Benedictine Oblate #2

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Thanks for the quick reply, Jason.

I understand your statement regarding a “good fit”, thus the critical need for exploration. As for Lay Dominicans in Florida, I have already discovered several groups in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Same goes for the Franciscans. St; Leo Benedictine Abbey has an active Oblate Program and is approximately an hour away from where we are looking to re-locate.

The idea of attending retreats at St. Leo’s over the next two years is intriguing. I need to explore the possibility. We are taking a brief vacation down there in the next couple months, so I will certainly check into it.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Thanks for the quick reply, Jason.

I understand your statement regarding a “good fit”, thus the critical need for exploration. As for Lay Dominicans in Florida, I have already discovered several groups in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Same goes for the Franciscans. St; Leo Benedictine Abbey has an active Oblate Program and is approximately an hour away from where we are looking to re-locate.

The idea of attending retreats at St. Leo’s over the next two years is intriguing. I need to explore the possibility. We are taking a brief vacation down there in the next couple months, so I will certainly check into it.
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Good to hear that you will have options. I think you would probably be able to make it work as far as starting Oblate formation from a distance with an annual retreat prior to your arrival.

I hope you can find the path that God is calling you towards. Please keep us in the loop.

Peace,
 
By the way, I’ve just ordered a slew of books on-line that cover every Order. I’m very new to the process, so I have to study each Order thoroughly to see if I agree with their approach to spirituality. Plus there is the ultimate test of fitting in that comes with actual affiliation to a particular Order. Like you, I expect a lot of soul-searching.
 
Thanks again, Jason. Hitting the sack now, so I will check this thread (and others) tomorrow. I will certainly keep you updated. I am sure I will have many questions once I begin my studies in earnest.

David
 
David,

If you wish to get the Rule of St Benedict, consider getting the Leonard Doyle translation.
It is fantastic. 🙂
 
Thanks for the suggestion, Luigi. So much to investigate when you’re looking at secular vocations.
 
Logistical issues concern me greatly. I plan on moving to the Florida Gulf Coast mid-year in 2014. If I select a vocation as a Benedictine oblate, for example, do I begin studying with oblates at the closest monastery (St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA), or do I contact the Benedictines nearest to my future home (St. Leo’s Abbey in St. Leo, FL) to discuss a long-distance relationship? I understand the monastic goal of ‘stability’, given one’s life-long commitment to a particular monastery. The same situation generally applies with respect to the Dominicans and Franciscans. We have numerous local fraternities for each Order in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, although there are fewer Dominican and Franciscan chapters available in Pinellas County, Florida, should I begin now seek to transfer my affiliation. Otherwise, two years on stand-by seems like an interminable waiting period.

Incidentally, I have two nieces affiliated with Franciscan University of Steubenville. What an amazing place for a truly awesome Catholic education. I enjoyed similar experiences myself while studying at Chaminade University of Honolulu (Marianist) and John Carroll University (Jesuit) before I attended law school.
 
Ok here goes 😃
The OFS is an order. As such, joining the OFS in city A makes you an OFS all over the world , although a tranfer to fraternity does not have to accept you. They are allowed to do a “background check” if you will. Not a problem, unless the transferee is a loon 😉

With Oblates, you are attached to your particular monastery and that’s it.
Some of the houses recognize each other’s Oblates, though. Most do not, IIRC.
If you go this route check with the transfer to fraternity in advance, or you may have to re-do formation.
Must be nice being able to retire at 55. Not an option for me with 4 kids. Lucky you 😃
 
Dave, I would contact both Monasteries and explain your situation and ask them what would be best - start formation now, transfer to FL or just wait until FL…that sort of thing.
 
Thank you for your kind replies, mylo and Luigi!

You are both spot on. I will contact Saint Benedict Monastery and St. Leo Abbey for their positions on the matter. In the interim, I will continue my reading involving all three Orders.

As for my semi-retirement at 55, I admit that I am somewhat lazy and have no innate desire to be wealthy. I have always valued family over work, so I’ve gradually cut down over the past few years. We managed to visit our daughters at Ohio State and the University of Alabama during their college years. Before that, I worked with their respective soccer teams and rowing clubs each and every season. I will maintain my practice (part-time) via Southwest Airlines while in Florida for a few years, however. I’m not quite ready to take down my shingle just yet.

Thanks again for adding your two cents to my nonsense!

David
 
Luigi and mylo,

An short but concise excerpt from my response from St. Leo Abbey:

"[Y]es, you could begin the Oblate discernment process at Saint Leo Abbey now and that is what I suggest with the additional suggestion that I think Saint Benedict Monastery should welcome you as a guest not planning an oblation there, but for study of Benedictine life, praying the monastic divine office, and learning about the Rule of Saint Benedict."

I’m looking forward to further details from St. Leo’s in the very near future.

David
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Luigi and mylo,

An short but concise excerpt from my response from St. Leo Abbey:

"[Y]es, you could begin the Oblate discernment process at Saint Leo Abbey now and that is what I suggest with the additional suggestion that I think Saint Benedict Monastery should welcome you as a guest not planning an oblation there, but for study of Benedictine life, praying the monastic divine office, and learning about the Rule of Saint Benedict."

I’m looking forward to further details from St. Leo’s in the very near future.

David
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That’s good news. Hopefully things will continue to progress. There is no reason why you cannot take in a retreat at St. Benedict Monastery as suggested prior to your move. Or, as I noted earlier, you could even take a trip down to Florida once to start the formation process officially down there.

