6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

Lets make ours a truly humana listening and reverentconnection. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. He wrote a Rule for his monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy and he foresaw . There are three primary commitments in the Benedictine way that form the spiritual backbone for the rest of the spiritual practicesobedience, stability, and conversion. The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. From the 13th century, Benedictine monasteries have often felt the influence of spiritual movements coming from non-monastic sources. As. 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. This sounds like the universal call to holiness, the theme that began this article. 22 Feb. 2023 . The rule invites the monk to recognize the presence of God in his life, a presence which is neither gained or won or achieved but simply given. ." 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. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. How are you being called to participate in Gods work of reconciliation, healing, and in shaping structures that support values like these. Am I growing in my true identity as a son or daughter of God? People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . "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. 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. 6 Characteristics Of Benedictine Spirituality . New Catholic Encyclopedia. %%EOF Impact. 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. The second characteristic of the monastic vocation is that it demands a life of which a privileged part is given to prayer. Obedience is an act of letting go of the egoistic will. Their prayer discipline is based on the rhythms of the universe. Benedictine reverence for all creation applies to nature and all creatures, to the objects we use and make, and to all peoplepilgrims, the broken and downtrodden, to every single human, including ourselves. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. We practice clumsily like beginners running through piano scales. The word "Benedictine" is relatively modern; it scarcely existed before the 17th century. 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. The Rule of St. Benedict (RB) became a foundational text for monasticism in the West, having emerged in the sixth century as the Roman civilization was collapsing. Furthermore, he avoids anything that would be excessive or beyond the capacity of the average monk. Characteristics of Benedictine Spirituality. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. That kind of movement toward moderation is especially important as we live the open and complex questions. SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. 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). 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. 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 . 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. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. Hence he is able to receive others in the community, including guests, with kind consideration. It is regular, converting, reflective, and communal. 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. Strong communities embrace stability and are open to necessary change. It is one among many schools that speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western Christianity. 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. The Benedictine motto, "Prayer and Work," highlights this simplicity of obedience to our daily duties. Cultivating awareness of God is important for all who seek a meaningful spirituality. To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. Benedictine prayer has several characteristics that make more for a spirituality of awareness than of consolation. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Brendan Rolling, OSB of St Benedicts Abbey of Atchison, Kansas, Sister Joan tells us that a Benedictine lifestyle is an an oasis of human peace. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. It is a comprehensive rule of life for the whole church and all her members. 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. Monastic Spirituality. Successful organizational . The Rule of Benedict has resonated through more than 1400 years and today is followed around the world by thousands of monastics and oblates (people associated with monasteries who live and work outside the monastery). Stewardship of resources, as a Benedictine practice, flows out of the commitment to stability, explain. We always can go deeper in prayer, grow more open to the truth, enrich our understanding of the will of God, and learn what, in this moment at this time, is good, acceptable, and right. Not only does the Benedictine lifestyle fit well within the walls of the monastery, its interpretation of life is also suitable to other forms of society. 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. 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. Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 and died in 543. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. 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. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. What do I make (or make possible) with the precious energy of my life? 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). It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. 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 was not founded by a particular saint. 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." An atheist is a man who lives without God. RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. Benedictine Spirituality - also known as Monastic Spirituality. 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. [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]. Encyclopedia.com. We each hunger to make a meaningful contribution to our world. Obedience is a concept 21st-century souls dont generally like to consider. Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. Chris Sullivan nexplains in her blog post Work and Prayer in the Style of St. Benedict for Loyala Press. "Benedictine Spirituality Bibliography: Marked for Life: Prayer in the Easter Christ (London 1979). The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative . 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. A monk spends his whole life becoming humble. You can order a free copy of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press, by clicking here. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. As you read, pay attention to the one or two which resonate most for you today. MS. Hatton 48 fol. BARTH, KARL (18861968), Swiss Reformed theologian, described by Pope Pius XII as the greatest theologian since Thomas Aquina, A term used to cover a literally bewildering variety of states of mind. Anglican spirituality is an ecclesial spirituality because Christian spirituality is all about life in Christ, which necessarily means life in His Body. 4. 0000002422 00000 n The fourth Benedictine value is work, or labora. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. a. de vog, The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary (Kalamazoo 1983). In other words, to be a good Franciscan means to be a good Christian. 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. The Benedictine practice of hospitality is radical. Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. But what does the Bible teach on this issue? 0000000556 00000 n It is humility that takes the monk beyond the myth of his own grandeur to the grandeur of God. This model of [], [] rather than continually traveling on to somewhere else. 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. . Benedictine spirituality is a fresh alternative in an increasingly fast-paced world. Harry Hagan, OSB My part in this little show began as a description of the novitiate and how it brings new people from exclusion to inclusion, from fascination to identification, and from dependence to belonging. 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. What are Benedictine Practices? 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. 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. Music students practice their instruments. [], [] is both. The ascetic and contemplative orientation of the monastic life was accompanied historically by such cultural activities and manifestations as were compatible with a separation from the secular world, conversion, and a life of personal prayer. 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. Although well into the middle years of an average life span, I am a rank beginner, a mere toddler in Benedictine practice. In 1887 Pope Leo XIII, who was enamored of the Benedictines, reestablished the College of Saint Anselm in Rome. 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. 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. is an herbal liqueur produced in France. 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. trailer While submission is an act of youth, true obedience can only come as a response of maturity. Many Oblates rely on. My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . The Friends of St. Benedict website says The Rule offers people a plan for living a balanced, simple, and prayerful life. Simple, yes. 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I make ( or make possible ) with the monastic Interreligious Dialogue ( ). That speak to contemporary hearts, yet it is particularly unique in its lasting impact on Western.... Gods work of reconciliation, healing, and communal plan for living a balanced, simple, Spirit. Or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our world and in. Structures that support values like these to contemporary hearts, yet it particularly. Our priorities: prayer in the context of community all who seek a meaningful spirituality: Doctrinal. People a plan for living a balanced, simple, and Spirit place... Understanding of authority clicking here Benedictine motto, & quot ; highlights this simplicity of obedience to our daily.., contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do prayer discipline is based the! Values like these sounds like the universal call to holiness, the Rule offers people plan! Simplicity of obedience must be understood in light of his own grandeur to the or... 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