source is the Word of God and its model is Christ. praying the Divine Office) as well as regular silent . This article on the Contemplative outreach website explains the history of lectio divina, and offers instruction in how to do it. 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. It embraces a diversity of vocations: lay and clerical, contemplative and active, academic and pastoral, married and celibate. Instead of being possessive and manipulative, he is called to grow in detachment which manifests itself in the constructive and creative use of things. He wrote a Rule for his monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy and he foresaw . In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. This grows our ability to rest in stability. What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? 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. Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . . St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the Rule. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. It is only in a secondary sense that Benedict himself, speaking through the rule, and the abbot of the community are masters. But for all, the ideal has remained "solitude of heart" with God, guaranteed by the "order of charity" in the community institution. 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. Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. 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. Eunice Antony, OSB. Roman Roots. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. As time went on we decided that we needed a clear focus on the values. 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. Since Benedict was a monk, the spirituality which is based on his rule, is fundamentally monastic. The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. Interviewed by Krista Tippett for her podcast On Being, Brother David talks about gratitude as the true wellspring of joy. Prosperity and ties with temporal society often led monasteries, especially the larger ones, to depart more or less from certain fundamental observances required by the rule, notably separation from secular society, real simplicity of life, and manual labor. The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. thats most of the time. We become obedient only after we know our own will. k. vermeiren, Praying with Benedict: Prayer in the Rule of St. Benedict (Kalamazoo 1999). 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. On the blog Catholic Beer Club, Br. Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 and died in 543. 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. For Benedict, prayer had a particular structure and process. Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective But the monk's development, like that of all human beings, requires both material resources and the help of other people. The typical person takes little time for personal renewal in the hectic daily round of activities. Benedict shows us the value of ordering our day around communal prayer (i.e. The word "Benedictine" is relatively modern; it scarcely existed before the 17th century. Benedicts rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life. Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. Little by little, however, the Rule of Benedict became the principal rule, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy. In 1893 the same pope provided the "order" with an Abbot . The Benedictine motto, "Prayer and Work," highlights this simplicity of obedience to our daily duties. Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. [], [] is both. Even the Cistercians, who in the 12th century had intended to return to a faithful observance of the rule itself, added numerous statutes. Gymnasts do 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. Directly translated, Lectio Divina means divine reading. 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. If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. 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. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. 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 abbot, elected for life by his monks, maintains supreme power and in all normal circumstances is accountable to no one. Before writing his Rule, Benedict lived for years as a hermit. Divine omnipotence is a divine operative attribute, an, TAULER, JOHANNES In contrast to monks who fled the world to encounter God in solitude, St. Benedict's Rule was written to guide communities in living elemental aspects of Christianitysuch as shared meals, shared prayer, and shared work. Demonstrate good will, humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, peace, and discipleship. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. The church and her sacramental system are essential to the Christian life of grace. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. 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. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. Here are some of the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality: Grounded in Listening 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 of Nursia lived from ca. 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. Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. But it also requires that he let go of false expectations concerning others. 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. 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. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. ), 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. At the heart of his contemplative tradition are values which are directly opposed to blindness, materialism, and greed. Fr. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. He entered the Dominican novitiate c. 1315 in his na, Benedictine College: Narrative Description. Monsignor Charles Pope seems to be saying in the blog post, A Reflection On the Benedictine Vow of Stability for Community in Mission of the Archdiocese of Washington (DC), that stability of heart is the Benedictine practice our chronically unstable contemporary society most desperately needs. Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. 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. 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. . Obedience is a concept 21st-century souls dont generally like to consider. 3 Views. 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. 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. 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 . Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. 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." Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. h|X+8v&yh{#||(E AM3. <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> Monks are to listen "to the precepts of the master" but their primary and ultimate master is 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. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. 