6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

In this, affective piety and the contemplative study of the mysteries of God were no longer so strictly united as in the preceding centuries, in which the patristic tradition had been preserved. In no way am I qualified to be a teacher of the Benedictine way of life. For the readers convenience, I will include only six of them here along with a simple explanation. Getting Started with Ignatian Spirituality Beyond the Basics of Ignatian Spirituality Sister Joan Chittister is an extraordinarily prolific writer and among the most famous living Benedictines. The diffusion of the Rule of Benedict in the West was slow. 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. trailer "Let everyone that comes be received as Christ" is one of the most familiar and oft-quoted phrases of the Rule. Benedictine writers often appealed to methods of prayer and asceticism that were foreign to the monastic tradition. Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. It is the balanced spirituality that one finds in the Rule of Benedict that has made it attractive to many men and women throughout the ages. Sam has experience in parish ministry and holds a masters degree in theology from Saint Johns University (Collegeville, MN). 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. Music students practice their instruments. Benedictines say mindfulness is as much as a Christian and biblical concept as it is a Buddhist one. //]]>. Like counselling, therapy and coaching, spiritual direction rests on careful listening to the 'client'. For vowed monastics, stability is literala long-term commitment to a specific place and community. In Benedictine practice we acknowledge the primacy of God and look for God in the ordinary events of each day. Practice is how people develop the skills to get adept at anything. Obedience is an act of letting go of the egoistic will. But the monk's development, like that of all human beings, requires both material resources and the help of other people. He neither innovated nor broke with tradition. <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Benedictine obedience is ultimately directed not to other humans or to ourselves, but through the agency of others and the deepest yearnings of our own hearts, in love, to God. Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. It emphasizes the preeminent position which hospitality occupies in every Benedictine monastery. There is a temptation to complicate it, to . In a. My work with the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) has . A crucial confessor and teacher for Ignatius very early in his spiritual journey was a French monk, Fr. Yes, work, too, is a basic tenet of Benedictine Spirituality. (320) 363-7112. Jesus said "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (see Matthew 25: . SUGGESTED BOX ON PRAYER The psalms eloquently express how we feel and how we think about life and time and God. a. de vog, The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Doctrinal and Spiritual Commentary (Kalamazoo 1983). This manuscript is a copy of St. Benedicts rule. 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. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. Benedict's treatment of obedience must be understood in light of his understanding of authority. (Six Hallmarks of Benedictine Spirituality) by Fr. Focus Our Eyes on God and His Word For Saint Benedict, the Word of God was of central importance. Only a year ago, after a year of formation, I became an Oblate of Saint Benedicts Monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota. 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. 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. This practice is not particular to Benedictines, however. In his spare time, you will find Sam tending his familys small tree farm or fly fishing for trout in Southeast Minnesota. We prefer concepts like freedom and independence. You will likely recognize the timeless quality of the values which has caused them to endure for centuries and continue speaking to the many layers of our human experience (personal, familial, communal and societal). Before writing his Rule, Benedict lived for years as a hermit. 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. More than a billion Muslims share a common set of fundamental beliefs that are described as "Articles of Faith." These articles of faith form the foundation of Islamic belief system. The monk's listening is to be modeled after the prayer of Jesus who spent long hours listening and attentive in the presence of his heavenly Father. He writes: "The will develops its own gifts, seeking to perfect them in the order of nature and of grace so as to bring the faithful soul to spiritual maturity. 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. 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. More than a founder in the juridical sense of the word, its author had been an educator, or better, a spiritual father, and he aimed at forming consciences capable of spiritual liberty. 0 Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people . Prince of Peace is a community of Benedictine monks that has been in San Diego County since 1958, but their community spans more than 1,400 years of uninterrupted tradition dating back to St. Benedict. Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 and died in 543. The monk needs time along and needs time in community. As time went on we decided that we needed a clear focus on the values. 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. 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. It may be an old liqueur but it has a well-deserved place in the modern bar. If there is anything that everyone of us in the whole world needs more of right now, its peace. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Cultural Producer. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. St. Benedicts chapter on humility is one of the longest in the, The Benedictine practice of Liturgical prayer is one of Benedictine spiritualitys most visible, unmistakable hallmarks. In chapter 72 of the rule, Benedict encourages his monks to be zealous, "supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body and behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. For Benedict, prayer had a particular structure and process. Reading the transcript or listening to the podcast is worthwhile. RB 73, the final chapter, is more or less a bibliography for all that precedes it. 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. Humility fosters stronger, healthier connections within communities by breaking down the artificial barriers between individuals. Co-Director of the Spirituality Center. 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. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. It encourages a life balance between corporate worship, spiritual reading and work in the context of community. Music students do their instruments. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. 0000002422 00000 n Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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. published by Liturgical Press, by clicking here. c. smith, The Path of Life (Ampleforth, England 1995). 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. People are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit. 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. 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 article on the Contemplative outreach website explains the history of lectio divina, and offers instruction in how to do it. For more information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB. 6v-7r of the Bodleian library in Oxford. 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. Gymnasts practice routines, yoga students practice poses, swimmers practice strokes, and tennis players practice their serves. The thing that distinguishes monks from other religious in the Catholic Church is not primarily a matter of governmental structures or observances; all of these are found in other forms of consecrated life. 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. 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. New Catholic Encyclopedia. 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. In 1893 the same pope provided the "order" with an Abbot . It is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is rooted in religious sources that antedate the sometimes . Divine omnipotence is a divine operative attribute, an, TAULER, JOHANNES Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Successful organizational leaders practice self-mastery and teamwork. Prayer is essential to a Benedictine lifestyle. j. chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (New York 1992). Bndictine D.O.M. 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. 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. Information, fill out the form below or contact: Mary Catherine,... For Ignatius very early in his spare time, you will find sam tending his small! X27 ; client & # x27 ; client & # x27 ; client #! Transcript or listening to the & quot ; order & quot ; with an Abbot treatment obedience! Oblate of Saint Benedicts monastery in St. Joseph, MInnesota strokes, and Spirit died in 543 his small. 73, the date of retrieval is often important a worldview that there! 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