Oblates of St. Benedict

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If you want to live your faith more deeply then I suggest you consider a third order. One possiblity is the oblates of St. Benedict. You affiliate with an abbey. Candidacy lasts a year while you study the rule of St. Benedict and how to live it in your daily life. Then you make your act of oblation. It is a wonderful way to grow in holiness and experience Catholic spirituality. Pax
 
I am a Cistercian Associate, which is kinda similar to Benedictine Oblates, but not exactly the same thing.
 
thank you. I professed as a Benedictine Oblate of the Monastery of the Good Shepherd in Rio Grande City TX three years ago, after a year of formation as a candidate. I was introduced to the Oblates by two couples in the parish whose outreach to a Mexican maquila community just over the border I admired. They introduced me to three dyn-o-myte Benedictine Sisters from Minnesota, who have been working in the Valley for over 25 years. Their monastery was a mobile home and small cottage for the last five years, but this month they are moving in to the newly build monastery in Starr County. The story of its construction is a miracle, or series of small miracles. The monastery, when complete will serve as a badly needed retreat center. Our oblate community has grown to over 60 members, some from as far as San Antonio. The sisters are leaders in the pro-life movement, and are a spiritual force in the Valley far beyond their numbers, and we love them dearly
 
We are fortunate here in Cullman, AL to live near a Benedictine monastery and our 2 priests are Benedictines. I am seriously thinking about becoming an oblate.
 
I’m thinking about becoming an Oblate Novice of St Benedict. But I can’t decide which Abbey to be a part of. I live in eastern PA. There is St Vincents Archabbey in Latrobe PA. And there St. Anselm’s Abbey in Washington DC. St. Anselm’s Abbey is English Congregation, and St Vincents is American Cassinese. Any suggestions.
 
bkovacs said:
I’m thinking about becoming an Oblate Novice of St Benedict. But I can’t decide which Abbey to be a part of. I live in eastern PA. There is St Vincents Archabbey in Latrobe PA. And there St. Anselm’s Abbey in Washington DC. St. Anselm’s Abbey is English Congregation, and St Vincents is American Cassinese. Any suggestions.
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Have you visited them? Does one feel more like home than the other? Have you had any dealings with the monks or nuns that would make one more attractive? Is one closer? With the cost of gas these days distance is a consideration in terms of being able to visit. Do they have local Oblate groups? Even if you can’t get to the monastery frequently it’s nice to be able to meet with a local group.
 
I too have been discerning a call to become an Oblate. I know a few Benedictines and Oblates from my involvement in different liturgical conferences, but there are no monastaries around here nor do I know any oblates in my area of Long Island. The OSB website has not been helpful. Right now I am doing some reading on my own and just trying to live the Rule on my own.
 
Joannm said:
I too have been discerning a call to become an Oblate. I know a few Benedictines and Oblates from my involvement in different liturgical conferences, but there are no monastaries around here nor do I know any oblates in my area of Long Island. The OSB website has not been helpful. Right now I am doing some reading on my own and just trying to live the Rule on my own.
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The OSB atlas lists monasteries in New York and Connecticut. You could check with them to see if they have any local groups. I suppose a local group isn’t mandatory, but I like having other people close by. (My monastery is about 100 miles away so close enough for a visit but not so close that I can just pop in all the time.)
 
My wife and I are oblates at St. Leo Abbey in Florida, a Catholic Benedictine monastery in the American-Cassinese Congregation.

My wife and I created the Oblate Spring web site which contains information we found helpful when we first explored Benedictine spirituality.

The Oblate Spring web site also contains lists of online resources.

And I write the Oblate Blog which a blog about my life as an oblate.
 
cestusdei said:
If you want to live your faith more deeply then I suggest you consider a third order. One possiblity is the oblates of St. Benedict. You affiliate with an abbey. Candidacy lasts a year while you study the rule of St. Benedict and how to live it in your daily life. Then you make your act of oblation. It is a wonderful way to grow in holiness and experience Catholic spirituality. Pax
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Any Benedictine monestaries near Los Angeles, ZIP 90502?
 
Barzillai said:
My wife and I are oblates at St. Leo Abbey in Florida, a Catholic Benedictine monastery in the American-Cassinese Congregation.

My wife and I created the Oblate Spring web site which contains information we found helpful when we first explored Benedictine spirituality.

The Oblate Spring web site also contains lists of online resources.

