Vincentian spirituality is centered around this concept. 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. e. de waal, Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict (Collegeville 1984). What calls us to attention? The Augustinian identity may be summed up as "The Search for God Together" by means of a Community through which we share our faith and life in a nurturing environment, and out of which is mutually generated our wholehearted service to society, the Church and world. 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. ." 9 0 obj <> endobj It is not one of the distinguishing characteristics of early monastic life. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. One of the primary characteristics of a spiritual person is openness. 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. While everyone has their values and principles, the spiritual person knows that one-size does not fit all. Furthermore, he avoids anything that would be excessive or beyond the capacity of the average monk. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. We stumble through being in right relationship. 2. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. That is why the ministry of hospitality is such an important part of the Benedictine heritage. BARTH, KARL 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. As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. Ignacio Gonzalez, OSB writes that the Benedictine practice of Conversatio requires that we never stop asking hard questions about our personal growth. 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. 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). What makes spiritual direction distinctive is its 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. is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is God who is the primary author of life for Benedict's disciples; hence the monk's obedience is above all to God and God's word which the monk finds mediated into his life through a wide variety of persons and experiencesin the rule, in the abbot, in the community as a whole, in the young and the old, in the sick and in guests, in the liturgy of the hours and in personal prayer, in sacred reading, in work, and in silence. (320) 363-7112. 0000002192 00000 n Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. startxref But Benedict also reminds the monk that there is a wicked zeal which leads to death. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. Many Oblates rely on. 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. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. What are the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality? trailer Only after we have come to understand our desires are we capable of relinquishing them in service of others. 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 . Its recipe comes from a 16th-century monk and includes a secret blend of 27 herbs and spices in a neutral spirit that's sweetened with honey. Through contemplative prayer, the monk becomes an emptiness so there is space for God as well as space for others. 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. Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. Bndictine D.O.M. 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. Father Mandonnet then lists three characteristics that are concerned more especially with the will. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. What we know about St. Benedict himself comes to us mainly through Gregory the Great (ca. Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. Humility fosters stronger, healthier connections within communities by breaking down the artificial barriers between individuals. This pattern of sharing is a basic characteristic of a cenobitic community. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. 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. The Friends of St. Benedict website says The Rule offers people a plan for living a balanced, simple, and prayerful life. Simple, yes. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. (f`eav j. chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (New York 1992). In a blog hosted by Holy Wisdom Monastery of Madison, Wisconsin, Lynne Smith, OSB writes that in America, middle and upper class people tend to imagine they are living self-sufficiently, believing they are able to pretty much take care of [their] needs. This self-deception is possible only when [w]e take for granted all the people who work behind the scenes to provide the food for the store, to staff and maintain the filling station and all those people involved in the health care system. [CDATA[ People are tired and worn out from striving against unhealthy systems. 1. 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. 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 Benedictine practice of service to others is intimately entwined with the reverence for all creation, and another of the great foundations of Benedictine spirituality. 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. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. You can order a free copy of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press, by clicking here. Patience does not relieve us of our natural feelings of aversion, irritation, and indignation, but it controls and rises above these feelings Our Lord felt the natural impulse to avoid suffering, but He set aside and refused to listen to this feeling: Father not my will but Thine be done.Where does this patience show itself? Just as all these people practice to become more proficient, spiritual seekers practice in order to become better at living a spiritual life. 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. Bibliography: Marked for Life: Prayer in the Easter Christ (London 1979). 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 rule is marked by a strong sense of the individual monk's personal worth and dignity. He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. Music students practice their instruments. How have we been equipped by God to do so? St. Benedict lived in the 6 th century. The monk's listening is to be modeled after the prayer of Jesus who spent long hours listening and attentive in the presence of his heavenly Father. These prayers, which included the saying or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our Daily Office. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. Just because these spiritualities are different does not mean they are contradictory. Characteristics of Benedictine Spirituality. Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? Ancient Tradition. This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. 0000002422 00000 n Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. One of the sure signs of monastic maturity is the honest acceptance of one's need for other people in community. 