2nd Benedictine Oblates’ World Congress, Oct 2009



2nd Benedictine Oblates’ World Congress, Oct 2009

by Marie Liveing

Oblate of St Ceclia’s Monastery, Isle of Wight

‘The religious challenges of today – The Benedictine answer’

The congress was an occasion for, as the Abbot Primate Notker Wolf said in his introductory address, ‘equals sharing, meeting, praying together, receiving insights and giving insights’. And that absolutely sums up my experience during the eight wonderful days I was privileged to spend there. I met oblates from many different countries - take a look at the website benedictine- to see how many different countries - we struggled along as well as we could in each other’s languages, exchanging our stories, listening, laughing, eating, praying, rejoicing and worshipping together. I have never experienced anything like it, I have learnt much, become more aware of the Benedictine identity and its value to myself and to others, and am profoundly encouraged by the experience.

The days were very structured with the morning and evening offices forming the outer framework with the talks in between, and Mass often in the centre of the day. The main languages in use for the talks and the Mass were Italian, French, Spanish, German, and English, with, of course, Latin for some parts of the Office and Mass. There was simultaneous translation of all the talks into the main languages and we were grouped by language rather than by nation to discuss and feedback on the content of the talks. It was a delight to have so many priests and religious amongst us, ensuring that each Mass was a concelebration, with each language group in turn organising the singing, readings and bidding prayers. Following the Mass and the office in a different language each day certainly helped me ‘stand in another’s shoes’.

Phrases that stand out amongst the wealth of teaching and discussion:

‘A stranger is a friend we have not yet met’. ‘We need to be open to anyone who is different to us.’ A useful reminder at the start of the congress, and Zina Neagle, our National Co-ordinator encouraged us all to sit with a different group of people at meals each day, which was wise advice.

‘Contemplation is the privilege and duty of every Christian, not just the province of those outside monasteries.’ Fr Laurence Freeman, OSB, an Olivetan monk living at Cockfosters in London, spoke to us about techniques of Christian meditation to assist us in this, and organised a session of Meditation every day. ‘Contemplative prayer is a form of communication. Dialogue should also be communication.’

‘In the process of love, time has its own work to do.’ ‘Benedictines accept people as they are because of what they can become.’

Abbot Notker talked about the number of people in our nations who are looking for a reason for life, and are investigating spirituality. They search for an individual spirituality but spirituality is to live and pray with others. He noted that many people are anti dogma and anti institution, but quite often create these themselves. His talk was excellent.

Regarding talks, the plan is that talks from the key speakers will be published on the website soon once they have been translated, I recommend that you take a look if you can.

‘The Word of God is the centre of Benedictine life.’ ‘St Benedict is the patron saint of integration and balance.’ ‘Our Martha and Mary characteristics need to be integrated.’

Fr Laurence referred us to the film of the Carthusians ‘Into great silence’ to demonstrate how effective the contemplative challenge can be today. He went on to suggest that the weakening of monasticism may be due to the loss of its marginal nature – once it becomes integrated into the power structures of the world, it loses this status. So maybe it is the ability to rock boats that makes the monastic life attractive. Historically forms of oblation flourish as the monastery flourishes. He also suggested that there is no crisis in the numbers of people who wish to serve the church; it is how they are to serve that is the problem.

A number of people spoke to us of their experiences and thoughts about being oblates. One said our role is ‘to be examples in a quiet unobtrusive statement to draw others to Christ’, another ‘try to live the Christian life in Society. An oblate is also a missionary, and mission begins around me.’

We had some very interesting talks and question and answer sessions regarding interreligious dialogue. Mgr Andrew Tanya-anan from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was inspiring, and very funny as well, it’s a great achievement to manage to be funny in someone else’s language, but he did it! He said ‘Interreligious dialogue is not optional, it is an obligation.’ He summarised the vital points as ‘ Listen’, ‘Know who you are and where you stand in your faith’, ‘Respect the other’ and ‘Do not proselytise’. He also summarised the risks of dialogue as Relativism, Synchretism, Secularism and Indifferentism. This is the bare bones, there was much more. He commented that often dialogue is only initiated by Catholics when we are in a minority, which was food for thought. Another comment from the floor was ‘We are sometimes scared of the prospect of loving another and the effect it may have, but I don’t need to become you to love you.’ He pointed out that dialogue is not debate, it should be person to person, and we need to be humble to dialogue.

Mother Maire Hickey, OSB, Administrator of Kylemore Abbey, Ireland, spoke about community as the heart of conversion and return to God. There cannot be Christianity without community, after all ‘whose feet will you wash if you live as a hermit’. Monastic tradition is a lifelong training programme for living in community. She suggested that ‘habitare secum’ is not just about living alone, but living with oneself. Crises can be stepping stones to maturity. If we are skilled at being alone we are better able to build up relationships in community.

In our free time one afternoon we had a splendid visit to Subiaco. What a stunning place. We were blessed with glorious weather all week, so everything was bathed in sunlight. I noticed wild cyclamen growing in the banks on the side of the road as we drove along. I had not realised that Benedict was just 15 when he was living in the cave there, what an outstanding teenager! It’s astonishing how much monastery has been build around the site of the cave, just clinging to the rock face. The frescos are beautiful too, there was one from the 9th century, out in the open, the climate must be perfect for it to have lasted so long.

A panel of representatives from other major faiths joined us midweek: the Abbot from a Buddhist monastery, a Hindu nun, a Jew, a Muslim and a Catholic. They explained how their spirituality affected their lives, which was enriching to hear. There was much talk of the impact of consumerism, the need for dialogue and mutual respect, friendship and love. I cannot begin to document all that was said, I commend you to the web site when the talks are uploaded. I found it a very helpful experience and it made me aware of how little I really know about other faiths.

The next day we went to Monte Cassino for the day. What a day that turned out to be! We received a royal welcome from the Abbot and community, and the Abbot said his first ever Mass in English (and the homily as well). We all renewed our Oblation to our own monasteries during Mass, speaking in our own languages at the same time. We were given lunch in the refectory, and it was the first time that women had been served a hot meal by the Community there. The Abbot also mentioned that the last guest they’d had was the Pope (!). We were shown the treasures of the monastery and some of us had the immense privilege of seeing some of the ancient books in the library including some of their exquisite books of Chant, dating from the 13th century. As I think about it I am still amazed at the freshness of the colours in the illumination, and the clarity of the notes on the staves. Some of us sang in the choir, joining the monks for Vespers, not a perfect rendition, but as well as we could do with the brief time available for practice. It was a truly wonderful day and we were immensely blessed.

On the final full day of the congress we travelled into Rome to the Primatial Abbey of Sant’Anselmo. There we were treated to a splendid buffet supper outside in the cloisters after Vespers, and we were able to meet a few of the students and teachers who were returning for the new term. Abbot Notker, a student, and two of the brothers delighted us with a musical concert including works by Mozart, Haydn, Pavel, and Messanet. Abbot Notker plays the flute, Sister Veronica is an accomplished violinist and the two brothers played a brilliant piano duet. After this Abbot Notker gave the closing speech of the Congress. He said that we must ‘listen so that we can hear the presence of God among us, our heart should be the shape of Jesus’ heart and we must be witnesses of the love of God to mankind. Oblates have become a strong reality for the Benedictine order, there is plurality but having God in the centre of our lives unites us all. Develop good zeal. ‘Faith is for life’, ‘Faith is for a living community’. He expressed the hope that we would return enriched by a more global view and strengthened by the companionship of the other oblates. His final words were ‘ remember, there is a little man in Sant’Anselmo with a big heart for the Oblates’!

5 November 2009

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