Benedictine Oblate #2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Luigi_Daniele
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Congratulations, Jason!

After a thoughtful search, it appears you found a spiritual home. Your description of the relics is amazing - I wonder how they established the history and authenticity of the relics of Our Lady and Saint Joseph. Astounding!

Do you expect to begin your studies as an oblate immediately, or will you wait until after the fall retreat? Were there many non-Catholic oblates? I know you had concerns with this aspect of the Benedictine tradition because of conflicts with Church doctrine.

David
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Congratulations, Jason!

After a thoughtful search, it appears you found a spiritual home. Your description of the relics is amazing - I wonder how they established the history and authenticity of the relics of Our Lady and Saint Joseph. Astounding!

Do you expect to begin your studies as an oblate immediately, or will you wait until after the fall retreat? Were there many non-Catholic oblates? I know you had concerns with this aspect of the Benedictine tradition because of conflicts with Church doctrine.

David
Click to expand...
Hi David,

I have no idea how they established the authenticity of the many relics they have. I will likely ask the next time I am there as I am very curious as well.

As for the rest, this was not an Oblate retreat, but a general retreat open to anyone. There was only one non-Catholic who attended, but he was Anglican so had much in common.

I am not sure when I would be brought in as a novice Oblate. The next Oblate retreat is this coming October so I guess there is a chance it could be then. As for studies, I am already doing a great deal of that on my own but I am not sure if there is a formal study/formation process or not.

I am struggling hard to decide whether or not I cancel my scheduled retreat at Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas. Its going to be a tough decision I suppose.

Peace,
 
The travel distance alone is daunting. Sounds like your present situation is both desirable and practical.
 
I may as well post my own update:

I recently e-mailed the contact person for an OCDS community in the Washington Province. They regularly meet at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Washington, DC, which houses the Institute for Carmelite Studies. Their Spiritual Minister is Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. In 2007, ten Institute colleagues released the book “A Better Wine: Essays Celebrating Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D.” in honor his 50 years as a Catholic priest and Carmelite scholar. Very impressive! My OCDS contact was responsive, kind and very gracious. I will attend their next meeting on July 15th.

I got the idea from iloveangels, who suggested I check out the Discalced Carmelites because of their emphasis on Marian devotion. Their focus on religious studies, including Mariology, Sacred Scripture, and the study of Carmelite saints, is a factor of major significance. The typical OCDS monthly meeting (about 6 hours in length) opens with the Rosary, the Divine Office and Mass, followed by prayer, contemplation, religious study (classes), and a lecture. The opportunity to participate in the OCDS experience at the home of the Institute for Carmelite Studies under such an eminent Carmelite scholar is extremely appealing, I must say.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
I may as well post my own update:

I recently e-mailed the contact person for an OCDS community in the Washington Province. They regularly meet at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Washington, DC, which houses the Institute for Carmelite Studies. Their Spiritual Minister is Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. In 2007, ten Institute colleagues released the book “A Better Wine: Essays Celebrating Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D.” in honor his 50 years as a Catholic priest and Carmelite scholar. Very impressive! My OCDS contact was responsive, kind and very gracious. I will attend their next meeting on July 15th.

I got the idea from iloveangels, who suggested I check out the Discalced Carmelites because of their emphasis on Marian devotion. Their focus on religious studies, including Mariology, Sacred Scripture, and the study of Carmelite saints, is a factor of major significance. The typical OCDS monthly meeting (about 6 hours in length) opens with the Rosary, the Divine Office and Mass, followed by prayer, contemplation, religious study (classes), and a lecture. The opportunity to participate in the OCDS experience at the home of the Institute for Carmelite Studies under such an eminent Carmelite scholar is extremely appealing, I must say.
Click to expand...
It sounds like something worth considering. Have you looked into the OCDS situation in Florida at all?

Peace,
 
Yes. They have a few chapters in the Diocese of St. Petersburg (Tampa, Clearwater, St. Pete). The Clearwater community has a particularly impressive website, so that usually means a good-sized or at least active community.

The Washington DC - Florida transition really makes things interesting. Since I will be flying to DC several times a month from 2014 through 2018, I will have time to complete the discernment process (about 5 years give or take) in Washington, DC. If this is the route I select, I will have to start this fall with their next class.

No word from the St. Leo Benedictine oblate group. I have received contacts from two Franciscan fraternities, Opus Dei, and two other OCDS communities.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
I may as well post my own update:

I recently e-mailed the contact person for an OCDS community in the Washington Province. They regularly meet at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Washington, DC, which houses the Institute for Carmelite Studies. Their Spiritual Minister is Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. In 2007, ten Institute colleagues released the book “A Better Wine: Essays Celebrating Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D.” in honor his 50 years as a Catholic priest and Carmelite scholar. Very impressive! My OCDS contact was responsive, kind and very gracious. I will attend their next meeting on July 15th.

