6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality29 Mar 6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

0000001056 00000 n Emerging out of the high middles ages, it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ as the mystery of God's presence in human flesh. h|X+8v&yh{#||(E AM3. He was born on March 2, 480 AD, in Norcia, Italy. It is a lifetimes work, and it is not to be rushed or short-circuited in any way. Click here to read hints on how to enjoy this lifelong practice. When the monk has zeal for God, he will come to see that he is consumed not only with love for God but for everything and everyone else that God has created. This springs from a desire to please God, or to seek God, as the Rule puts it (chapter 58). Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 6v-7r of the Bodleian library in Oxford. In the 7th and 8th centuries it was often combined with other rules, especially that of St. Columban (d. 615). How are you being called to participate in Gods work of reconciliation, healing, and in shaping structures that support values like these. Teaching Artist. Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. c. smith, The Path of Life (Ampleforth, England 1995). //]]>. startxref Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. Monsignor Charles Pope seems to be saying in the blog post, A Reflection On the Benedictine Vow of Stability for Community in Mission of the Archdiocese of Washington (DC), that stability of heart is the Benedictine practice our chronically unstable contemporary society most desperately needs. 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. 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. Finding God in All Things. But what does the Bible teach on this issue? In 1893 the same pope provided the "order" with an Abbot . Just as all these people practice to become more proficient, spiritual seekers practice in order to become better at living a spiritual life. RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. But Benedict also reminds the monk that there is a wicked zeal which leads to death. Listen to your body, to the negative and irritating things like our fatigues and headaches and muscle aches, revealing to us the lack of balance and health in our lives.. 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. When a monk is aware of his own littleness, he is not driven to satisfy his own ego more than his true needs. We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the . Humility helps be more authentically, beautifully, and lovingly human. If he gets the grandeur of God in place, he is apt to get the rest of monastic life in place too. (February 22, 2023). Catholic spirituality includes the various ways in which Catholics live out their Baptismal promise through prayer and action. How do we respect all things as vessels of the altar (RB 31:10). 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. Benedictine monks have often received freely from their families and educators, from the rich Benedictine tradition, from the abundant life of their own communities, and from the many mercies of God. This Benedictine practice is exceedingly difficult for most of us, for most of our lives. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. In a podcast at DiscerningHearts.com from the Missionary Benedictines of Christ the King Priory, Fr. Samson and possibly John the Baptist) and those who undertake the vow for a limited time (Paul may have done this, cf. 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. 6 Characteristics Of Benedictine 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." SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. Columba Stewart OSB, the 73 brief chapters of the RB make up four major sections. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. Unfortunately, Jesus never indicated discipleship would be easy. "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. 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. They are all intertwined. Be willing to wait. trailer Jean Chanon, who was a mentor for Ignatius in methods of prayer at the Benedictine monastery at Montserrat. What are the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality? He was the son of a noble and grew up in Rome. These prayers, which included the saying or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our Daily Office. Benedictine Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki, a major force behind the ministries and outreach that shaped the Benedictines of Erie, Pennsylvania, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, died Jan. 6 at . For most Oblates. Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. Saint Benedict Benedict of Nursia lived from ca. 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. 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. The Rule of St. Benedict structures this for the monk. It is rather the fact that monastic existence is a form of religious life having not secondary or ministerial purpose. Gymnasts do routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. It is not one of the distinguishing characteristics of early monastic life. He entered the Dominican novitiate c. 1315 in his na, Benedictine College: Narrative Description. 0000000556 00000 n The Nazirite's spiritual disciplines included not drinking wine or eating grapes, not cutting . 22 Feb. 2023 . Joan Chittister is the executive director of the company Benetvision, which serves as a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality; a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie; and a former past president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. He realizes that attachment to oneself and one's talents or goods brings anxiety, a bondage that ties the human spirit down to the earth and allows no enlargement of either one's horizons or one's heart. (f`eav Digital nun, writing for ibenedictines.org tells us, Fr. 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. The resulting collection of ten core values - love, prayer, stability, conversatio, obedience, discipline . Rather, it is a series of embodied practices that forms the monk over the course of a lifetime to make space for the guest. <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. Humility enables the monk to stand in awe before the world and to receive the gifts of God and others. New Catholic Encyclopedia. The monk's own attitude toward his life then is one of stewardship. It requires that a monk listens intently to the voice of God as it is manifested in the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of his superiors. It underscores the tenets of Care ethics in conjunction with Benedictine Spirituality. 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. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Franciscan spirituality motivates a way of following Christ that is based on the gospels. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. This discussion shows that its impossible to isolate any Benedictine practice as independent of the others. 0000004832 00000 n His books includeGratefulness,A Listening Heart, and most recently, a new autobiography,i am through you so. