Characteristics of Benedictine Spirituality. 1. [contact-form][contact-field label=Name type=name required=1 /][contact-field label=Email type=email required=1 /][contact-field label=Website type=url /][contact-field label=Comment type=textarea required=1 /][/contact-form], Downloaded from the web site of the Bodleian library: [1]. Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . MS. Hatton 48 fol. Demonstrate good will, humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, peace, and discipleship. 4qAB0Lfb+ ``v@ BK j What are Benedictine Practices? SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. Core Islamic Beliefs: Six Articles of Faith. Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. 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. Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoTQF_Z_3lQ. Among the many available lists of core Benedictine values, I find that of Saint Johns Abbey to be one of the most helpful. 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. Hence, conversion to Christ and response to his love through the power of the Holy Spirit are the goals of obedience. 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 Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. Which brings us back to awareness of God, to the beginning again. U`` . Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. praying the Divine Office) as well as regular silent . Emerging out of the high middles ages, it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ as the mystery of God's presence in human flesh. Out of these . Commit to daily, weekly or monthly prayer disciplines. 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. 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. 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. 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). Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. This emphasis on silence is so that we can learn to listen to God more acutelyThis kind of sensitivity and awareness makes it easier to pray at all times. This article explains that silence is healthy for community life and fosters the learning of reverence for all creation. Jean Chanon, who was a mentor for Ignatius in methods of prayer at the Benedictine monastery at Montserrat. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. 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. Benedictine spirituality is simple and down to earth. Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. The Friends of St. Benedict website says The Rule offers people a plan for living a balanced, simple, and prayerful life. Simple, yes. This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. Gymnasts do routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. 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. The devotio moderna is an example. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. His books includeGratefulness,A Listening Heart, and most recently, a new autobiography,i am through you so. 0000002499 00000 n In a very special way God speaks through the Scriptures, through the liturgy of the hours (opus Dei ), and through personal prayer. xb```f``x(80 In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. In Benedict's rule, humility is not the same as humiliations, for humiliations degrade the person. Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. While submission is an act of youth, true obedience can only come as a response of maturity. The whole spiritual life of the monk consists in listening to God by "inclining the ear of the heart." Anglican spirituality is an ecclesial spirituality because Christian spirituality is all about life in Christ, which necessarily means life in His Body. 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. Listen to the Holy Spirit speaking through scripture and through the insights of others. 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. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Its principal source is the Word of God and its model is Christ. 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 The Rule of St. Benedict structures this for the monk. (Six Hallmarks of Benedictine Spirituality) by Fr. This Benedictine practice is exceedingly difficult for most of us, for most of our lives. This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). Benedict shows us the value of ordering our day around communal prayer (i.e. Humility fosters stronger, healthier connections within communities by breaking down the artificial barriers between individuals. Sam Rahberg is former Director of the Benedictine Center and a spiritual director in St. Paul. Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. Sam has experience in parish ministry and holds a masters degree in theology from Saint Johns University (Collegeville, MN). Rather, it is a series of embodied practices that forms the monk over the course of a lifetime to make space for the guest. 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. In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. 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 . "Benedictine Spirituality It is my experience that the simplicity of this message oftentimes seems just too difficult to accept. 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. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. "No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." - Rule of St. Benedict 72:7 A Raven is Collaborative Collaborative Ravens create a spirit of teamwork. 9 0 obj <> endobj Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. In his spare time, you will find Sam tending his familys small tree farm or fly fishing for trout in Southeast Minnesota. The fourth Benedictine value is work, or labora. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. In a. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. Benedictine Teaching Artist. Ancient Tradition. 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." 0 He did not intend to impose uniformity; he foresaw and intended diversity and reserved to each monastery the possibility of adapting the rule's prescriptions to various circumstances, provided the essential values of monasticism were safeguarded. 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. For the readers convenience, I will include only six of them here along with a simple explanation. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. This is the key to Benedict's whole spiritual teaching. Prosperity and ties with temporal society often led monasteries, especially the larger ones, to depart more or less from certain fundamental observances required by the rule, notably separation from secular society, real simplicity of life, and manual labor. 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. 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. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. Benedict calls the monastery a "school" because it is the place where the monk is to be taught by God. 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. Saint Clare of Assisi (16 July 1194 - 11 August 1253, born Chiara Offreduccio and sometimes spelled Clara, Clair, Claire, Sinclair, etc.) The rhythm of life leads one to times of being alone and times of being in community. Being poor with the poor has characterized many religious from the time of the Middle Ages, but Benedictines, because of their cenobitic life and their cultural inheritance, are often rich. The Benedictine practice of Moderation in All Things is another that is trending today, under the word balance., Obedience is a concept 21st-century souls dont generally like to consider. 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. 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 ). Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 and died in 543. Hence they are rich compared with many who come to the monastery for help. Jesus said "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (see Matthew 25: . Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 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. I hope this list (compiled in September, 2018) is helpful, perhaps even inspiring. My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. a. de vog, The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary (Kalamazoo 1983). Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. 0000001056 00000 n Benedictines carry on a monastic tradition that stems from the origins of the Christian monastic movement in the late third century. Encyclopedia.com. 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. Benedictines read a portion of the Rule of Benedict every day. Unfortunately, Jesus never indicated discipleship would be easy. He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. 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. Even the Cistercians, who in the 12th century had intended to return to a faithful observance of the rule itself, added numerous statutes. The years 1987 and 1990 saw the publication of two unprecedented and immediately popular reference works, The New Dictionary of Theology and The New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship.The present work, The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality, edited by Michael Downey, is intended as a companion to these, with a parallel aim and purpose.The NDCS is a collaborative attempt to take stock of . 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? 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. 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. [CDATA[ startxref 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). It includes reading, reflecting, responding to and resting in the Word of God not in a scholarly way, not to make a sermon to preach to others, but simply to nourish and deepen our own relationship with the Divine. 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. The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . 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. Im interested in connecting person-to-person with others who share my values, who want to participate with me in building a meaningful network of relationships that will serve to support us on our spiritual journey. (320) 363-7112. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should use them in that order. 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 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. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. Fr. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. Practice is how people develop the skills to become adept at anything. [], [] is both. There was societal chaos and political dissatisfaction and we might wish that the conditions of those times did not sound so familiar to our modern ears. Kyle T. Kramer explains in his 2011 article for America Magazine that hospitality, for a Benedictine, means to welcome all others as Christ, to recognize that despite vast differences, the diverse human family is part of the same God-given belonging, and we need one another to survive and thrive. This means facing our fears, letting prejudice and certitude die in us, and rooting ourselves in the love of God, the alpha and omega of the entire creation, the force that pulls everyone and everything toward a center that can hold. Benedictines hold strong convictions, but experience shows strident, uncompromising voices tend to foster arguments, tensions, and hostilitiesnot peace and love. Use them in that order and one mouth, so we should use in! Humility, trust, accountability, justice, faithfulness, obedience, discipline Heart, tennis... Divine Office ) as well as regular silent, Jesus never indicated would. 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