Finding God in Everyday Life
Directives Relative to Oblate Life
The following points have been culled from past meetings
of directors of oblates to aid directors in developing a spirit that
is specific to the life of a Benedictine oblate. Some of these elements
are reflected in the brochures especially in the constitution section
of the Guidelines:
1. Oblates of St. Benedict are Christian men and women,
young and old, married and single, who seek to enrich their Christian
way of life by living according to the spirit of St. Benedict as expressed
in his Holy Rule. Though living in the world, they affiliate themselves
with Benedictine abbeys and convents and share in the spirit of the
community and in their life of prayer.
2. Though oblates commit themselves to live in the spirit
of the Rule of St. Benedict and the directives for oblates of their
specific community, their status is not to be confused with that of
:secular orders," which are canonically structured with a specific
rule and with profession according to that rule after regular periods
of formation.
3.
Though oblates belong to specific Benedictine communities, juridically
they are not considered members of the monastic order. (In keeping
with this same spirit, no encouragement should be given for oblates
to wear any semblance of monastic garb.) Oblates are associated with
monastic communities in a bond of prayer, love and commitment only.
4. Oblates are associated with one particular community
of Benedictine women or men and seek to incorporate Benedictine values
into their everyday life. Thus oblates can be seen as extending the
spirit of the monastic community into areas where the community cannot
reach or be present. Oblate life is distinct from the various other
groups within the Church, such as Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Charasmatic,
Renewal, etc., and is a true vocation of the Church.
5. Oblates of most communities make voluntary donations.
Oblates have no dues for membership and are not considered a source
of financial support to the community.
The Value of Oblates to a Monastic Community
1. Oblates bring a spiritual strength.
2. Oblates serve as a link between the community and parishes.
3. Oblates and the community provide mutual affirmation of the commitment
to the Benedictine way of life.
4. The community is enriched by the interaction with oblates.
5. Oblates bring culture and insights (and expertise in many area)
to the community.
6. Oblates remind the community of its goodness and uniqueness.
7. The witness of the oblates living Benedictine charisms in the secular
world strengthens community members' love and appreciation for the
Benedictine way of life.
Recommended Responsibilities
of the Monastery to Its Oblates
1. The monastery provides an oblate program under the
guidance of the oblate director.
2. The oblate director is appointed by the monastic superior.
3. The monastery provides a job description for the oblate director.
4. The oblate director may serve for a specified length of time.
5. The oblate director holds regular meetings with the oblates.
6. The oblate director maintains files of all oblates.
7. The oblate director maintains files of all oblates.
8. The monastery remembers all the oblates in prayer.
9. The monastery welcomes oblates to the liturgy: Divine Office, Eucharist
and special occasions.
10. The monastic community participates in supporting the oblate director
and the oblate program's desire to instruct oblates in the manner
and roles of that communality's Benedictine way of life.
11. The monastery includes oblates in the ongoing life of the monastic
community by mailing publications to their homes and by sharing with
them other major news and needs of the community.
The Monastery's Expectations
of Its Oblates
1. Oblates are committed to their monastery, its values
and culture and its prayer.
2. Oblates are expected to keep the spirit of St. Benedict alive by
the way in which they live:
* Keep faithful to their promises made at oblation
* Annually renew their oblation
* Send in their Bona Opera (Lenten Good Works)
* Pray the Liturgy of the Hours
* Do Lectio Divina regularly
* Attend retreats
* Maintain fidelity to one's Christian tradition.
3. Oblates are persons whose lives are shaped by Benedictine spiritually.
They follow the Rule of St. Benedict in their daily lives as far as
their station in life permits.
4. Oblates are representatives of the monastery "in the world."
5. The oblates pray for the monastery, the monastic community and
the other oblates.
