My mouth once again is hanging open.

Just how do you do it ?

I come on the Forum and find one of your beautiful Avatars [ love the music one BTW] and a bit further on in my reading it changes.

How do you do this ?

Anhelyna

Hi Anhelyna,

I noticed the same thing, how odd!?!!

First of all I had better just admit right now that I have discovered that I am fickle.

It's something I need to work on.

But the way the program works it won't change all the Avatars at the same time, only the threads currently being posted to or active or something. My favorite is Leonardo but sometimes I change it to commemorate an event or a popular theme going on. Perhaps I shouldn't, it is likely to annoy some people.

When I became a Grandpa I put up Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus, it was beautiful. I recently became an Oblate so I put up the medal of Saint Benedict (I have a reference to both sides, I prefer the reverse). The music was up because of those discussions, but it was a bit wide so I removed it. Sometimes they're too big and I take them off right away.

On a closed thread you might find an old Avatar, I don't know how long it would stay that way.

I am working on the fickleness.

with love,
Michael

Dear Micheal,

Please, please pardon my Orthodox ignorance, (I guess by now you have realized that I want to learn anything I can about East AND West), but what is an 'oblate'?

Thankyou in advance.

In Christ our Lord,
Alice

Dear Alice,

An "oblate" is someone who has made an offering or "oblation" of themselves to God through a commitment to live the Christian life according to the vision of St Benedict's Rule.

Benedict accepted laity and gave them the monastic scapular/habit to live in the world according to his precepts as much as possible, visiting the monasteries frequently to drink deeply from the well-springs of spirituality etc.

Alex

Dear Alice,

Over here we have a Skete in the Highlands and Sr Petra Clare is now offering an Oblate Programme

For a simple explanation here is :-
http://www.sanctiangeli.org/laymembers.html

Anhelyna

Dear Alex,

Thanks for the info! I know that I can ALWAYS depend on you for your wealth of knowledge on well...everything!!

Dear Angela,

Thanks also!
I loved the link you provided. Have you been there? What a wonderful and beautiful place!

I now fully understand what an 'oblate' is.

Have a wonderful day!

In Christ our Lord,
Alice

Sadly no .....well not as yet anyway . I would have to get my husband and caravan and dog to go there.

I have bought some of the cards though and they really are lovely

Maybe some day .........

Anhelyna

Hello Alice,

Anhelyna and Dr. Alex have pretty well explained it. It is important to know that Benedictine oblates make promises, not vows. One is to incorporate the spirit of Saint Benedict's rule as best as possible according to one's circumstances.

I live alone so my situation would be different from a family setting.

And to clarify my situation I am actually a novice or oblate candidate, within a year I would hopefully be acceptable as a proper oblate.

Cathleen Norris wrote a popular book called “the Cloister Walk” about her experience as an Oblate. I have not read it but it has interested a number of people in the life.

Interestingly, one does not necessarily have to be a Catholic to become an oblate. The Abbey I am associated with has a few Protestants. It does complicate their involvement because so much assumes Catholic theology and Latin practice.

At the liturgy Protestants cannot take communion for example and the Liturgy of the Hours is keyed to the Latin calendar which they wouldn't follow if they normally attend protestant services. Many people regularly worship at the Abbey and if they do they would know the calendar. I am working with my director to incorporate the Byzantine hours in my daily life but it is hard to do alone and I am too new at it so I usually fall back to the Latin hours which are structured well for individual recitation. If my (Byzantine) parish had Divine Praises every day I would make the effort to go there daily. I go to the Abbey only as often as I feel necessary.

There, I think that covers it!

PAX
Michael

Dear Alice,

Well, not EVERYTHING, you know . . .

Some things only a good husband can provide . . .

Alex

Dear Angela,

Scotland looks lovely...I guess that the skete is far from you?

What kind of a dog do you have? My dog's origins hail from your part of the world...a shetland sheep dog, or 'sheltie', as they are commonly referred to. They look like miniature collies.
I love her soooooooo much! She is so much more easy going than my other two children are or ever were! (ofcourse when I say that, it drives them crazy....)