And I write the Oblate Blog which a blog about my life as an oblate.
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I’ve found John’s website and blog quite helpful for me (fresh Oblate as of 06-07-08). 👍 St. Benedict’s Rule has literally changed my life - I wholeheartedly recommend anyone who is considering a Third Order to look into the Oblates.
 
bkovacs said:
I’m thinking about becoming an Oblate Novice of St Benedict. But I can’t decide which Abbey to be a part of. I live in eastern PA. There is St Vincents Archabbey in Latrobe PA. And there St. Anselm’s Abbey in Washington DC. St. Anselm’s Abbey is English Congregation, and St Vincents is American Cassinese. Any suggestions.
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I know the monks from St. Anselm’s. They are a very scholarly community and very holy men. They are very involved in education, academic research, theology and ministry to young men. They are an excellent community. I was taught by the a the Univesity.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
Unfortunately, we live in the boonies. I have considered becoming a 3rd order, but there is no monastery or convent anywhere within 2 hours of here.

I did, however, spend last weekend at a Benedictine convent. It was a lovely experience, and the whole family thoroughly enjoyed being with the Sisters. Unfortunately, the reason was sad, our aunt, who was a nun, had died, and we were there for her funeral. 😦 But the Sisters made us feel very welcome, and especially took to our 2 little girls. 🙂 We’re hoping for a vocation in the future. 😉
 
I know a great deal about Benedict and his rule to the Brothers, but I confess that I know nothing about the Oblates and would love to know so that I can point people in that direction.

Often, as a Franciscan, we get people who come to us who are not called to this way of life, but they do have a special calling. It’s hard to refer them, if you do not have information.

I have some questions. I guess it’s better if I write them as comparative questions.
  1. The Secular Franciscans are a Canonical Order established by St. Francis with its autonomous government, rule, constitutions, and profession of vows.
    a. Do the Oblates have their own rule?
    b. Were they founded by St. Benedict?
    c. Are they a Canonical Order?
    d. Do they have an autonomouse government from that of the monks?
  2. The Secular Franciscans are bound to the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, either the Roman or the Franciscan form, such as the Liturgy of the Passion written by St. Francis.

    a. Does the Oblate rule or constitution bound them to the Liturgy of the Hours?
  3. The Secular Franciscans must participate in community life and obey the Minister of their fraternity and the fraternity’s council, as well as the General Minister and the General Council.

    a. Do the Oblates have a similar structure of government?
  4. The Secular Franciscans have specific rules about dress, ownership of property, obedience to the Church, allegiance to the local bishop and allegiance to the Franciscan family.

    a. Are there similar rules for the Oblates?
  5. The rule of the Secular Franciscans mirrors the rule of the Friars Minor with the necessary modifications that allow for married members, secular clergy, and other persons who live and work in the secualr world outside the cloister; but there is room for common life in the rule.

    a. Is this similar?
  6. The rule of the Secular Franciscans can only be changed by the Holy Father or the Sacred Congregation for Religious (which obviously functions under the Holy Father).

    a. Is this the same situation?
  7. A Secular Franciscan goes through several years of formation before he or she can make final profession, at least three and up to six.

    a. How long is the formation period?
  8. Secular Franciscans must get a dispensation from the Order to leave it. They can’t just walk away. Even if they do, they remain members of the Order until they are dismissed or ask to leave in writing and the separation is approved by the Council.

    a. Can an oblate leave without penalty of sin?
  9. How is an oblate different from a secular member of a mendicant order such as Dominicans, Carmelites and Franciscans?
I don’t mean to be rude. But for me to understand the Oblates best is to put it in reference to what I do understand, which is the Secular Franciscans. I really would like to understand, because I love the Benedictine spirit.

The early Franciscans borrowed a great deal from the Benedictines and the Bennys as Franciscans warmly call the monks, were very helpful in the founding of the Franciscan Order. But in our history we read about the monks. We don’t get much on the Oblates, unfortunately.

Thanks for sharing.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
JReducation said:
I know a great deal about Benedict and his rule to the Brothers, but I confess that I know nothing about the Oblates and would love to know so that I can point people in that direction.
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You’ll find a great deal of information about Oblates here.

Very briefly, Oblates do not have a separate Rule but live according to the spirit and Rule of St. Benedict according to their state in life. Oblates don’t have the kind of structure you described. They belong to a particular monastery and have an abbot or abbess.

Perhaps that’s a start to your questions.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
You’ll find a great deal of information about Oblates here.

Very briefly, Oblates do not have a separate Rule but live according to the spirit and Rule of St. Benedict according to their state in life. Oblates don’t have the kind of structure you described. They belong to a particular monastery and have an abbot or abbess.

Perhaps that’s a start to your questions.
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Thanks and thanks for the site. I’ve saved it to my favorites.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
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