Benedictine Oblate #2

[CatholicFireman]

Huge parish.

Largest in the diocese, but Holy Trinity is growing pretty fast. The original 130 (?) year old All Saints church building is still in operation only I think it’s a Presbyterian church now.

 

[CatholicFireman]

They just built a huge new Catholic Church in Springfield. Very nice. We went there for Easter Mass. Check out the picture of the Church:

straymonds.org/

I never heard of St. Raymond of Peñafort before. Have to look him up.

We went there when it opened. I sometimes work at station 35 down the street from there.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

Go to Tony’s NY Pizza, the old one, not the new one. Or, go to the Ashton Family Diner for their breakfast buffet. It kicks butt, particularly on holidays. The taco trucks located just off of Old Town are very good as well.

Taco trucks and hot dog vendors serve heavenly food.

 

[CatholicFireman]

Go to Tony’s NY Pizza, the old one, not the new one. Or, go to the Ashton Family Diner for their breakfast buffet. It kicks butt, particularly on holidays. The taco trucks located just off of Old Town are very good as well.

You’re from Manassas?

Wait, which Tony’s is the old one…the one on Mathis?

 

[Tampa_Dave]

We went there when it opened. I sometimes work at station 35 down the street from there.

I liked St. Raymond’s, but I’m hooked on St. Andrew the Apostle in Clifton. Lot of Latin spoken there!

 

[Tampa_Dave]

All right, guys. I’ve got to hit the sack. Court tomorrow morning. Good night …

 

[CatholicFireman]

I liked St. Raymond’s, but I’m hooked on St. Andrew the Apostle in Clifton. Lot of Latin spoken there!

Try Holy Trinity.

Good night. I have to hit the sack too. I’m at work.

 

[jwinch2]

You’re from Manassas?

Wait, which Tony’s is the old one…the one on Mathis?

Lived there for a couple of years, but not since 2010. The one on Mathis is the old one. For whatever reason, the one off of Sudley Manor isn’t nearly as good. Plus, at lunch the one on Mathis is the safest place to be in NoVa. There are usually about 25 police officers in there eating lunch, not to mention a few EMT’s. Of course, you probably know that already.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Not really. Norica, while seeming to be a wonderful place, requires you to come visit in order for them to consider oblation. That really isn’t an option for me, but I did consider it.

I would much rather become an oblate somewhere close to where I live to develop that relationship if possible. If I have to move again, I will have to seek to transfer my oblation to another monastery. The monks seem to understand that while they live apart from the world, their oblates do not and thus are subject to all that comes along with it. I know St. Gregory’s accepted two or three oblate transfers last Spring and when I was at the retreat a few weeks ago, there were two other people there who were considering transfer to St. Gregory’s as well.

Heck, even St. Benedict, who is obviously a fan of stability, in the Holy Rule provides a for a monk to transfer from one monastery to another should he desire to do so. St. Benedict was a realist it seems.

And he moved himself (from Subiaco to Montecassino).

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I attended my first circle tonight. We prayed, studied a Gospel passage, listened to a related lecture, and did an examination of conscience. The subject matter was purity and the lecture itself was pretty good. I enjoyed the evening thoroughly.

Excellent!

 

[CatholicFireman]

Lived there for a couple of years, but not since 2010. The one on Mathis is the old one. For whatever reason, the one off of Sudley Manor isn’t nearly as good. Plus, at lunch the one on Mathis is the safest place to be in NoVa. There are usually about 25 police officers in there eating lunch, not to mention a few EMT’s. Of course, you probably know that already.

LOL. I work for Fairfax. I should have known because that place is a madhouse at dinner, yet they still have time to be personable. Until May I lived near the Sudley Manor one (off of Ashton). We still would make the trip to Mathis. I also like the True Value hardware strore there. A REAL neighborhood hardware store like the ones in my neighborhood growing up.

By the way, Dave, I too love going to brunch at the Aston Restaurant after the 11:30 mass when I can.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

So far, I am in complete agreement with Benedictine Spirituality. It seems to fit me very well.