Fondly,
Alice

Dear Michael,

Yes, I was in training to be a Benedictine Oblate until the monastery I was working with told me they really wouldn't be accepting "long-distance" oblates after all.

I didn't follow up with another . . .

But I did learn some valuable lessons about punctuating the day with offices, Psalms etc.

I too came across Protestants who were associated with Catholic Benedictine Oblate programs, although there are Anglican and Lutheran Benedictine monasteries, one, Augustine House (Lutheran), that I still receive newsletters from.

There is also the Synod of Milan's Western Rite Benedictine monastery and they've published the ancient Benedictine Offices in accordance with Benedict's Typikon. I have one of their publications, the Office for a week - quite impressive!

I used to post on a Benedictine chat forum before I came here.

I got into trouble there because some of the Oblates said I was abusing the forum.

They said I was using it as a podium from which to teach - rather than share personal experiences with.

I do admit I was trying to explain Eastern spirituality.

And if that came across as "teaching" or as the sin of pride, then I am sorry for that.

After a few nasty posts, I quit that forum for good . . .

I have not yet come, I'm happy to say, to the point where I would consider to quite this forum for good.

Only if it got TOO addictive, that is . . .

Alex

This is the only forum for me. I cannot imagine any other!

Dear Michael,

Why don't you start up a long-distance oblate formation?

What would prevent you?

Alex

Do you mean on the net?

Michael

Dear Michael,

Certainly, there can be points of contact and resource listings on the net.

But why couldn't you be a point person for directing Byzantine Benedictine Oblates?

I think you would provide an excellent service of ecumenical significance as well as being a resource for the monastic wellsprings of spirituality.

Alex

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the idea, perhaps at some future point I may be in a better position facilitate such a project. But at this point I am at the “OH MY! I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!” stage myself

Every time I get to the Abbey I somehow steer the conversation to the Byzantines, but they all seem interested. At this point I guess I am more interested in helping Oblates explore Byzantine Spirituality than introducing Byzantines to Benedictine ways. The Abbey is very supportive of me and has a long history of ecumenical work as well as cooperating with the local Ukrainian Catholic and Byzantine-Ruthenian jurisdictions, although they have backed away from that due to criticism from certain parties.

I subscribe to a mailing list for Oblates and keep in regular contact with the Oblate Director of the Abbey and that's about all I can handle at this point.

When I am more firmly grounded I may take up your suggestion and I would appreciate your help if you are willing.

Thank you for the kind words!

Michael

Dear Michael,

Well, I would love to be a Byzantine Benedictine Oblate.

Perhaps you could get your monastery to establish a kind of permanent Byzantine Oblate section, with yourself as Archimandrite (I am serious, don't laugh).

I think that Eastern Christians can benefit from Benedictine spirituality and monasticism.

St Benedict's Rule is an accepted monastic Rule of Orthodoxy and the Eastern Catholic Churches, as you know. (There is an Akathist to St Benedict and he is highly honoured).

Benedict himself always pointed to St Basil and St John Cassian as sources for all his followers.

I know you are in your period of formation, but perhaps, the next time you see your Director, you could raise this and the issue of your witnessing in this regard to Easterners?

I think that you will get great support from Byzantines who will love to join you in your journey.

I'll do whatever I can!

Alex

Salva Jesu Kristu,

Actually, you may wish to contact Holy Trinity Monastery in Butler, PA. It is my understanding that they are a Byzantine Benedictine Monastery. In fact, I believe they are the only one of the Eastern Church for men that specifically follow the Rule of St. Benedict.

Dmitri.

"Well, not EVERYTHING, you know . . .

Some things only a good husband can provide . . ."
**************************************************
ALEX!!

You have taken me WAAAY out of context!

You KNOW that I meant (that I can always depend on..) your wealth of religious knowledge.

I have a GREAT husband.

In Christ,
Alice

Yes, Thank you Dmitri

Holy Trinity is a daughter house of Saint Procopius Abbey to which I am associated.

I had thought of associating with them myself but I wanted to find a house closer to my home.

PAX
Michael

Dear Alice,

That is good to hear!

spit, spit, spit - Many years of health and happiness to you and your husband!!

(I saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding")

Alex