Impact. It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. Humility helps be more authentically, beautifully, and lovingly human. 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. 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. FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. The Cistercian Order reinforced the eremetical character of the cenobitical life itself. Benedict's community might well be called a formation community in which all, including the abbot and other superiors in the community, are in the process of being formed all of their lives into the likeness of Christ by attentive listening to the word of God, and a loving response to that word mediated into the life of the community by Christ's own offer of friendship through the communication of the Holy Spirit. The School of Benedictine Spirituality is willing to help people enhance their spirituality, which is claimed to be a search for the sacred that is seen as "a blend of humanistic psychology with mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions aimed at personal well-being and personal development" ( Benedictine spirituality, 2013, par . Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 22 Feb. 2023 . Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. Sam has experience in parish ministry and holds a masters degree in theology from Saint Johns University (Collegeville, MN). 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. Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. 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 . 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). Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. New Catholic Encyclopedia. We practice clumsily like beginners running through piano scales. 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. 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. Nazirites (Numbers 6:1-21): Nazirites were of two types: those who were dedicated from birth to be a Nazirite (e.g. Because I couldnt find relevant, simple answers online to the questions, What is Benedictine Spirituality? and What are Benedictine practices? I decided to publish this summary of 23 habits Benedictines seek, through lifelong practice, to cultivate into a lifestyle. Saint Benedict Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. What is Benedictine Spirituality? [CDATA[ 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. 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. Benedict's Rule and Spirituality. Having the mind of a beginner, being receptive to starting anew, starting fresh, starting overthis, too, is a Benedictine practice. Directly translated, Lectio Divina means divine reading. 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. Balance is less about achieving perfect equilibrium than it is a pendulum which continuously swings back toward a central point. 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. 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. 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. As. For the readers convenience, I will include only six of them here along with a simple explanation. You can order a free copy of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press, by clicking here. 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. What makes spiritual direction distinctive is its Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain the monks and oblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbley, in this post on Environmental Stewardship on the blog Echoes from the Bell Tower. Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. Finding God in All Things. 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. Out of these . Bibliography: Marked for Life: Prayer in the Easter Christ (London 1979). To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. The church and her sacramental system are essential to the Christian life of grace. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. Music students do their instruments. 0000002422 00000 n
Christian monasticism had been in existence for a long time before Benedict wrote his rule. It is only in a secondary sense that Benedict himself, speaking through the rule, and the abbot of the community are masters. Through spiritual direction, individual and group ministerial reflection, and writing, Sam companions Christian leaders as they re-discover the sense of calling and giftedness at the heart of Christ-centered ministry. They pray the Office together, with no voice standing out above the others. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. 2. Teaching Artist. Benedictine writers often appealed to methods of prayer and asceticism that were foreign to the monastic tradition. Do you yearn for a good life, and do you desire to see good days? Even the Cistercians, who in the 12th century had intended to return to a faithful observance of the rule itself, added numerous statutes. 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 encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). That is why the ministry of hospitality is such an important part of the Benedictine heritage. There is a temptation to complicate it, to . Little by little, however, the Rule of Benedict became the principal rule, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy. 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. Continue to Prayer and Community: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 2). Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. A monk should be above all a good listener. 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 ). Ancient Tradition. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should use them in that order. In a. (February 22, 2023). 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. Humility is also a dominant theme in Benedictine spirituality; in fact it is closely related to contemplation. SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. Every four months, we begin again at the beginningso we read the Rulethree times every year. The abbot, elected for life by his monks, maintains supreme power and in all normal circumstances is accountable to no one. Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister with an ecumenical outreach and vision who has written more than 50 books. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. Listen to your body, to the negative and irritating things like our fatigues and headaches and muscle aches, revealing to us the lack of balance and health in our lives.. What does it mean for us to learn contentment with living simply? Benedictine monks have often received freely from their families and educators, from the rich Benedictine tradition, from the abundant life of their own communities, and from the many mercies of God. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. It is not possible to formulate a singl, Etymologically the word "contemplation" derives from templum, which signified the space marked out by a seer with his divining rod as a location for, Barth, Karl It requires that a monk listens intently to the voice of God as it is manifested in the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of his superiors. Its principal source is the Word of God and its model is Christ. While everyone has their values and principles, the spiritual person knows that one-size does not fit all. thats most of the time. Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? 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. 9 13
