Benedictine Oblate #2

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Another clarification
There are no other Franciscan fraternities near me except the Spanish one
So it was my fraternity of origin or nothing
Just to be clear šŸ˜‰
 
That is a real bummer if there are no Franciscan alternatives nearby. Iā€™m sure it will work out for you. You will know what is right. Pray on it over Mass tomorrow, then again, and again ā€¦
 
My niece joined the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George a few years ago. She ultimately left the Order, married a Byzantine Catholic, and had two kids. Certainly you too can move on if the Franciscan vocation becomes untenable. Just avoid good-looking Byzantine Catholics!
 
mylo said:
Jason, that book is a gem ā€¦ itā€™s probably my favorite book out there on the Holy Rule. šŸ™‚
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I finished with the introduction last night and moved into the actual Rule and corresponding commentary. Wow. I was blown away by how good it is. I have to say, it is exceedingly well done. First of all, when the author discusses the lengths that they went through to compile their sources, I was very impressed. I love that they took so much of their information from Dom Paul Delatteā€™s widely praised text on the Rule. Secondly, the actual commentary is just great. It is scholarly but still readable and approachable. There is some critical analysis of the text as well as some historical commentary, but it is not overdone. The majority is focused of the writing seems to be focused on how to understand that particular section of the Rule within the context of your life as a layperson and how to apply it.

A ā€œgemā€ is indeed a great way to describe it. I would say that anyone who is serious about living their live as an Oblate should consider this book. I would also say that it would serve as an invaluable resource for any monk, sister, or nun who might be serving as an oblate director.

Since we are on the subject, does anyone know anything about this one? amazon.com/The-Rule-Saint-Benedict-Commentary/dp/0879078456/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1342982668&sr=8-17&keywords=commentary+rule+of+saint+benedict
 
This is very good. The Oblate formation book for Saint Vincentā€™s Archabbey. It is well put together from what I have seen so far.

svaoblates.org/files/OblateFormation.pdf

A proposed reading list by the Archabbey for their oblates as well.

osb.org/sva/obl/oblafm10.html

They are also offering CDā€™s or DVDā€™s of their Oblate presentations by the Monks for sale at the university book store. You have to search for the title in the store website to find them.

svaoblates.org/articlemodule/view_article/id/7/src/@random4ce6a8d7ed86d/

Peace,
 
jwinch2 said:
Well I am obviously not an Oblate at this time, but I will attempt a response anyway.

From what I can tell, the actual requirements for Oblates are relatively minimal. You are asked to incorporate the following things in your life. 1) Daily Mass; 2) Divine Office; 3) Monastic Spirituality; 4) Lectio Divina; 5) Personal and Contemplative Prayer; 6) Scripture Study. There are likely others, but that seems to be relatively consistent from one monastery to the next. The key though is, that you are to bring these things into your life as your state in life allows.
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Ugh! I had a complete brain fart here. I forgot to mention reading and reflection on the Holy Rule which was a major omission on my part.

Suffice it to say, as I mentioned before that you could structure your day around the life of the monastery to whatever extent you desire. Obviously most people can only do that in a limited fashion. For example, currently I have only been able to pray one of the daily hours, read part of the Rule, do some a bit of scripture study and other reading, and do some personal prayer. I can only get to Mass twice per week the vast majority of the time. My current goals are to get consistent in doing the morning prayer from the daily office (currently we only do Compline with any regularity), start attempting lectio divina, and to become better at being able to ā€œpray alwaysā€.

Abbot Lawrence, when I was at the retreat he gave not long ago, was discussing the text from Sacred Scripture ā€œBe perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfectā€. He stated that one of the monks who is a good scripture scholar actually preferred the translation ā€œBe perfected, as your Heavenly Father is perfectā€.

With that in mind, I am trying to take things bit by bit and work on adding parts of the Oblate life as I am able to. It would be very easy, in my opinion, to try to bring all of these things into your life at once, fail, and get discouraged to the point of giving up. So, I am going to take it slow, digest each piece that I add on, and then when I am able, consider adding another. Its a journey of a lifetime, not a sprint to next week.

Peace.
 
