Lent Reading Book Available at Abbey Gift Shop

  

"Benedict's Way" is the Lent reading for the
Oblate program and is $10.95 at the Abbey Gift Shop

The book for the Oblate program's Lenten reading, Benedict's Way, is at the St. Leo Abbey Gift Shop.  Several copies were sold Sunday, February 20, 2011.

  

Fr. Homan, coauthor of Benedict's Way on left, shown here with the late Fr. Livius Paoli. 


It's a Small World.  Father Daniel Homan is the book's coauthor.  He is Prior of St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, Michigan, USA.
  
St. Benedict Monastery is part of the Sylvestrine Congregation of Benedictine monks.  St. Leo Abbey is part of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries.

In 1213, St. Sylvester Guzzolini (also Gozzolini), founded the Order of St. Benedict of Montefano which is now called the Sylvestrine Congregation of the Order of St. Benedict (O.S.B.).  St. Sylvester Guzzolini's feast day is traditionally November 26. The Sylvestrines wore a Turkish-blue habit and this appears to have been carried on until at least the early part of the 20th century. Now, along with most other Benedictines, the Sylvestrine Congregation wears a black habit. 

St. Sylvester was a reformer and innovator.  Along with a desire to reform monastic life back to what it was when St. Benedict was abbot of Abbey of Monte Cassino, Italy, St. Sylvester Guzzolini also introduced the practice of central governance for his several monasteries and he had his monks engaged outside the monastery in services to the public, preaching, and pastoral ministry. 

Fr. Homan's work as coauthor of Benedict's Way carries out St. Sylvester Guzzolini's desires that his monks be engaged in public ministry work outside the monastery. 

Wayne Kofink:

Wayne e-mailed that "St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, Michigan is about one-half a mile down the road from the only Lutheran Benedictine community in the US, St. Augustine House. The founder of St. Augustine House, Fr. Arthur Kreinheder, lived near St. Leo's for several years in the late 1970s."  Wayne provided the link to St. Augustine House for more information. Thank you Wayne Kofink.

“Benedict’s Way: An Ancient Monk’s Insights..” Resources to aid reading this book for Lent

This blog is where resources will be collected to help us in our reading of “Benedict’s Way” during Lent which begins with Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011.  Abbot Isaac will give lessons from the book during the St. Leo Abbey Oblate classes.

The book will be available for purchase in the Abbey bookstore on March 6, 2011.

Book Excerpt Online.  The first 40 pages of the book are available online at Google Books for free and provide a good overview of the book.

Lent Preparation. Chapter 49 of the Rule of St. Benedict says, “The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten observance.”  With less than 30 days before Lent begins, we might think about having a life of Lenten observance outside of the time of Lent  — that is what St. Benedict thought best for a balanced life.  

What can I do to live more Lent in February and August? Whatever it is, I am sure it is not living my regular life until March 9 and then turning off the regular-life switch to go into power-saver mode until Easter — that is not the Benedictine life.  The rule holding our attention is the monastic encouragement that all of life should be in Lent.

  

Oblate Novice Resources Revised

Stonework on St. Leo Abbey Church of the Holy Cross

A link to the "Life of Benedict" was added to Oblate Novice Resources, see paragraph 3.  

Oblate Harry Cooper becomes Internal Oblate Brother Benedict

In a ceremony seldom performed, Harry Cooper becomes Brother Benedict
[Click picture to enlarge]

Harry Cooper is now an Internal Oblate at St. Leo Abbey, and his new name is Brother Benedict.

Brother Benedict’s change in status came at the morning Mass at the Feast of St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict.

Brother Benedict processes out of church
at end of Mass and after his investiture as an Internal Oblate

In the above picture, Brother Benedict leaves the church, his new black habit is seen underneath his white outer robe.


You may watch the video of the ceremony. 



Brother Benedict will now wear a monk's habit (except for the hood) and live with the monks in their residence section of the Abbey. Today at the ceremony, he received his black habit and the long, white cowl or cuculla.

A blessing

Additional Information.

On the Feast of St. Scholastica, February 10, 2011, Harry Cooper became Brother Benedict and an Internal Oblate at St. Leo Abbey, in Pasco County, Florida, USA.  For many years Harry Cooper has been a Benedictine Oblate at the Abbey.    
                        
