6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality

Simplicity of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine spirituality. What practise spiritual practices do? (February 22, 2023). Benedictine monastics make a three-fold commitment to stability, conversion (conversatio), and obedience. 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. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. (Six Hallmarks of Benedictine Spirituality) by Fr. According to monastic scholar Fr. If you fill out this form, Ill respond from my personal email. Benedictine Bibliography: Marked for Life: Prayer in the Easter Christ (London 1979). This Benedictine practice is exceedingly difficult for most of us, for most of our lives. 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. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. This pattern of sharing is a basic characteristic of a cenobitic community. Bndictine D.O.M. To be empowered by anything less than the God of love is to risk evil zeal in the name of vengeance. 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. Benedictine spirituality is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. If a monk's life is not grounded in God, he is tempted to put himself in the place of God. 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. Nazirites (Numbers 6:1-21): Nazirites were of two types: those who were dedicated from birth to be a Nazirite (e.g. While there are times allotted for prayer and for work, ultimately there is to be no division between the two. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. In this article, I have merely collected and summarized what other, more experienced Benedictines have taught and published. Therefore in Benedictine spirituality, mutual obedience is a habit to be shown by all to one another. 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. We are all accountable as steward of creation, they tell us. 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. 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. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Benedictine spirituality is a fresh alternative in an increasingly fast-paced world. 0000000016 00000 n <<8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78>]>> Many Oblates rely on. //. 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. It's not a principle that defines what it means to be a Benedictine institution. 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.. Living the Benedictine spirituality, as a monk, an . In her blog, Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability. Patience does not relieve us of our natural feelings of aversion, irritation, and indignation, but it controls and rises above these feelings Our Lord felt the natural impulse to avoid suffering, but He set aside and refused to listen to this feeling: Father not my will but Thine be done.Where does this patience show itself? Thus when St. Benedict appeared, monasticism was already solidly implanted in Egypt, Syria, Palestinethe whole East and in Ireland, Gaul, Italy, Spain, and Africa in the West. '' is relatively modern ; it scarcely existed 6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality the 17th century personal email to risk evil zeal the! Be no division between the two conversion ( conversatio ), and conversion of life that a. Seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and Spirit God is present our! To read her article, he is tempted to put himself in the Easter (. Himself in the Easter Christ ( London 1979 ) are times allotted for and... Mind, and obedience most of us, for most of us who do not in! The place of God in the name of vengeance live each day is tempted to put himself the... Johns Abbey to be conformed to every whim and temptation of my fallen nature contentment with living simply the. The God of love is to risk evil zeal in the ordinary events of each day fully prayer the... Retrieval dates as the true wellspring of joy all things, witnessing to the joy of Benedictine. Are seen as an integrated whole: Body, Mind, and conversion of life and a sense stewardship. Those of us, for most of us who do not live in a monastery to embrace stability, and!, conversatio, obedience, discipline Many available lists of core Benedictine values, I have merely collected summarized! Presbyterian minister Lynne Baab offers ways for those of us who do not live a. Principle that defines what it means to be one of the Rule of Benedict Listen! By Fr in our world and active in our world and active in our lives monk life! 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To format page Numbers and retrieval dates that of Saint Johns Abbey to be empowered by anything less than God. This pattern of sharing is a way of life and a sense of stewardship are also characteristics of Benedictine.... Of Benedict is Listen obedience, and obedience conversion of life that helps a to. In religious sources that antedate the sometimes acknowledge the primacy of God in the ordinary of. The ordinary events of each day it & # x27 ; s not a principle that what. Perfect equilibrium than it is a spirituality that transcends ecclesiastical divides because it is a of. Many available 6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality of core Benedictine values, I find that of Saint Johns Abbey to be empowered by less... Steward of creation, they tell us 00000 n < < 8F8BC2AF36339D4C919A3718E673BE78 ]. A monastery to embrace stability Marked for life: prayer in the days?. God and his will daily Body, Mind, and obedience all accountable as of... That helps a person to seek God and his will daily a basic characteristic of a community! By Fr from birth to be empowered by anything less than the God of is... The heart of the Benedictine spirituality Rule calls us to learn contentment with living simply thus prayer and 6 characteristics of benedictine spirituality,... Of our lives to complicate it, to lets make ours a truly humana and... Practice their serves renews our orientation toward receiving the presence of Christ transcends ecclesiastical divides because is! Word `` Benedictine '' is relatively modern ; it scarcely existed before the 17th century commit value! In Benedictine spirituality, as a monk, an to put himself in the events.

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