Oblate Ceremonies. March 6, 2011 will also have the ceremonies for the induction of the 2011 Oblate novices and those making their final oblation to become Oblates.
Schedule for Oblate Sunday, March 6, 2011 (times are approximate).
Mass in the Church of the Holy Cross: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Practice/Rehearsal for novices and final oblations in church: After Mass and before Midday prayers.
Note: No Novice Oblate class with Brother Stanislaw
Midday Prayers with monks in the Church of the Holy Cross and novice and final oblation ceremonies: 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Lunch with monks (1st floor abbey): 12:35 pm to 1:15 pm
Oblate Class with Abbot Isaac Camacho (Lake Room 3d floor abbey): 1:15 pm to about 2:30 pm
Practice/Rehearsal for novices and final oblations in church: After Mass and before Midday prayers.
Note: No Novice Oblate class with Brother Stanislaw
Midday Prayers with monks in the Church of the Holy Cross and novice and final oblation ceremonies: 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Lunch with monks (1st floor abbey): 12:35 pm to 1:15 pm
Oblate Class with Abbot Isaac Camacho (Lake Room 3d floor abbey): 1:15 pm to about 2:30 pm
Book for Lent.
"Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for a Balanced Life," by Lonni Collins Pratt and Fr. Prior Daniel Homan, O.S.B., of St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, Michigan is available for purchase at the Abbey Gift Shop. The cost of the book for everyone participating in the Oblate program is $10.95.
Abbot Isaac designated this book as the Lent reading for the Oblate program. Lent begins Wednesday, March 9, 2011.
Those Always Balanced Benedictines.
St. Benedict on Lent. Chapters 48 and 49 of the Rule state:
Chapter 48: On the Daily Manual Labor (portion):
On the days of Lent,
from morning until the end of the third hour
let them apply themselves to their reading,
and from then until the end of the tenth hour
let them do the work assigned them.
And in these days of Lent
they shall each receive a book from the library,
which they shall read straight through from the beginning.
These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent.
from morning until the end of the third hour
let them apply themselves to their reading,
and from then until the end of the tenth hour
let them do the work assigned them.
And in these days of Lent
they shall each receive a book from the library,
which they shall read straight through from the beginning.
These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent.
Chapter 49: On the Observance of Lent
Although the life of a monk
ought to have about it at all times
the character of a Lenten observance,
yet since few have the virtue for that,
we therefore urge that during the actual days of Lent
the brethren keep their lives most pure
and at the same time wash away during these holy days
all the negligences of other times.
And this will be worthily done
if we restrain ourselves from all vices
and give ourselves up to prayer with tears,
to reading, to compunction of heart and to abstinence.
During these days, therefore,
let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service,
as by private prayers and by abstinence in food and drink.
Thus everyone of his own will may offer God
"with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 1:6)
something above the measure required of him.
From his body, that is
he may withhold some food, drink, sleep, talking and jesting;
and with the joy of spiritual desire
he may look forward to holy Easter.
Let each one, however, suggest to his Abbot
what it is that he wants to offer,
and let it be done with his blessing and approval.
For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father
will be imputed to presumption and vainglory
and will merit no reward.
Therefore let everything be done with the Abbot's approval.
ought to have about it at all times
the character of a Lenten observance,
yet since few have the virtue for that,
we therefore urge that during the actual days of Lent
the brethren keep their lives most pure
and at the same time wash away during these holy days
all the negligences of other times.
And this will be worthily done
if we restrain ourselves from all vices
and give ourselves up to prayer with tears,
to reading, to compunction of heart and to abstinence.
During these days, therefore,
let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service,
as by private prayers and by abstinence in food and drink.
Thus everyone of his own will may offer God
"with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 1:6)
something above the measure required of him.
From his body, that is
he may withhold some food, drink, sleep, talking and jesting;
and with the joy of spiritual desire
he may look forward to holy Easter.
Let each one, however, suggest to his Abbot
what it is that he wants to offer,
and let it be done with his blessing and approval.
For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father
will be imputed to presumption and vainglory
and will merit no reward.
Therefore let everything be done with the Abbot's approval.
Lent is a major event in the Rule of St. Benedict. Lent was a calendar marker that changed when monks ate, worked, and read. But Lent's importance was not merely to the calendar. As with most things in the Rule, St. Benedict was always seeing the larger and the more balanced view of Christian living. That's why the Rule is applicable to lay people. It's about the balanced, full Christian life.
We often hear Christians say it's time to “give up” something for Lent or ask, "what are you giving up for Lent?"
St. Benedict saw Lent as having an element of renouncing, but also an element of uniting. For St. Benedict, Lent would be too narrow if only its negative aspects were recognized.
In the Rule of St. Benedict Lent also has the positive element of joining us more closely with God and his will rather than our own.
This dual view of Lent’s “extra service” — the giving up and the growing closer is how we should see our entire life in balance — a life of Lenten character.
Lent is not only what we give up, it's also a uniting. Lent is a leaving and a growing closer so we may accompany the Lord to Calvary.
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