Peace,
 
Jason,

I likely will schedule the October retreat.

Any way of checking whether St. Leo Abbey is completely faithful to the Magisterium? I am a conservative/Latin Mass/Traditionalist/orthodox (small ‘o’) kind of guy, if you know what I mean. For example, I noticed that their affiliated school St. Leo University makes no mention of Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a guiding Catholic principle of the institution.

Its very important that the monastery follows the Magisterium.

David
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Jason,

I likely will schedule the October retreat.

Any way of checking whether St. Leo Abbey is completely faithful to the Magisterium? I am a conservative/Latin Mass/Traditionalist/orthodox (small ‘o’) kind of guy, if you know what I mean. For example, I noticed that their affiliated school St. Leo University makes no mention of Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a guiding Catholic principle of the institution.

Its very important that the monastery follows the Magisterium.

David
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I had some of the same concerns when looking around at various monasteries. Frankly, I just decided to ask and see what happened. I stated what I was interested in and what my focus was and that it was magesterial fidelity was very important to me and asked if they could describe the culture of their monastery. I also tracked down some Oblates from the two places I am currently looking and asked them several questions along the same lines. There is a Benedictine Oblate Facebook group where you might be able to track some Oblates from Saint Leo’s down if you are interested. facebook.com/groups/2247029611/

Here are two e-mails I wrote to Oblate directors in an attempt to get answers to your questions.
Father X,
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I am writing to seek information on becoming an Oblate of XYZ Abbey. I have been looking into Catholic spiritualties for some time and have become very interested in the Benedictine approach, specifically the tradition of the Fathers of the Church, the Desert Fathers, and classical monastic spirituality which is faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. I am very much hoping to find a monastery which shares that focus. It is my understanding that things can differ a bit from one monastery to the next so I figured I would simply ask your opinion up front regarding whether or not I might be a good fit.

Thank you so much for your time and assistance.
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Dear Father Y,
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I wanted to follow up on some questions that had popped up during some of the reading I have been doing. I know you are busy and likely trying to get caught up from your trip, so please don’t feel like you have to jump through hoops responding or anything.
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My first question is about the focus of the monastery. During my reading both in books as well as online, it has become apparent that things can often differ from one monastery to the next. For example, I have seen some speak about how they are committed to maintaining an ancient approach where others talk about dialogue with non-Catholic monks (ex. Buddhist etc.) and incorporating more a more modern approach to spirituality. Please understand that I am not suggesting that one is right and another is wrong, far from it. It is merely an observation. Personally, my goal is to find a very traditional approach in terms of spirituality, Magisterial fidelity, etc. I started off looking into a spiritual approach with Opus Dei, and then from there with the Lay Dominicans, which then led me to Benedictine spirituality. I guess I kept being drawn to something older and more ancient in my discernment the more that I learned and studied. When you have a minute, can you comment on whether you think I might be a good fit for what you have going on there?
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My second question is about non-Catholic Oblates. From my reading, it seems that some monasteries have them and some do not. I have been a bit curious about that since I started looking into becoming an Oblate. One of the books that I read (How to be a Monastic and not leave your day job) seemed to discuss non-Catholic Oblates more than the Catholic ones. Frankly, I have a hard time understanding how topics related to Church teaching can be discussed in formation or even afterwards when there are non-Catholic Oblates who would be in disagreement with a great deal of what is being discussed. In addition, when I read chapter 73 of the Holy Rule, it seems, to me, to state that it is important to follow the teachings of the Church fathers, which a non-Catholic would likely have a hard time with. Can you comment on the situation regarding your monastery, and also any thoughts in general that you might have regarding non-Catholic Oblates?
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Again, please do not feel rushed to respond. Everyone is busy, particularly this time of the year. It is my understanding that St. Y’s has a good deal going on with the college, so I am sure you are in the same boat that I am in with finals week coming up and grading, etc. Also, I tend to be fairly direct in my questioning and speech at times so I hope that my questions do not come across in the wrong way.
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Thanks so much for all of your help to date. I really appreciate it.
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Take care, and God Bless,
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Peace.
 
Brilliant letters, Jason! With your permission, I would like to customize my own version of your excellent inquiries to the St. Leo folks. Like you, I believe fidelity to the Magistium is absolutely critical. I also note your concerns regarding non-Catholics participating in the discernment process. They cannot partake of the Holy Eucharist, nor accept many facets of Church dogma.

Lungi, good luck with your D-Day commitment! I am sure you will make the right decision. Thanks again for all your (name removed by moderator)ut into my discussions in the Vocations forum.

David
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Brilliant letters, Jason! With your permission, I would like to customize my own version of your excellent inquiries to the St. Leo folks. Like you, I believe fidelity to the Magistium is absolutely critical. I also note your concerns regarding non-Catholics participating in the discernment process. They cannot partake of the Holy Eucharist, nor accept many facets of Church dogma.

Lungi, good luck with your D-Day commitment! I am sure you will make the right decision. Thanks again for all your (name removed by moderator)ut into my discussions in the Vocations forum.

David
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I don’t know about being all that brilliant, but feel free to use them however you like. I tend to be pretty direct and rather than find out something odd once I got there, I decided I would rather just go ahead and ask the questions about the things which were important to me.

I think it is important to note that you would be joining them, not the other way around. That is why I tried to approach my inquiries from a perspective of whether I would be a good fit for them rather than the other way around. I can’t imagine a monk, sister, or nun responding negatively to such a question providing it is asked with respect, which I am sure you will do.

Peace,
 
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