Dorothy Day was an Oblate of St. Benedict. So was the French poet and
playwright, Paul Claudel. The German commander at the Battle of
Monte Cassino during World War II was an oblate. And so were St.
Thomas More and St. Thomas Becket. And Elena Lucrezia Cornaro
Piscopia, the first woman in Europe to be granted a Ph.D.
But one needn't be well-known to become an Oblate of St. Benedict. Many
men and women who will never have any claim to fame have been and
are oblates. Most oblates are ordinary lay people. But diocesan
clergy may also adapt The Rule of St. Benedict to their way of
life. An oblate is someone who wants to practice what St.
Benedict taught. Although his Rule was written for monks, its
Christian principles can be applied by everyone else. An Oblate
of St. Benedict is associated with a particular Benedictine
community.
The Oblate Director keeps in touch with oblates by
sending them instructional letters and by meetings at the
monastery. Ideally, one might like to live close enough to the
monastery to be able to attend meetings. This is not necessary,
however. What is more important is for one to live in the spirit
of St. Benedict. Oblates are encouraged (but are not morally
bound) to pray at least part of the Divine Office in union with
the monks or nuns of the communities with which they are
affiliated.
What St. Benedict wants us to read most faithfully is
sacred scripture. Followers of St. Benedict reflect upon the
scriptures frequently. Oblates, of course, work in their own
homes or in the business world, but wherever we work and whatever
kind of work we do, St. Benedict teaches us about the dignity of
labor. A person's affiliation with a Benedictine community begins
when he or she is given a copy of The Holy Rule to study and a
medal of St. Benedict. A year after this ceremony takes place,
oblation is made. Oblates do not take upon themselves any of the
canonical obligations that monks and nuns do. Oblates do not
profess vows. Nevertheless, becoming an oblate is something that
should not be done without serious consideration. This is why a
whole year passes before the ceremony of oblation occurs. If you
are interested in becoming an oblate of our community, contact:
Ken Mansfield
Associate Oblate Director
St. Peter's Abbey
Muenster SK S0K 2Y0
Phone: 306-682-1777
FAX: 306-682-1766
email:oblates@stpeters.sk.ca
