BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY
St Benedict's Way: A Practical Guide
The famous Rule of Saint Benedict
Benedictine Spirituality
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century AD, still holds great relevance for our lives today. Benedict’s wisdom and commentary has provided the foundation for Benedictine communities throughout the centuries, and continues to influence many of us in the community of St. Paul’s. Benedict’s Rule calls us to a daily rhythm of listening, obedience, and conversion of life.
Here are some of the characteristics of Benedictine spirituality:
Grounded in Listening
For Benedict, the spiritual life was about listening to God—through prayer, Scriptures, the depths of our own experience, through listening to others in our community and the wider church.
Ordered by a rhythm of daily prayer that is Biblical and reflective
For Benedict, prayer had a particular structure and process. Monastic life was punctuated by the rhythms of prayer during the hours of each day. These prayers, which included the saying or chanting of the psalms, can be experienced in our Daily Office.
Lectio Divina
Lectio divina involves contemplating what we read or hear in a Scripture, being receptive to the presence of God, and letting ourselves be transformed.
Rooted in Stability
Benedictine monks and nuns made a commitment to living in a specific location, within a specific community, as the context for their spiritual growth and development. The meaning of stability in our day and time refers to staying rooted where we are—in relationship with ourselves and with others, in order to grow in the spiritual life.
Conversion of Life
By listening and seeking stability of life, we strive to discern the new path that Christ is forever calling us to travel. Benedict called this lifelong process conversatiomorum or conversion of life.
Balance
Benedictines believe that the Christian life is best lived not through the extremes of any harsh religious asceticism but in the daily context of good, balanced life in community. No one thing—prayer, work, rest, study—was to be done in the extreme. Instead, holiness of life was to be found through the right balance of these elements in life.
Prayer and Work. Ora et Labora
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READ THE RULE OF BENEDICT
SISTER HILDA SCOTT, OSB
speaks on Benedictine spirituality.
Sister Hilda is a Benedictine nun from Australia
God's mercy is greater than any sin...any sin.
Any sin. Yes, even that.
Embrace the mercy of God.
Then begin again. If you stumble, then begin again.
He understands.
How do I pray?
So, surrender to Him. Let Him in.
Prayer is your only strength. In prayer we gather the strength to conquer difficulties, to accomplish good works, to increase perfection of our virtue, to achieve total union with God, and this is our true life. Prayer is a Christian's defence. He must keep this weapon in hand at all times.
What is our Parish Prayer Apostolate?
Use our online prayer intention form on the
PRAY WITH US page.