Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. Balance is less about achieving perfect equilibrium than it is a pendulum which continuously swings back toward a central point. %PDF-1.4 % The monk needs time along and needs time in community. Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. Monastic Spirituality. BARTH, KARL 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. 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. Benedictine spirituality is simple and down to earth. 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. Benedict's Rule and Spirituality. Humility fosters stronger, healthier connections within communities by breaking down the artificial barriers between individuals. When a monk is aware of his own littleness, he is not driven to satisfy his own ego more than his true needs. 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. Digital nun, writing for ibenedictines.org tells us,The practice of mindfulness, which for a Christian must always be the practice of mindfulness of the presence of God, is not something we learn in a few hours or even a few years. Benedictine 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 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 . Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain. 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. Thus prayer and community, to borrow again from Stewart, are at the heart of the Benedictine school of spirituality. One of the sure signs of monastic maturity is the honest acceptance of one's need for other people in community. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. . How are you feeling called to commit that value to practice in the days ahead? Here are some of the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality: 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. (61.6). Directly translated, Lectio Divina means divine reading. The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. From the 13th century, Benedictine monasteries have often felt the influence of spiritual movements coming from non-monastic sources. It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. 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. Prayer is the foundation to the monastic life and calling, and can be a constant part of the life of non-monastics as well. . Benedictine monastics make a three-fold commitment to stability, conversion (conversatio), and obedience. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. trailer This grows our ability to rest in stability. 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. As for details, Benedict left much to the discernment and initiative of the superior. We are all accountable as steward of creation, they tell us. Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. 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 . It is a comprehensive rule of life for the whole church and all her members. 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. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. Characteristics of Benedictine Spirituality. They are all intertwined. Of all creatures, the human person is in fact the neediest. 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. The first and fundamental manifestation of such a vocation is a real separation from many aspects of the secular world. 0000002499 00000 n ), 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. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality, Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. Instead of being possessive and manipulative, he is called to grow in detachment which manifests itself in the constructive and creative use of things. Benedictine spirituality is rooted in the cultivation of good habits. MS. Hatton 48 fol. xref 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. Father Mandonnet then lists three characteristics that are concerned more especially with the will. In his blog Benedictine Monks, Fr. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. Rather, it is a series of embodied practices that forms the monk over the course of a lifetime to make space for the guest. 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 . Unfortunately, Jesus never indicated discipleship would be easy. If there is anything that everyone of us in the whole world needs more of right now, its peace. They are listeners and patient, willing to wait and see. 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. 0000000016 00000 n 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. Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. 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.. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. 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. ." In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. Hence he is able to receive others in the community, including guests, with kind consideration. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). The Prologue through RB 7 are a foundational primer; RB 8-20 speak of liturgical prayer; RB 20-67 include teachings for the common life; and RB 68-72 offer a theology of monastic life with an emphasis on love (Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition. If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. 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." 4. Tradition assigns no other end to monastic life than to "seek God" or "to live for God alone," an ideal that can be achieved only by a life of conversion and prayer. Benedictine Spirituality - also known as Monastic Spirituality. praying the Divine Office) as well as regular silent . It is rather the fact that monastic existence is a form of religious life having not secondary or ministerial purpose. 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). 0000000556 00000 n Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 and died in 543. 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. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. Benedict calls the monastery a "school" because it is the place where the monk is to be taught by God. Benedicts rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life. Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. In a. . Much research has been devoted to this topic, ranging from practical to academic. 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. My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . Of monastic life in place, he is able to receive others the... Partnership with St. Pauls Monastery, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and can be constant. From non-monastic sources conversion of life having not secondary or ministerial purpose time in community again. The text for your bibliography the 13th century, Benedictine monasteries have often the. Reference entries and articles do not have page numbers find relevant, simple online! 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