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). The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . In monastic life public prayer is only one observance among those which help the monk seek God. . Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. 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. Closely related to both listening and humility is the virtue of obedience. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. It evokes the name of St. Benedict, who lived in the 6th century, together with all those who have been inspired by the Rule of Benedict and associate themselves with the Benedictine spiritual tradition. At the heart of his contemplative tradition are values which are directly opposed to blindness, materialism, and greed. How are you feeling called to commit that value to practice in the days ahead? ." How are you being called to participate in Gods work of reconciliation, healing, and in shaping structures that support values like these. Like counselling, therapy and coaching, spiritual direction rests on careful listening to the 'client'. Just as all these people practice to become more proficient, spiritual seekers practice in order to become better at living a spiritual life. Cultural Producer. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. %PDF-1.4 % 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. Prince of Peace is a community of Benedictine monks that has been in San Diego County since 1958, but their community spans more than 1,400 years of uninterrupted tradition dating back to St. Benedict. Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. 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. Her muscular Christianity is grounded in the spiritual practices of the Rule of Saint Benedict, such as silence, hospitality, humility, and peace. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. 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. 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. Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. endstream endobj 10 0 obj <> endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 13 0 obj <> endobj 14 0 obj <> endobj 15 0 obj <> endobj 16 0 obj <> endobj 17 0 obj <> endobj 18 0 obj <>stream Living the Benedictine spirituality, as a monk, an . Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. Instead of being possessive and manipulative, he is called to grow in detachment which manifests itself in the constructive and creative use of things. 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. 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. Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. Belief in One God: The most important teaching of Islam is that only God is to be served and worshipped. If there is anything that everyone of us in the whole world needs more of right now, its peace. A devoted monk, he established the Rule of Benedict. Jesus said "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (see Matthew 25: . It can be described as a state of mind that provides their values and influences how they live their lives and exercise their judgment in such things as deciding between right and wrong. As a Benedictine practice, obedience is intimately linked to being in right relationship, conversatio, humility, and listening. Awareness of God In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. to the Rule is a good way to summarize the goal of Benedictine spirituality and prayer. 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. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. xref Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the . Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. New Catholic Encyclopedia. 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 . Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. It is my experience that the simplicity of this message oftentimes seems just too difficult to accept. It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. ." The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. However, the date of retrieval is often important. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. The third Benedictine value is conversatio morum, which translates to "conversion of life." This value involves a commitment to personal and spiritual growth, and it involves constantly seeking to improve oneself and to live in a way that is consistent with one's values and beliefs. Poet/Writer. Encyclopedia.com. It shows itself in the way (emphasis mine) you put up with the many things of your daily life, sickness, death, war, persecution, mishaps and misfortunes of every kind. In other words, without awareness of God and without gratitude, indeed, without the interweaving of all these practices into our lives, patience cannot exist. Garcia Jimenez de Cisneros in . 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 . Finding God in All Things. Roman Roots. 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 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. This is the key to Benedict's whole spiritual teaching. Music students practice their instruments. Paradoxically, the key to a full life, is to understand that all things are to be done with moderation. (Rule of St. Benedict 48:9). A monk spends his whole life becoming humble. Strong communities embrace stability and are open to necessary change. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . In 1887 Pope Leo XIII, who was enamored of the Benedictines, reestablished the College of Saint Anselm in Rome. 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. 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. The Ten Hallmarks of Benedictine Education. Be willing to wait. RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. It emphasizes the preeminent position which hospitality occupies in every Benedictine monastery. 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. %%EOF Monks are to listen "to the precepts of the master" but their primary and ultimate master is God. It is that same balance that has made it attractive today to those countless lay men and women who are not living vowed lives in a monastery but who are associated with Benedictine monasteries as oblates attempting to live their lives in the secular world according to the spiritual values set out in the rule. But the monk's development, like that of all human beings, requires both material resources and the help of other people. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoTQF_Z_3lQ. 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. Divine omnipotence is a divine operative attribute, an, TAULER, JOHANNES 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. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. The Benedictines, strictly speaking, do not constitute a single religious . For vowed monastics, stability is literala long-term commitment to a specific place and community. In a very special way God speaks through the Scriptures, through the liturgy of the hours (opus Dei ), and through personal prayer. 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