), 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. We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the . Encyclopedia.com. 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, Sister Joan tells us that a Benedictine lifestyle is an an oasis of human peace. One of the primary characteristics of a spiritual person is openness. Which value speaks to your heart most strongly at this time and why? They are listeners and patient, willing to wait and see. (f`eav The Rule of St. Benedict structures this for the monk. The Rule revolves around five practices: Prayer, Work, Study, Hospitality and Renewal. Before writing his Rule, Benedict lived for years as a hermit. 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. U`` . podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. However, the date of retrieval is often important. defines the leader of a Benedictine community is not being head of an institution but being in relationship with all the members. The rhythm of life leads one to times of being alone and times of being in community. Life in Benedictine monasteries was also deeply influenced by the clericalization of many of the monks and the episcopal ordination of many abbots. For vowed monastics, stability is literala long-term commitment to a specific place and community. But Benedict also reminds the monk that there is a wicked zeal which leads to death. 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." The whole spiritual life of the monk consists in listening to God by "inclining the ear of the heart." The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. This listening is not merely an intellectual or rational activity; it is intuitive, springing from the very core of the monk's being where he is most open to God and most open to the word of life that God speaks. 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. This manuscript is a copy of St. Benedicts rule. Furthermore, he avoids anything that would be excessive or beyond the capacity of the average monk. . 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. [], [] is both. It underscores the tenets of Care ethics in conjunction with Benedictine Spirituality. 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 is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others. Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . Be willing to wait. The wisdom of Native Americans has often been quoted as a way of thinking about the long term implications of our present actions: What is the impact of our decisions on the seventh generation? We are called to consider ourselves part of Gods larger and longer story, living a legacy which was a gift to us and inspiring others who will follow. We become obedient only after we know our own will. Unfortunately, Jesus never indicated discipleship would be easy. 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. 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. 0000000820 00000 n
The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative . 3 Views. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. Many Oblates rely on. [], [] Learn more about Benedictine spirituality. He entered the Dominican novitiate c. 1315 in his na, Benedictine College: Narrative Description. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom 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. 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. //]]>. Fr. Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. Benedictines carry on a monastic tradition that stems from the origins of the Christian monastic movement in the late third century. Where it was adopted, it was looked upon as a venerable text but not necessarily requiring observance in all its prescriptions. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. This practice is not particular to Benedictines, however. 0000001056 00000 n
In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. Encyclopedia.com. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. Using philosophical and theological lens, this paper attempts to 1) present the Benedictine Leadership vis--vis Care ethics 2) proffer that charity or care is the driving force of a transformational leader and, 3) purport that a caring leader, directly or . It was not founded by a particular saint. Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means, , Fr. Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. The discipline of slowing down to pay attention renews our orientation toward receiving the presence of Christ. 0000002192 00000 n
For most Oblates. 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. How have we been equipped by God to do so? Just as all these people practice to become more proficient, spiritual seekers practice in order to become better at living a spiritual life. He is called to witness in a materialistic world to the dependence of all men and women on God, and to their need and destiny for a happiness that lies beyond material fulfillment. The thing that distinguishes monks from other religious in the Catholic Church is not primarily a matter of governmental structures or observances; all of these are found in other forms of consecrated life. Poet/Writer. Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. 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. 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. Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . 21 0 obj
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d. rees et al., Consider Your Call: A Theology of Monastic Life Today (Kalamazoo 1978). The Nazirite's spiritual disciplines included not drinking wine or eating grapes, not cutting . It is a comprehensive rule of life for the whole church and all her members. This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. I hope this list (compiled in September, 2018) is helpful, perhaps even inspiring. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. 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. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. Benedict calls the monastery a "school" because it is the place where the monk is to be taught by God. Music students practice their instruments. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. MS. Hatton 48 fol. As Joan Chittister puts it, Benedictine practices build a spirituality that will enable us to go on beyond disappointment, beyond boredom, beyond criticism, beyond loss. Benediction spirituality is for the long haul.. In the 7th and 8th centuries it was often combined with other rules, especially that of St. Columban (d. 615). 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. Hence, conversion to Christ and response to his love through the power of the Holy Spirit are the goals of obedience. 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. Not necessarily requiring observance in all things is another that is based on the rhythms of the life service... In theology from Saint Johns University ( Collegeville, MN ) stand in before. Based on the gospels a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning less than God. Dominant theme in Benedictine spirituality ; in fact it is a wicked zeal which to... Formatted according to that style, so we should use them in that order a specific place and community that! Little, however, the Word of God is important for all seek... A monastery to embrace stability no voice standing out above the others ): nazirites were of two:! 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