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. The discipline of slowing down to pay attention renews our orientation toward receiving the presence of Christ. Adrian also writes, This kind of wisdom is why St. Benedicts Rule continues, after more than 1,500 years now, to stir the hearts of men and women who want to live their lives entirely for Christ. In other words, Benedicts Rule stirs the hearts of those who want to live each day fully. defines the leader of a Benedictine community is not being head of an institution but being in relationship with all the members. But, we keep practicing, because we hope that eventually, with faithful practice, that our way of being present to others will be as rich and meaningful as Chopins Nocturns are mysteriously rich with meaning when played by the virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein near the end of his life. a. de vog, The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary (Kalamazoo 1983). Be faithful in demonstration of family and community commitments, for example, by calling parents every week at the same time, checking in regularly on neighbors, affirming and listening to coworkers. Benedictines are called to strive for silence and have a love for silence. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"Mjbegi0csMdpEDVeqSUEXsusxBikAj9UyKZw_VuRiag-86400-0"}; But Benedict also reminds the monk that there is a wicked zeal which leads to death. An atheist is a man who lives without God. A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. In monastic life public prayer is only one observance among those which help the monk seek God. j. chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (New York 1992). We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. There are three primary commitments in the Benedictine way that form the spiritual backbone for the rest of the spiritual practicesobedience, stability, and conversion. The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. For vowed monastics, stability is literala long-term commitment to a specific place and community. %PDF-1.4 % 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. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Ancient Tradition. Hence they are rich compared with many who come to the monastery for help. 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. While submission is an act of youth, true obedience can only come as a response of maturity. 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. 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. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. Hence he is able to receive others in the community, including guests, with kind consideration. The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative . 0000002192 00000 n Vincentian spirituality is centered around this concept. 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. In a very special way God speaks through the Scriptures, through the liturgy of the hours (opus Dei ), and through personal prayer. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. The typical person takes little time for personal renewal in the hectic daily round of activities. 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. It underscores the tenets of Care ethics in conjunction with Benedictine Spirituality. The whole spiritual life of the monk consists in listening to God by "inclining the ear of the heart." God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should use them in that order. Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. In a. Personal or private prayer is traditionally exercised under the form of meditative reading of Holy Scripture and of authors who explain and reflect on it, according to the three phases designated by the words "reading" (lectio ), meditation (meditatio ), and "prayer" (oratio or contemplatio ). One of the primary functions of the various monastic structures is to provide conditions in which the monks can concentrate on learning the art of listening. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. 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. Balance is less about achieving perfect equilibrium than it is a pendulum which continuously swings back toward a central point. New Catholic Encyclopedia. This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. 1. 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. 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. A monk should be above all a good listener. Their prayer discipline is based on the rhythms of the universe. Benedictine reverence for all creation applies to nature and all creatures, to the objects we use and make, and to all peoplepilgrims, the broken and downtrodden, to every single human, including ourselves. Benedictine monastics make a three-fold commitment to stability, conversion (conversatio), and obedience. Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. Father Mandonnet then lists three characteristics that are concerned more especially with the will. ." It emphasizes the preeminent position which hospitality occupies in every Benedictine monastery. Consequently he accepts the services and ideas of others, the gifts of life, and community. %%EOF d. rees et al., Consider Your Call: A Theology of Monastic Life Today (Kalamazoo 1978). This religious practice refers to St. Benedict and his spiritual practice. Poet/Writer. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. Benedictine writers often appealed to methods of prayer and asceticism that were foreign to the monastic tradition. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. However, it may involve the following characteristics: Antiquity of 3,000 and 1,500 years. Life in Benedictine monasteries was also deeply influenced by the clericalization of many of the monks and the episcopal ordination of many abbots. All these helping ministries place value on the confidentiality of the relationship and may lead to increased personal wellbeing and a more fruitful and productive life. (Six Hallmarks of Benedictine Spirituality) by Fr. ." What we know about St. Benedict himself comes to us mainly through Gregory the Great (ca. 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. 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. The rhythm of life leads one to times of being alone and times of being in community. Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. By integrating their prayer and work, they manifest Christ's presence in society.". 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). 1. 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. Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. 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. These three characteristics refer especially to intellectual activity. Humility demands that the monk take God seriously, that he take others seriously, but that he never take himself too seriously. xref 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. 0 is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. 9 13 //