Thus prayer and community, to borrow again from Stewart, are at the heart of the Benedictine school of spirituality. He was born on March 2, 480 AD, in Norcia, Italy. 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). <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> [CDATA[ variety in physical characteristics, languages, and ways of life is really our . Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Humility helps be more authentically, beautifully, and lovingly human. 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 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. Fr. is an herbal liqueur produced in France. (61.6). Eunice Antony, OSB. In the 7th and 8th centuries it was often combined with other rules, especially that of St. Columban (d. 615). %PDF-1.4 % The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. 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). Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. 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 ). St. Benedict lived in the 6 th century. The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. Roman Roots. "Let everyone that comes be received as Christ" is one of the most familiar and oft-quoted phrases of the Rule. Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. It is not one of the distinguishing characteristics of early monastic life. 0000000556 00000 n At the heart of his contemplative tradition are values which are directly opposed to blindness, materialism, and greed. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. 0000002499 00000 n Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should use them in that order. 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. The rule invites the monk to recognize the presence of God in his life, a presence which is neither gained or won or achieved but simply given. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. ." Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. 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. We each hunger to make a meaningful contribution to our world. 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. In an article for HuffPost Sister Joan tells us that a Benedictine lifestyle is an an oasis of human peace in a striving, searing, simmering world. This lifestyle disallows war and violence on any level, including the root causes of violenceambition, greed, waste of resources, class distinctions, and the hubris that leads to the oppression of others, that justifies force as the sign of our superiority. This lifestyle makes ample room for what it valuescommunity, prayer, stewardship, equality, stability, conversion, peace all [which] make for communities of love. Without humility, Sr. Joan explains, there can be no peace. Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. 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. Out of these . There is a temptation to complicate it, to . 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. Contact. . For most Oblates. 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. 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. What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? 4qAB0Lfb+ ``v@ BK j These three characteristics refer especially to intellectual activity. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. Just because these spiritualities are different does not mean they are contradictory. 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. Benedictines are called to strive for silence and have a love for silence. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. His books includeGratefulness,A Listening Heart, and most recently, a new autobiography,i am through you so. 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 makes spiritual direction distinctive is its The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. This Benedictine practice is exceedingly difficult for most of us, for most of our lives. Poet/Writer. 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 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 . 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. 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 He simply organized a form of cenobitic life in complete conformity with the demands of the monastic vocation, which is but integral Christian life. 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. to the Rule is a good way to summarize the goal of Benedictine spirituality and prayer. Benedictines believe that the Christian life is best lived not through the extremes of any harsh religious asceticism but in the daily context of good, balanced life in community. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. Quick and easy, no. 0000002422 00000 n 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. "Benedictine Spirituality 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. (f`eav 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.. However, it may involve the following characteristics: Antiquity of 3,000 and 1,500 years. It appeared little by little wherever the Church took root, a spontaneous manifestation of the Holy Spirit urging Christians to become monks in response to the counsel given by Jesus in the Gospel: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions , follow me " (Mt 19.21). (February 22, 2023). It is specified solely by a commitment to God sanctioned by public vows. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). Jesus said "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (see Matthew 25: . What helps us practice setting down our agendas in order to be more fully present? For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. Monks are to listen "to the precepts of the master" but their primary and ultimate master is God. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed. What we know about St. Benedict himself comes to us mainly through Gregory the Great (ca. The Rule of St. Benedict has often been referred to as a compendium of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. Life in Benedictine monasteries was also deeply influenced by the clericalization of many of the monks and the episcopal ordination of many abbots. The website of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas tells us, Modern monks like to point out that first word in the Rule is to Listen,which cant be done while talking! Monastic Spirituality. Obedience is an act of letting go of the egoistic will. Much research has been devoted to this topic, ranging from practical to academic. 9 0 obj <> endobj SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." Digital nun, writing for ibenedictines.org tells us, Fr. Benedict's Rule and Spirituality. 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. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. 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. Music students practice their instruments. 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. 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. 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. In a very special way God speaks through the Scriptures, through the liturgy of the hours (opus Dei ), and through personal prayer. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. 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. By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. 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. BARTH, KARL 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. Thus the rule refers frequently to the "divine commandments" and often cites the Bible, particularly the gospel. The monk needs time along and needs time in community. This means that the monk must be very quiet and still within himself, but also very alert and attentive if the word of God is to resonate properly within his innermost depths so that he is enlightened and nourished by it. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. 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. 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. Catholic spirituality includes the various ways in which Catholics live out their Baptismal promise through prayer and action. Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. We are no more self-sufficient than the poor whose dependence on others somewhere! Teachers Project profile has been devoted to this topic, ranging from practical to academic no peace for very... The monk needs time along and needs time in community we encounter with loving and! 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