PREP SCHOOL: OBLATES

On Sunday July 11, 2010 I had the great joy of sharing in the Feast of St. Benedict with our Brothers of the Monastery of The Holy Spirit. We also discussed "Images of God" in a retreat forum which infused our imagination with this topic. As St.Benedict so clearly understood that love, compassion, hospitality, charity, and most importantly humility was his "Image of God" as seen in Jesus Christ. Unconditional love - directly experienced through his disciplined prayer, study, work and worship commitment to the Trinity.

We also share this week, in fact today, July 13, 2010, in remembering St. Henry - Patron of Benedictine Oblates. Through his efforts in Germany many centuries ago, monasticism and monastic practices served as a renewal in the church. We as Oblates share in the love of Christ and are committed to monastic practices in the world, outside of the cloistered life of the monks; which through our prayer, study, work and worship continually re-new, re-store, re-source, and re-orient, thereby re-forming our lives around the Image of God.

Let us as Oblates shape our lives around our teacher, St. Benedict; and share with the world the water from the well of the monasteries where these precious monks across the world make sense of their life through prayer. This image, made visible by men and women of cloistered Benedictine and Cistercian communities, calls us as Oblates to share with the world outside of the walls of the monasteries and convents.

Alasdair MacIntyre has called out prophetically for a new St. Benedict. Let us as followers of the Rule of St. Benedict model our lives on obedience, stability and the humility to know that we are being formed by our practices. We will in fact become what we practice. Let us pray that as Oblates of St. Benedict, we will answer MacIntyre's call for a new St. Benedict; spiritually connecting and collectively making visible in the world a life of prayer and praxis, providng space for a renewal in the Church as a model for spiritual formation. Assisting our parishes and congregations in becoming Prep Schools for the Lord's Service.

Oblates Prayer:

"God, most compassionate and loving. Strengthen me in my commitment to follow you in the way of St. Benedict. Through my ora labora, may I be inspired to live in Christ, to bring his love to the world, and peace to all hearts. I ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen."

...from the - "Work of God"


Pax