6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. It is regular, converting, reflective, and communal. On the blog Catholic Beer Club, Br. For most Oblates. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. 540-604 CE), who praised Benedict for his discretion and moderation. 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. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. How have we been equipped by God to do so? Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. Living the Benedictine spirituality, as a monk, an . Every four months, we begin again at the beginningso we read the Rulethree times every year. They pray the Office together, with no voice standing out above the others. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. Christian monasticism had been in existence for a long time before Benedict wrote his rule. 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. startxref Be faithful in demonstration of family and community commitments, for example, by calling parents every week at the same time, checking in regularly on neighbors, affirming and listening to coworkers. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. 0000000742 00000 n 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. "Benedictine Spirituality The rule is marked by a strong sense of the individual monk's personal worth and dignity. 9 0 obj <> endobj This religious practice refers to St. Benedict and his spiritual practice. ." Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 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. . Emerging out of the high middles ages, it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ as the mystery of God's presence in human flesh. New Catholic Encyclopedia. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. Fr. 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. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. What are Benedictine Practices? [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]. Digital nun, writing for ibenedictines.org tells us, Fr. What gives the Rule of Benedict its exceptional quality has commonly been called its "discretion," in the double sense of the word: discernment and moderation. Ancient Tradition. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. U`` . 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. Vincentian spirituality is centered around this concept. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. 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. We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the . Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. However, it may involve the following characteristics: Antiquity of 3,000 and 1,500 years. Humility demands that the monk take God seriously, that he take others seriously, but that he never take himself too seriously. What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? 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. Saint Gregory has written that Saint Benedict, in entering his solitude, had no other desire than "to please God alone", "soli Deo placere desiderans." These simple words, better than any others, explain the monastic vocation. 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. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. (61.6). The Rule of St. Benedict has often been referred to as a compendium of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. e. de waal, Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict (Collegeville 1984). His books includeGratefulness,A Listening Heart, and most recently, a new autobiography,i am through you so. The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. The second characteristic of the monastic vocation is that it demands a life of which a privileged part is given to prayer. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Encyclopedia.com. Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister with an ecumenical outreach and vision who has written more than 50 books. 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. By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. 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. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. 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. Benedictines are called to strive for silence and have a love for silence. Awareness of God In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. For Benedictines, being in right relationship means that we treat everyone we encounter with loving kindness and patience. MS. Hatton 48 fol. Having the mind of a beginner, being receptive to starting anew, starting fresh, starting overthis, too, is a Benedictine practice. 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. 0000001554 00000 n Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. In a podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. New Catholic Encyclopedia. 480 to 547 CE in Italy. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. It was not founded by a particular saint. 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. A devoted monk, he established the Rule of Benedict. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. In other words, the core of Franciscan spirituality is the universal call to holiness that all women and men receive at baptism. Learn more at www.samuelrahberg.com. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. Instead of being possessive and manipulative, he is called to grow in detachment which manifests itself in the constructive and creative use of things. 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.. We are moved to profound respect for the ways the Creator puts resources at our disposal to further the kingdom of God. At the heart of his contemplative tradition are values which are directly opposed to blindness, materialism, and greed. 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 . 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. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. Through this experience, he came to believe that authentic spiritual growth happens only when we life with and among flawed human beings whose faults and failings are only too obvious. In community we struggle through the practice of being in right relationship with people who are stubborndullundisciplinedrestlesscareless scatterbrainedirritatingand tiresome. It is only in our communitiesfamilies or monasteries, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches and organizationsthat we make spiritual progress by learning to love and accept others for who they are, not for who we wish they would be. 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