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. [] Review Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Review Core Values: Benedictine Spirituality (Part 1 of 3) [], [] Learn more about core Benedictine values. It is likewise through that response that one becomes free to be and develop as the person one is called to be. The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana explain the importance of community life in Benedictine practice on their website. 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. 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. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life. 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. Roman Roots. Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. 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. Benedictine simplicity of life is understood properly with the reality of Christ and his mission in mind. Stability Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life. Stop the madness; listen to the God who loves you. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. Interviewed by Krista Tippett for her podcast On Being, Brother David talks about gratitude as the true wellspring of joy. Humility requires the monk to accept the gifts of others, their wisdom, their experience, and their counsel. 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. 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. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. You can learn more about her in her Living Spiritual Teachers Project profile. 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). Humility fosters stronger, healthier connections within communities by breaking down the artificial barriers between individuals. 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. Adrian Burke, OSB writes, Benedict insists in his. Little by little, however, the Rule of Benedict became the principal rule, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy. Monks are to listen "to the precepts of the master" but their primary and ultimate master is God. Garcia Jimenez de Cisneros in . Benedictine Benedict, RULE OF Saint.This work holds the first place among monastic legislative codes, and was by far the most important factor in the organization and spread of monasticism in the West.For its general character and also its illustration of St. Benedict's own life, see the article St. Benedict of Nursia.Here, however, it is treated more in detail, under the following heads: I. Benedict reminds us of our priorities: prayer, contemplation, balance and the importance of everything we do. The Benedictine practice of mindfulness, like all the Benedictine practices, is lifelong. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . One of the great challenges in the rule is that the monk obey others not only in their strengths but also in their weaknesses, for it is tempting to see others in their weakness as simply burdens rather than as gifts. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. Closely related to both listening and humility is the virtue of obedience. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. . Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed. Hence the monk must be poor psychologically because he realizes his dependence on others. (61.6). 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. Of all creatures, the human person is in fact the neediest. The website of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas tells us, Modern monks like to point out that first word in the Rule is to Listen,which cant be done while talking! By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Out of these . Benedictine Center is affiliated and operated in partnership with St. Pauls Monastery. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"Mjbegi0csMdpEDVeqSUEXsusxBikAj9UyKZw_VuRiag-86400-0"}; 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. In Benedict's rule, humility is not the same as humiliations, for humiliations degrade the person. We are all accountable as steward of creation, they tell us. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. Acts 18:18). No one thingprayer, work, rest, studywas to be done in the extreme. Its principal source is the Word of God and its model is Christ. Francis consulted her, especially when he was discerning between becoming a hermit and being an itinerant preacher. 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. Benedictine spirituality offers an important voice in our world today, a voice which informs our praying, living and discerning. Sam Rahberg is former Director of the Benedictine Center and a spiritual director in St. Paul. Saint Clare of Assisi (16 July 1194 - 11 August 1253, born Chiara Offreduccio and sometimes spelled Clara, Clair, Claire, Sinclair, etc.) Benedicts rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life. Being in right relationship is wholly other than being in the right relationship. It isnt about finding the right person for me; its about being the right person to others in the way I show respect to them, in the way I accept their humanityeven their weaknesses and irritating personality traits. 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. One of the primary functions of the various monastic structures is to provide conditions in which the monks can concentrate on learning the art of listening. If he persists in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. 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 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. 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. A monk should be above all a good listener. 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. Poet/Writer. About oblates, the Benedictine order says: "Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. The word "Benedictine" is relatively modern; it scarcely existed before the 17th century. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. But for all, the ideal has remained "solitude of heart" with God, guaranteed by the "order of charity" in the community institution. Benedictine Abbeys and Priories in the U.S. Benedictine University: Narrative Description, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/benedictine-spirituality. 480 to 547 CE in Italy. 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. What calls us to attention? St. Vincent teaches us to see Christ in the poor and suffering, so much so that the poor become our Lords and Masters and we their servants. 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. We stumble through being in right relationship. That is why the ministry of hospitality is such an important part of the Benedictine heritage. The Benedictine practice of Moderation in All Things is another that is trending today, under the word balance. In the blog Echoes from the Bell Tower, Fr. 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. . 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. Bndictine D.O.M. Romey is the driving force behind "Being Benedictine in the 21st Century: Spiritual Seekers in Conversation," a conference planned for June 2020 at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison. //

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