I got the idea from iloveangels, who suggested I check out the Discalced Carmelites because of their emphasis on Marian devotion. Their focus on religious studies, including Mariology, Sacred Scripture, and the study of Carmelite saints, is a factor of major significance. The typical OCDS monthly meeting (about 6 hours in length) opens with the Rosary, the Divine Office and Mass, followed by prayer, contemplation, religious study (classes), and a lecture. The opportunity to participate in the OCDS experience at the home of the Institute for Carmelite Studies under such an eminent Carmelite scholar is extremely appealing, I must say.
Click to expand...
Dave,
You’ll grow spiritually from the experience of even a couple of meetings, whether you ultimately become an OCDS or not. Knowing about the spiritual life from several different perspectives like this is a plus because the charisms are not mutually exclusive, even though they are different. Combined wisely, they complement each other. Just as you pray and participate, keep your antenna up for God’s whisper in your ear. 😉
 
iloveangels,

I’ll stay attuned to the whisper of God, I assure you. I have no doubt my answer will come from within. I will know my Order when I experience their community. Like Jason, I’m studying the books, reviewing on-line websites, and seeking thoughtful opinions from fellow CA members. But I’m confident that God will guide me to the right Order through His whisper to my soul.

I must say, however, I already have warm and fuzzy feelings over the Discalced Carmelites. I’m really looking forward to their community meeting on July 15th. Did I tell you that this particular community is over 90 years old?

Given the length of their discernment process, I cannot afford to wait too long. And I have yet to meet with the Franciscan fraternities and Opus Dei. (Sigh)
 
jwinch2 said:
Well, I just got back from my retreat at St. Gregory’s in Oklahoma. Overall, it was an awesome experience. Getting to pray with the monks, attend Mass, etc. was fantastic. The retreat itself was very well done. Abbot Lawrence was a wonderful speaker and was very well prepared. I learned a great deal. The topic was on the fruits of the Holy Spirit as discussed by the writings of St. Paul. Throughout the 8 different talks over the 3 days, he managed to weave in aspects of the Holy Rule as well as the writings of early monastics such as St. John Cassian. In addition, I got to know many of the other people attending the retreat, including a few Oblates of the community.

The monastery itself is very nice. There is a wonderful museum with an incredible amount of artifacts, religious and otherwise. One of the early monks was a very good artist and actually painted the official portrait of St. Pope Pius X, which now hangs in the abbey.

Within the Church, there are many small alcoves which contain chapels for private masses, as well as the tabernacle. However, what blew me away was the one where a display case was kept containing relics from probably a hundred or more saints. They actually had a relic of St. Benedict as well as a piece of clothing from Our Lady and St. Joseph! Pretty amazing really.

There is an Oblate retreat in the fall which I am planning on attending. Unless something crazy comes up, I would imagine that I will end up at St. Gregory’s. I was also planning to visit Subiaco in AR, but that is an additional 4.5 hours beyond St. Gregory’s which would really limit my ability to get there on a regular basis. Since I had such a good experience at St. Gregory’s, I cannot see the wisdom in going that much further in terms of distance from where I live.

Once I get the pictures that I took uploaded, I will post a few of them.

Peace,

Jason
Click to expand...
Jason,

I am so glad that you had a wonderful time, amico mio 🙂
 
700+ Oblates? :eek:

The monks here have, I would guess, maybe 100-150 tops. Wow
 
jwinch2 said:
Well, I just got back from my retreat at St. Gregory’s in Oklahoma. Overall, it was an awesome experience. Getting to pray with the monks, attend Mass, etc. was fantastic. The retreat itself was very well done. Abbot Lawrence was a wonderful speaker and was very well prepared. I learned a great deal. The topic was on the fruits of the Holy Spirit as discussed by the writings of St. Paul. Throughout the 8 different talks over the 3 days, he managed to weave in aspects of the Holy Rule as well as the writings of early monastics such as St. John Cassian. In addition, I got to know many of the other people attending the retreat, including a few Oblates of the community.

The monastery itself is very nice. There is a wonderful museum with an incredible amount of artifacts, religious and otherwise. One of the early monks was a very good artist and actually painted the official portrait of St. Pope Pius X, which now hangs in the abbey.

Within the Church, there are many small alcoves which contain chapels for private masses, as well as the tabernacle. However, what blew me away was the one where a display case was kept containing relics from probably a hundred or more saints. They actually had a relic of St. Benedict as well as a piece of clothing from Our Lady and St. Joseph! Pretty amazing really.

There is an Oblate retreat in the fall which I am planning on attending. Unless something crazy comes up, I would imagine that I will end up at St. Gregory’s. I was also planning to visit Subiaco in AR, but that is an additional 4.5 hours beyond St. Gregory’s which would really limit my ability to get there on a regular basis. Since I had such a good experience at St. Gregory’s, I cannot see the wisdom in going that much further in terms of distance from where I live.

Once I get the pictures that I took uploaded, I will post a few of them.

Peace,

Jason
Click to expand...
This sounds wonderful, Jason, just what you’re looking for. I can’t wait to see the pictures!
 
Jason is apparently well on his way to the sea of tranquility. Bon voyage, mate!

On July 5th, I’m meeting with Opus Dei at their Study Center over a few beers (his suggestion - you have to like their approach). I’ve confirmed my visit with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Discalced Carmelite Community on July 15th. I will call the two Franciscan fraternities tomorrow.

Indeed, I shall be a very holy person by the end of the month! Ha!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top