Several years ago, through a rare permission almost never granted, Harry was allowed to live in a special visitors’ section of the Abbey and participate in the monks’ choir for the daily divine office which is also called the liturgy of the hours.

To all Abbey visitors, Harry is well know as he tends to setting up the Church before each portion of the divine office or at Sunday Mass. We e-mailed information about today's ceremony to the Oblates' e-mail list and received a reply from one person who gave his congratulations and then added, "Brother Benedict was the first person whom I met and spoke to when I came to Saint Leo in 2005 to attend my first Advent retreat."  Many people would have a similar story about Brother Benedict. 

Although the permission for Harry to live at the Abbey was a special privilege.  Even more rare is what happened on the Feast of St. Scholastica. Abbot Isaac Camacho, O.S.B., changed Harry Cooper’s status to that of an Internal Oblate.  Congratulations, Brother Benedict.



St. Leo Abbey Information.
 
St. Leo Abbey is a Catholic male monastery founded in 1889.  It is one of the 20 monasteries in the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Order in the Catholic Church.  There are about 840 monks in the American-Cassinese Congregation.

The American-Cassinese Congregation is one of 21 congregations of Benedictine monks with a total of about 8,000 monks worldwide. There are 61 women congregations/federations with about 16,000 Benedictine nuns and sisters in the world.

There are about 25,000 Benedictine Oblates in 50 countries. About 10,000 Oblates live in the USA.

Benedictine spirituality is based in the Rule of St. Benedict which incorporated much from the earliest Egyptian Desert Fathers.  It is a life of seeking God.

A Benedictine Oblate is a man or women from any Christian background who makes a promise to a monastery to live a spiritual life patterned after the Rule of St. Benedict. Male monasteries often have men and women Oblates.   Except in extremely rare situations, Oblates do not live at the monastery. Oblates wear regular clothes and often have a spouse and a job.  In their homes they pray the divine office and follow the Rule of St. Benedict as their state in life allows. To most Benedictine Oblates, it is a fully balanced life of work, prayer, reading, and listening to God.  Benedictine Oblates often practice lectio divina (divine reading), meditation, and contemplation.  

March 6 Next Oblate Meeting & Oblation Ceremonies

John Cassian used only "Theoria" from a Greek word for "viewing" or "contemplation"
to describe divine contemplation.  The Latin word "contemplatio" was
considered less focused for Cassian's understanding of this monastic practice.   

NEXT OBLATE MEETING:

The next Oblate Sunday is  Sunday, March, 6, 2011 beginning with 10:00 am Mass. Abbot Isaac will speak about Lent which begins with Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011.

BOOK FOR LENT: 

Abbot Isaac selected "Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for a Balanced Life," by Lonni Collins Pratt and Daniel Homan for our reading during Lent.  The St. Leo Abbey Bookstore will have the book for us to buy on March 6.  We will read a portion of the book each week during Lent.

Lent reading is a Benedictine practice described in the Rule, Chapter 48:

"From the calends of October till the beginning of Lent, let them apply themselves to reading until the second hour complete. At the second hour let Tierce be said, and then let all be employed in the work which hath been assigned to them till the ninth hour. When, however, the first signal for the hour of None hath been given, let each one leave off from work and be ready when the second signal shall strike. But after their repast let them devote themselves to reading or the psalms.

"During the Lenten season let them be employed in reading from morning until the third hour, and till the tenth hour let them do the work which is imposed on them. During these days of Lent let all received books from the library, and let them read them through in order. These books are to be given out at the beginning of the Lenten season.

"Above all, let one or two of the seniors be appointed to go about the monastery during the time that the brethren devote to reading and take notice, lest perhaps a slothful brother be found who giveth himself up to idleness or vain talk, and doth not attend to his reading, and is unprofitable, not only to himself, but disturbeth also others. If such a one be found (which God forbid), let him be punished once and again. If he doth not amend, let him come under the correction of the Rule in such a way that others may fear. And let not brother join brother at undue times."

MARCH 6: OBLATE NOVICE AND FINAL OBLATION CEREMONY:  

The Oblate novice and final oblation ceremony will be Sunday, March 6, 2011.  If you filled out an Oblate Novice Application to become an Oblate novice or if you filled out the Final Oblation Application please attend the oblation ceremony on March 6, 2011.  The ceremony (which is not part of the Sunday Mass) will take place after Mass.

