February Super Post

I can't compete with the Super Bowl, but I thought that this posting was worthy of being called a SUPER POST.  Basically it has to cover everything from December - February.

So to recap:

We have been going chapter by chapter through the Rule of Saint Benedict.  It has been a good exercise for us all.  For me it has been an opportunity to discuss how the monks live out these chapters from the Rule and how we apply the teachings of St. Benedict to our situation.  For the Oblates it has been a chance to ask new questions about the monastery and to find new ways to apply the Rule to their state in life.

Back at our December meeting we covered Chapter 2 - The Qualities of the Abbot.  There were a number of good questions and points that came up during our discussion.  There was a rather lengthy discussion of how discipline works in the monastery and what role the Abbot plays in the discipline of the house.  There was also much discussion of how this chapter applies to someone who is not in the monastery and is not directly under the authority of the Abbot.

We discussed how Saint Benedict's discussion of the Abbot, also applies to the entire community.  In other words, everything we say about the character of the Abbot we can also say about the character of the monk.  And while the monk does not have the role of Father to the community, each does have the job of exercising appropriately the authority delegated to them in their area of work or responsibility.

So this also applies to the Oblate.  What is said about the character of the Abbot applies to us in our daily life.  In areas where we are given responsibility we must use that responsibility to build up the Body of Christ.  The prime example we discussed was within the Family.  This connection helped us to see the monastery as a Family in Christ.

In January we looked at Chapter 3: Summoning the Brothers for Counsel.  Here too we continued our discussion of the Benedictine community as a family in Christ.  We related the consultation with the brethren and family decision making.  We discussed the benefits of consultation with those who have a vested interest in the final decision and determined that by giving all a part in the decision (even if the ultimate decision rests with the superior) the community would be more ready/willing to accept the final decision.  The key was real discussion and not merely a token consultation before doing something pre-planned.

It was also noted that this consultation is actually an aid to the formation of new members of a family/community.  By being part of the process they learn how decisions are made and can better integrate themselves into the family.  New members learn that it is not a dictatorship but rather a collaboration and therefore a reflection of the divine reality of the Trinity - communion in action.

And now we are up-to-date with February.  This Sunday's meeting was on Chapter 4: The Tools for Good Works.

In our discussion there was a general consensus that this chapter was particularly helpful to us in living the Christian life and specifically the life of a Benedictine Oblate.  There was much discussion about how the Rule provides here a nice summary of the challenge of the Christian Vocation.  A life lived in imitation of Christ.

We certainly acknowledged the challenge of living up to this calling.  Which is why Saint Benedict follows this chapter with a very specific plan of action.  We also recognized that the Gospel and consequently Saint Benedict's Rule are a call to live in right (genuine) relationship with God and with one another - not to mention our inner selves.

The March meeting will be at 4:00PM as usual in the Monastic Chapter Room and we will be looking at Chapter 5 - On Obedience.  Please remember to bring at least one question and one insight for the meeting to aide discussion.


Also the March meeting with coincide with the Priestly Ordination of our Deacon Br. Jacob Amos.  Br. Jacob has been completing his studies at Saint Vincent Archabbey Seminary in Latrobe, PA.  Please join us for this celebration if you are able.  The ordination will be on Saturday (March 5th) at 11:00 AM and his Mass of Thanksgiving will be on Sunday (March 6th) at 11:30 AM in the Abbey Church.

This blog is going to take some discipline and practice.  Thank you for your encouragement.