Frustration about oblation

[paul11b]

Maybe look into Opus Dei.

 

[DaveBj]

My wife is an oblate in a group that’s based locally. I’ve had enough contact with it that I don’t necessarily think it’s the same one that you’ve been going to, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were. Yes, it is mixed Catholic/Protestant. I’ve had enough contact with it to know both that Benedictine spirituality is not for me, and most definitely this local group isn’t for me.

If you’re specifically interested in Benedictinism, then I would suggest investigating other local oblate groups; I believe that the one at St. Meinrad’s comes highly recommended. But I would run far away from any group that promotes female priests.

With regard to your husband, I would suggest that the best thing you could do is live the life and let your actions, rather than your words, do the talking (I Peter 3:1-2).

 

[OraLabora]

Maybe look into Opus Dei.

I don’t see the connection with Benedictine spirituality. Genuine Benedictine spirituality, not the nonsense the OP encountered.

I’m fortunate that I am an oblate of a very orthodox monastery.

 

[ksjpublish]

Roman Catholic runs mixed group…
Group doesn’t seem Christian enough…
Who’s fault is it? Well you take the easy option and blame the protestants rather than the Roman Catholic who leads and guides the group.

Maybe if you would be better objectively looking at the problem with your current group rather than just blaming prods and moving somewhere else.

No, you misunderstood. If I was unclear, I apologize. When I first started attending the oblate meetings I was the only Catholic (still am, except for the group leader), and the mere idea that Protestants were there did not overly disturb me. What I really got bent out of shape about was the Sister leading the group who thinks women should be priests, which is clearly at odds with Catholic teaching. If I am blaming anyone, it’s the ‘Sister’ who runs the group. I will certainly admit that I think the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth regarding Christ, but I am not blaming Protestants for how the group is run. P.S. it’s ‘whose’ not ‘who’s’. Sorry – my full-time job is editing!

 

[Jim27290]

Apologies about “who’s” rather than whose, pretty childish mistake I admit. Thanks for clearing up your problem… personally I think you need to be comfortable doctrinally to worship and if your not comfortable doctrinally where you are then move.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I’m really frustrated and upset right now because, after discerning for months whether or not to become a Benedictine oblate, I finally became an oblate novice this past May. Since September of 2010 I’ve been to a number of local oblate meetings, where they study the Rule, but I am getting more and more frustrated – for example, at this past Sunday’s meeting, I never heard Jesus’ name mentioned, God was mentioned only once or twice in passing, there was no prayer whatsoever, and the woman who leads the group is a Benedictine sister, but she and I are the only Catholics in the group. The vast majority of oblates are Episcopalian or Methodist. I of course don’t think they should be excluded from what I thought was a Catholic charism, but I feel like a fish out of water. I believe deeply in the teachings of the Catholic Church (the true teachings, not what Protestants think are taught), and I guess I am naive but I honestly don’t understand how other Christians can read the Bible and not see how many Catholic teachings are Bible based; I don’t understand why all Christians aren’t Catholic. I want to shake these other oblates and say, “Don’t you SEE??”

And even the Sister who leads the Benedictine oblate group – she thinks women should be allowed to be priests, among other things. I must be a naive fool but to me the ‘controversial’ Church teachings are logical. Now I’m rethinking whether I should continue as an oblate novice (though I really thought that was God’s desire for me), and I am without a spiritual director now. I don’t know where to turn. I’d like to meet regularly with our parish priest or deacon, but everyone is always too busy, especially our priest. And my scheduling options are limited because I work full time, and drive total two hours a day from home to work and back. And after I get home, my energy level is so low. . . Of course I pray and journal, but I’d like to bounce ideas off other humans sometimes. . . . when I moved to this state two years ago, I tried to find employment with the Archdiocese, but none of that came to pass. Perhaps God in His love wanted me to keep my rose-colored glasses on regarding the Church, and thus kept me away from the hierarchy of it, I don’t know.

I hope I haven’t offended anyone with my conservative stance; perhaps you agree that women should be priests, and agree with same-sex marriage, etc. One of the things that I have admired about the Church is that, to me, it has seemed so understanding of human frailty, not like some Evangelical or Fundamentalist folks I could think of. But since I agree with Church teachings, I admire how the Church has (to my mind) remained faithful to Christ’s teachings for more than 2,000 years – or I guess it’s really 1,981 years (2011 - 30 years, when Christ began his ministry).

I’d like to be a full-time Catholic apologist because I love the Church so much, but (1) I can’t afford it, and (2) I’m no good at debating.

Is anyone else out there feeling this way??

The monks at Norcia, very devout from what I see, allow being an Oblate “at a distance”. Might be an option