The following information is a repeat of information previously e-mailed to those on the email mailing list.  The following information applies only to those who missed receiving an application and still want to apply before March 6.

HOW TO BECOME A NOVICE OBLATE: If you want to become a novice Oblate at St. Leo Abbey, but have not received an application, please email us at this SPAM PROTECTED FAKE EMAIL StLeoOblates999@gmail.com.  To email us, remove the three number 9s in the email address.  In your email say:

"I want to become a novice Oblate, please email me the novice Oblate discernment form."

After we receive your reply, you will receive the discernment form to fill out and return to the Oblate office. Your completed form will be submitted to Abbot Isaac for review.  At the novice ceremony, you will asked to make a promise at the altar of the abbey’s Church of the Holy Cross about your desire to become a novice Oblate.  With help from the Holy Spirit, during the upcoming year you will follow the Rule of St. Benedict as your state in life allows and discern whether you are called to be an Oblate of St. Leo Abbey.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR FINAL OBLATION:  If you have been a novice Oblate for at least a year (if you became a novice Oblate in early 2010 or before) and want to make your final oblation, but have not received an application, please email us at the SPAM PROTECTED FAKE EMAIL StLeoOblates999@gmail.com.  To email us, remove the three number 9s in the email address.  In your email say something like:

"I have been a novice Oblate and now desire to make a final Oblation as an Oblate of St. Leo Abbey, please email me the Oblate discernment form."

After we receive your reply, you will receive the form to fill out and return to the Oblate office. Your completed form will be submitted to Abbot Isaac for review. At the Oblation ceremony, you will asked to make a promise at the altar of the abbey’s Church of the Holy Cross about your desire to become an Oblate of St. Leo Abbey.  The final Oblation promise you will speak, and then sign, and leave on the altar is:

“I, ___ of _____, Florida offer myself to Almighty God through the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Holy Father Benedict as an Oblate of Saint Leo Abbey Saint Leo, Florida, and promise to dedicate myself to the service of God and humanity according to the Rule of our Holy Father Benedict in so far as my state of life permits.”

HELP THE ABBEY. AN INVITATION TO OBLATES FROM ABBOT ISAAC: 

The Abbot would like to develop greater involvement of the Oblates in the life of St. Leo Abbey.  For example, two Oblates help Bother Stephen in the Abbey’s Reception Office.

Abbot Isaac asked for a couple or two people who would help the Abbey during the retreats the Abbey hosts for outside groups.  You would stay overnight as the Abbey’s guest and help out if the someone gets locked out of their room or the group needs help with such things as finding the coffee and finding their way around the Abbey. 

The Abbey has retreat groups throughout the year and there could be several pairs of these Retreat Angels. 

Abbot Isaac also would like people to serve as Welcome Center Hosts or Hostesses to help show Benedictine hospitality to the many people who visit the Abbey and come to the Welcome Center.  The Abbot suggested you could read in the Welcome Center and answer questions from visitors and show them around to the public areas of the abbey.

If you are interested please send an email to us at the SPAM PROTECTED FAKE EMAIL StLeoOblates999@gmail.com.  To email us, remove the three number 9s in the email address.  We will forward your email to Abbot Isaac.

ST. LEO ABBEY OBLATES BLOG:

Oblate Novice resources were added to the blog.  These may help Oblate Novices. Please leave a comment with more suggestions. 

OBLATE ANNUAL RETREAT: 

The date for the annual Oblate Retreat has not been set yet. 

SAINT SCHOLASTICA’S FEAST DAY: 

Thursday, February 10, 2011 is the feast day for this leading Benedictine saint.  She was abbess of Plombariola the first Benedictine convent. Her name means “she who has leisure to devote to study.”  She is the patron saint of nuns.

Here is a painting depicting her death (click the picture to enlarge).  The picture is 'The Death of Saint Scholastica', by Jean Restout II, 1730, oil on canvas, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tours, France

More Information on Saint Scholastica, here and here.

 

Blessings from the dove of St. Scholastica.

____________________________________________

Footnotes:

The picture is Lumen Christi by Eustaquio Santimano.

The picture is used subject to license.