Jason,

You should incorporate your daily regimen gradually, versus implementing it all at once. The Opus Dei numerary was very careful to stress that I fit the Norms into my life as best I can. Same expectation as the Third Orders. If your load is too heavy, you could very easily get discouraged. Then too, you are unlikely to get the spiritual benefit you desire from your regimen if your are literally forcing it into your schedule. ***Do what you can and do it well. ***
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Jason,

You should incorporate your daily regimen gradually, versus implementing it all at once. The Opus Dei numerary was very careful to stress that I fit the Norms into my life as best I can. Same expectation as the Third Orders. If your load is too heavy, you could very easily get discouraged. Then too, you are unlikely to get the spiritual benefit you desire from your regimen if your are literally forcing it into your schedule. ***Do what you can and do it well. ***
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Exactly my plan. As I noted above, I have a few things I would like to add into my schedule on a regular basis. However, my intent is to get those over the next year or so.

Peace,
 
jwinch2 said:
Exactly my plan. As I noted above, I have a few things I would like to add into my schedule on a regular basis. However, my intent is to get those over the next year or so.

Peace,
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Iā€™ve prayed the Rosary several times while driving to the Metro station. Its not ideal, but it beats cursing at traffic and listening to the radio. I satisfy a self-imposed daily obligation and simultaneously experience a calm beginning to the work day. The only problem is that I cannot read any devotional materials while meditating on the respective Mysteries. I count Hail Marys on my fingers instead of beads.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Iā€™ve prayed the Rosary several times while driving to the Metro station. Its not ideal, but it beats cursing at traffic and listening to the radio. I satisfy a self-imposed daily obligation and simultaneously experience a calm beginning to the work day. The only problem is that I cannot read any devotional materials while meditating on the respective Mysteries. I count Hail Marys on my fingers instead of beads.
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Ditto on all you said. Except I use a rosary ring. šŸ™‚
 
CatholicFireman said:
Ditto on all you said. Except I use a rosary ring. šŸ™‚
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Good idea! Route 29 to Fairfax County Parkway to Route 66 to Nutley Street. You know the routine. Stay in the right lane, pay attention to brake lights, and spend the morning commute with the Blessed Virgin. I pray silently so other motorists donā€™t think Iā€™m crazy.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Good idea! Route 29 to Fairfax County Parkway to Route 66 to Nutley Street. You know the routine. Stay in the right lane, pay attention to brake lights, and spend the morning commute with the Blessed Virgin. I pray silently so other motorists donā€™t think Iā€™m crazy.
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Mine is PWC Parkway to 28 and I always have to finish the last decade in the evening at the firehouse (in private). If I get detailed out I can usually finish the rosary before I get to work. You can buy a rosary ring online or at Holy Trinityā€™s gift shop or at The Catholic Store in Chantily. šŸ˜‰

Something else you might like to try is praying the rosary with the rest of the world: www.comepraytherosary.org
 
CatholicFireman said:
Mine is PWC Parkway to 28 and I always have to finish the last decade in the evening at the firehouse (in private). If I get detailed out I can usually finish the rosary before I get to work. You can buy a rosary ring online or at Holy Trinityā€™s gift shop or at The Catholic Store in Chantily. šŸ˜‰

Something else you might like to try is praying the rosary with the rest of the world: www.comepraytherosary.org
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They have them at the Catholic Information Center at 1521 K Street, NW, in DC. Iā€™ll be there again Monday or Tuesday to shop and attend the 12:00 PM Mass in the St. Josemaria Chapel. The CIC has an amazing Catholic bookstore.
 
I havenā€™t been to The Catholic Store in Chantilly. Worth a visit? Where is it?

Iā€™ve visited the Paschal Lamb on Lee Highway at the intersection of Jermantown Road. Nice little store with very nice women running it.
 
Tampa_Dave said:
Iā€™ve prayed the Rosary several times while driving to the Metro station. Its not ideal, but it beats cursing at traffic and listening to the radio. I satisfy a self-imposed daily obligation and simultaneously experience a calm beginning to the work day. The only problem is that I cannot read any devotional materials while meditating on the respective Mysteries. I count Hail Marys on my fingers instead of beads.
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I do this, too. Your comment on Byzantines LOL:D
 
Glad I could make you chuckle, Luigi. Any updates on the Franciscan situation? Iā€™m curious to see how this plays out for you. It always seems like something you want has just the slightest wrinkle or caveat, enough to discourage you from reaching your desired end. At least, thatā€™s how I feel when the Cleveland Indiansā€™ closer gives up a two run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning ā€¦
 
jwinch2 said:
Again, apples and oranges in my view. New branches of the Franciscan family are still Franciscan either way. They have all the rights of mendicant friars, but all of the obligations as well. They have a Rule, etc. which OD does not have.

Peace,
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Thatā€™s actually not quite the case. They belong to the Franciscan family, and they may use some version of the rule in their constitutions, but they are congregations.
 
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