0000002499 00000 n Chanon gave Ignatius the book Exercises for the Spiritual Life written by Benedictine reformer, Fr. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister with an ecumenical outreach and vision who has written more than 50 books. This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). 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 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 monastics make a three-fold commitment to stability, conversion (conversatio), and obedience. startxref 0000000556 00000 n According to monastic scholar Fr. It embraces a diversity of vocations: lay and clerical, contemplative and active, academic and pastoral, married and celibate. Augustinian Spirituality does not take us out of the world (into the . The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . 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. Characteristics of Benedictine Spirituality. But it also requires that he let go of false expectations concerning others. In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. Silence in Benedictine practice is knit together with listening and with prayer. 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. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. Consequently he accepts the services and ideas of others, the gifts of life, and community. 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. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. Continue to Prayer and Community: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 2). to the Rule is a good way to summarize the goal of Benedictine spirituality and prayer. 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. 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. 0000002422 00000 n It is a matter of self-respect and purpose which we see clearly in the changing nature of retirement. There is a temptation to complicate it, to . St. Benedict lived in the 6 th century. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. Nazirites (Numbers 6:1-21): Nazirites were of two types: those who were dedicated from birth to be a Nazirite (e.g. Brother David Steindl-Rast of the Gut Aich Priory monastery in St. Gilgen, Austria, is the founder and senior advisor for A Network for Grateful Living. Strong communities embrace stability and are open to necessary change. To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means, , Fr. Sam has experience in parish ministry and holds a masters degree in theology from Saint Johns University (Collegeville, MN). trailer 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. No one thingprayer, work, rest, studywas to be done in the extreme. 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. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. The church and her sacramental system are essential to the Christian life of grace. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Among the many available lists of core Benedictine values, I find that of Saint Johns Abbey to be one of the most helpful. When a monk is aware of his own littleness, he is not driven to satisfy his own ego more than his true needs. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. Through contemplative prayer, the monk becomes an emptiness so there is space for God as well as space for others. 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. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. Benedictine spirituality is simple and down to earth. Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. j. chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (New York 1992). Father Mandonnet then lists three characteristics that are concerned more especially with the will. Reading the transcript or listening to the podcast is worthwhile. The primary prayer of all Catholics is the Eucharistic liturgy in which they celebrate and share their faith together, in accord with Jesus' instruction: "Do this in memory of me."The Catholic bishops at the Second Vatican Council decreed that "devotions should be so . Roman Roots. (61.6). 0000002192 00000 n praying the Divine Office) as well as regular silent . (f`eav How are you feeling called to commit that value to practice in the days ahead? is an herbal liqueur produced in France. We stumble through being in right relationship. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Humility is the ability to recognize one's rightful place in the universe and to see oneself as a mysterious combination of strengths and weaknesses. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. 1) They know that not one-size-fits-all. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B explains that obedience means to listen. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. Many Oblates rely on. 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. Closely related to both listening and humility is the virtue of obedience. That kind of movement toward moderation is especially important as we live the open and complex questions. xref 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. 0000001554 00000 n It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. (320) 363-7112. mholicky@csbsju.edu. 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. But if they are rich communally, they must be rich for the many people who are poor not only materially but also intellectually, culturally, spiritually, and humanly. We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. It is likewise through that response that one becomes free to be and develop as the person one is called to be. Recommended titles: Michael Casey, A Guide to Living in the Truth, 2001; Anselm Grn, Benedict of Nursia: His Message for Today, 2006. This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. 0000000949 00000 n Ignacio Gonzalez, OSB writes that the Benedictine practice of Conversatio requires that we never stop asking hard questions about our personal growth. Ancient Tradition. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. Emerging out of the high middles ages, it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ as the mystery of God's presence in human flesh. What we know about St. Benedict himself comes to us mainly through Gregory the Great (ca. In a podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. He wrote a Rule for his monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy and he foresaw . 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. Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the . My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. MS. Hatton 48 fol. 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. BARTH, KARL In his spare time, you will find Sam tending his familys small tree farm or fly fishing for trout in Southeast Minnesota. This invitation to listen came to Benedict from the heart of the Old and New Testament traditions. Benedictines read a portion of the Rule of Benedict every day. Benedictine Spirituality It may seem odd that some of the best guidelines for achieving balance in our world today, where stress has become the norm, come from a sixth-century Italian monk who at one point chose to live by himself in a cave. Garcia Jimenez de Cisneros in . 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. Hospitality Benedictines are called to strive for silence and have a love for silence. U`` . 