It is my understanding that some monasteries may have you go through some of your formation again depending on where you are transferring from, but from what I hear that differs from place to place. Either way, I can worry about that part in the event that it becomes an issue.

I am a disaster at Lectio Divina, as you all know. That is one of the reasons that I sometimes think the Bennies are not a good fit. It is such an important part of their spirituality.

On a side note, it appears that the OFS fraternity may (may) have 4 members now. Crunch time is August 12th. We’ll see.

 

[CatholicFireman]

Not really. Norica, while seeming to be a wonderful place, requires you to come visit in order for them to consider oblation. That really isn’t an option for me, but I did consider it.

I would much rather become an oblate somewhere close to where I live to develop that relationship if possible. If I have to move again, I will have to seek to transfer my oblation to another monastery. The monks seem to understand that while they live apart from the world, their oblates do not and thus are subject to all that comes along with it. I know St. Gregory’s accepted two or three oblate transfers last Spring and when I was at the retreat a few weeks ago, there were two other people there who were considering transfer to St. Gregory’s as well.

Heck, even St. Benedict, who is obviously a fan of stability, in the Holy Rule provides a for a monk to transfer from one monastery to another should he desire to do so. St. Benedict was a realist it seems.

Just FYI, I got this email from them in April of last year:

Thank you for contacting the monastery regarding becoming an oblate.

We have oblates all around the world, but mostly in the US and Italy, so it would be no problem for you to become an oblate, but live in the US. Furthermore, our oblates are also married, with children; some are religious, and some are single. Being an oblate really means that you have a spiritual connection with a particular monastery, in this case, the Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia. And fortunately for our oblates, we make Vespers and Holy Mass available every day through our website.

The first thing I’d do, is sign up for our newsletter. By doing that, you’d be able to more intimately come to learn about the monastic community. And, have you had a chance to physically visit? If not, then a virtual visit will have to suffice.

We hope to have more information about becoming oblates in the next few months, so I’ll keep you up-to-date on those matters.

Have a blessed Lent,

Bryan C. Gonzalez
Director of Development
Monks of Norcia

Monastero di San Benedetto
Norcia, Italy

Mailing Address:
Office of Development
200 Hill Drive
St. Meinrad, IN 47577

Office: +1.812.357.6331
Mobile: +1.812.686.6102
Fax: +1.812.357.6759
development@osbnorcia.org
www.osbnorcia.org

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I am a disaster at Lectio Divina, as you all know. That is one of the reasons that I sometimes think the Bennies are not a good fit. It is such an important part of their spirituality.

How do you define “disaster”? What works or doesn’t work when you pray?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

How do you define “disaster”? What works or doesn’t work when you pray?

Lectio-no problem

Meditatio-no problem

Oratio-no problem

Contemplatio-nothing/zip/zero/niente/nulla
I find myself staring at the inside of my eyelids. No distractions, really. Just…nothing.

 

[mylo]

Luigi, how do you define contemplation? What do you think should happen that is not happening for you?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Luigi, how do you define contemplation? What do you think should happen that is not happening for you?

I guess it would be feeling the presence of God. I don’t expect miracles, or locutions or messages…just the Presence. And I get nothing.

 

[jwinch2]

Just FYI, I got this email from them in April of last year:

Thanks. I’ve spoken with them as well. They require their distance oblates to visit the monastery which I cannot do.

Peace,

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I guess it would be feeling the presence of God. I don’t expect miracles, or locutions or messages…just the Presence. And I get nothing.

And how would you know that you’re feeling God’s presence?

As a start, could you settle for feeling quiet or peaceful?

I guess that for me, I don’t have expectations. I’m willing to sit there…to be present. What God does is not up to me. I’m just offering the opportunity by virtue of my being there.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

And how would you know that you’re feeling God’s presence?

As a start, could you settle for feeling quiet or peaceful?

I guess that for me, I don’t have expectations. I’m willing to sit there…to be present. What God does is not up to me. I’m just offering the opportunity by virtue of my being there.

I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thank you, sir!