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. "Benedictine Spirituality 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. Jean Chanon, who was a mentor for Ignatius in methods of prayer at the Benedictine monastery at Montserrat. Hence he is able to receive others in the community, including guests, with kind consideration. Divine omnipotence is a divine operative attribute, an, TAULER, JOHANNES But what does the Bible teach on this issue? 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. 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. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. All monks are by definition "solitaries," for this is the original meaning of their name, which comes from the Greek word monachos, derived from monos, to which corresponds the Latin solus (alone). In Benedict's rule, humility is not the same as humiliations, for humiliations degrade the person. 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. 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. . Dominican preacher and mystic; b. Strasbourg, c. 1300; d. there, June 16, 1361. 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. Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective 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. Sam Rahberg is former Director of the Benedictine Center and a spiritual director in St. Paul. Where it was adopted, it was looked upon as a venerable text but not necessarily requiring observance in all its prescriptions. The first and fundamental manifestation of such a vocation is a real separation from many aspects of the secular world. This pattern of sharing is a basic characteristic of a cenobitic community. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. Benedict's Rule and Spirituality. //]]>. A monk spends his whole life becoming humble. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. 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. 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. What does it mean for us to learn contentment with living simply? For the readers convenience, I will include only six of them here along with a simple explanation. 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. 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. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. One of the sure signs of monastic maturity is the honest acceptance of one's need for other people in community. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. 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. 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. Only in later centuries and especially since the 19th century has it occupied a more important place in monastic life than in the observance of the majority of non-monastic religious congregations, with the consequence that it is usually considered a special feature of monastic life and spirituality. 1. Instead of being possessive and manipulative, he is called to grow in detachment which manifests itself in the constructive and creative use of things. We go forth into the world as contemplatives in action, discerning God's desire for our lives here, now, and acting on God's invitation. Humility is also a dominant theme in Benedictine spirituality; in fact it is closely related to contemplation. 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). Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. "Benedictine Spirituality 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. 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. The Rule revolves around five practices: Prayer, Work, Study, Hospitality and Renewal. Lynne Smith elaborates, All this service is sacred and to be done with reverence service is seen as a form of prayer, a way of seeking God. This practice is also linked inextricably to gratitude, as we give thanks for the ways we can serve and for those who serve us. 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). "Let everyone that comes be received as Christ" is one of the most familiar and oft-quoted phrases of the Rule. <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> Are you a thoughtful reader (and maybe even a writer) who seeks a peaceful, just, spiritual approach to life? 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. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Before writing his Rule, Benedict lived for years as a hermit. Benedictine prayer has several characteristics that make more for a spirituality of awareness than of consolation. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. He simply organized a form of cenobitic life in complete conformity with the demands of the monastic vocation, which is but integral Christian life. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. 0000001968 00000 n There were also other forms of monastic life, but they were more or less eccentric in comparison with the two main types and sometimes led to abuse. These three characteristics refer especially to intellectual activity. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Little by little, however, the Rule of Benedict became the principal rule, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy. Ive drawn this list of 22 (+ 1 = 23) Benedictine practices (arranged alphabetically) from, Being in right relationship is wholly other than being in, Brother David Steindl-Rast of the Gut Aich Priory monastery in St. Gilgen, Austria, is the founder and senior advisor for. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. As. Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. ), 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. Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. Benedictine Which brings us back to awareness of God, to the beginning again. (320) 363-7112. Rather, it is a series of embodied practices that forms the monk over the course of a lifetime to make space for the guest. 9 0 obj <> endobj 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. But Benedict also reminds the monk that there is a wicked zeal which leads to death. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. What are the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality? 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. 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 . Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. Bndictine D.O.M. Life in common is the Benedictine monastic path toward God. Having the mind of a beginner, being receptive to starting anew, starting fresh, starting overthis, too, is a Benedictine practice. Core Islamic Beliefs: Six Articles of Faith. He does not harbor illusions of grandeur but senses that all of his life is simply gift. 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. For us to learn contentment with living simply what is Benedictine spirituality Part! Part 2 6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its impact... Explains that obedience means,, Fr real separation from many aspects of the Rule of:... Monk becomes an emptiness so there is a Benedictine Order as such have love! Became an Oblate of Saint Johns University ( Collegeville, MN ) Word! Cenobitic community which informs our praying, living and discerning ( MID ).. Allowing myself to be shown by all to one another of self-respect and purpose which we clearly! 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