Oblation (medal)

The oblation is the promise made by a lay person in a church rite to lead a Christian life in close association with a particular monastery and in the spirit of the founder of the order. With the oblation, the oblate becomes a member of the monastic family of a certain settlement of the Benedictines , Benedictines , Cistercians or Cistercians , but usually without living in the convent . The actual oblation is preceded by a trial and preparation period of around one year.

There are also so-called Klaustral or Regular wafers that live permanently in the monastery at their own request; Civil law contracts are concluded with them, which clarify the mutual obligations and submissions also before civil law.

Benedictine wafers

Benedict of Nursia (480-547 AD) - religious father of the Benedictines

Benedictine oblates ( order abbreviation : OblOSB) are Christians who live according to the rule of St. Benedict of Nursia and in connection with a particular Benedictine monastery without becoming a member of a convent . As a rule, monasteries and oblates are Catholic, but there are also Protestant monasteries based on the Benedictine rule (e.g. Communität Casteller Ring ) and Protestants who are oblates of Catholic monasteries.

The term wafer

The term oblate comes from Latin and means devoted or sacrificed . Originally children were from their parents in the so-called oblation offered as wafers, so that later Benedictines or Benedictine would (see also Rule of St. Benedict 59). Today, a baptized and confirmed Christian consciously chooses to live in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict .

Oblation

The oblation is an act in which the oblate surrenders his life to God with the resolve to live in the midst of the world in the spirit and in the sense of a religious rule.

In a specially designed church rite (the Oblate Promise), Benedictine wafers put their lives in the service of God and thereby become members of the monastic family of a particular Benedictine monastery. With the oblation, the Oblatus promises to lead a Christian life in the spirit of the Rule of Benedict (Regula Benedicti).

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  Benedict medal obverse

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  scapular

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  Benedict medal back

Benedictine wafer

By constantly striving to live the Gospel and to realize it in their community and through prayer fellowship with the Benedictine monks and nuns , the Oblates receive a share in the spiritual goods and graces of the Order. They receive spiritual and spiritual stimulation and instruction from their monastery. They should give witness to their faith in society, whereby the family or professional status is not decisive, so that married couples can also become Benedictine oblates. The spirit of the Benedictine Rule and the religious community should be carried out into the world.

Benedictine wafers are integrated into the prayer community of the monasteries and should therefore also support the concerns of the monastery community in their prayers and in their actions. The Oblates pray parts of the Liturgy of the Hours as far as they can.

Anyone who feels called to the Benedictine Oblate should contact the monastery or, if necessary, directly with the Oblate Rector of the monastery. A trial period then begins, during which the oblate can familiarize himself with the Rule of Benedict and Benedictine spirituality. After that, the oblation can take place. Oblates have the option of adding the abbreviation Obl to their name. OSB (oblate or oblate of the Benedictine order) to be added. External symbols of the oblation are a small scapular and the Benedictine medal. As a rule, Benedictine Oblates visit their monastery regularly to exchange ideas with other Oblates and the religious community.

Spiritual life of the oblates

Benedictine wafers live as Christians in the world “under the guidance of the Gospel ” and in the spirit of the Benedictine Rule. The Rule of St. Benedict is therefore a guideline for the Christian life in the world. The Rule of Benedict leads to a life under the guidance of the Gospel (RB, Prolog 21). Such a life is entirely related to God and opens up to tasks for his work of salvation in the world.

The spiritual foundations of the oblate life result from the sacred rule, it is the “Opus Dei” (the divine service), the psalms , the Lectio Divina, silence and prayer.

Benedictine wafers live according to the following basic spiritual elements in the sacred rule:

• School of the Lord's Service: “So let us set up a school for the Lord's service” (Prolog 45). The Benedictine oblate consciously enters the lifelong school of Benedict.
• Love of Christ - trust in God: “To prefer nothing to love for Christ, to put your hope in God and never doubt God's mercy” (RB 4:21, 41, 74). The first commandment for the oblate is love for Christ. The love of Christ, hope in God and his mercy are among the most important "instruments of spiritual art" (Regula Benedicti 4).
• Rule and Gospel: "Isn't every page and every saying of the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments certified by God a straight line of guideline for human life?" (RB 73,3). Through regular contemplative “spiritual reading” (lectio divina) the oblate penetrates ever deeper into the Holy Scriptures . The reading takes place in connection with the theological and exegetical works of the Church Fathers , which are intended to bring about a deeper understanding of the texts of the Holy Scriptures.
• Truly seeking God: "One should watch over whether he (the novice ) is really looking for God." (RB 58,7)
• Awe: “If we want to make a request to powerful people, we only dare to do so with humility and awe. How much more must we pray to the Lord, the God of the universe, in all humility and pure devotion. "(RB 20,1-2)" They shall fear God in love. "(RB 72,9)
• Listening - Obeying: “Listen, my son, to the teachings of the Master and incline the ear of your heart; willingly accept the admonition of the gracious Father and do it in the work, so that through the toil of obedience you may return to him from whom you have escaped through the indolence of disobedience. My word is directed to you: you renounced the impulses of self-will and take up the strong and shining weapons of obedience to serve the Lord, Christ, the true King, as a soldier. "(RB Prolog 1–3)
• Humility: “Brethren, if we therefore want to reach the towering summit of humility and if we want to quickly reach that exaltation in heaven to which one ascends below through a humble life, then through our ascending walk we must set up that ladder that Jacob in The dream appeared, and on which he was shown ascending and descending angels. "(RB 7,5-6)
• Bond to God: "When admitted to the oratorio , he (the novice), in the presence of everyone, makes the promise about his persistence and his (monastic) conduct of virtues and obedience to God and his saints." (RB 58,17-18)
• Pray and work: "so that God may be glorified in everything." (RB 57,9)
• Monastic way of life: The Oblates, like the monks and nuns, strive to realize the Benedictine vow of conversatio morum in their lives. Conversatio morum means the “willingness to change” (conversatio) towards the monastic customs (morum). This is not limited to external behavior. Rather, it includes an attitude of inner flexibility and constant alignment with the message of the gospel .

Obligations

There are five obligations for every oblate:

1. The Oblate should the daily hours of prayer to pray.
2. As a rule of St. Reading Benedict .
3. The oblate should practice lectio divina every day . This meditative reading of scriptures or other spiritual reading expands our love, knowledge and appreciation for the spiritual life.
4. The oblate should receive the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance frequently .
5. The oblate should be sensitive to God's presence in their normal everyday life.

Benedictine wafers are expected to by their way of life keep the spirit of St. Benedict alive by:

• pray for the monks or nuns and the other oblates of their monastery
• stay true to their promise of commitment
• renew their commitment annually
• regularly take part in retreats
• to keep faithfully the Christian tradition

Well-known Benedictine wafers

• Adso von Montier-en-Der (* 910 or 915 in the Jura in Hochburgund; † 992), also Azo or Adson, was a medieval theologian and scholar.
• Heinrich II. (HRR) (* May 6, 973 or 978 in Bad Abbach or Hildesheim ; † July 13, 1024 in Grone) from the noble family of Ottonians was as Heinrich IV. From 995 to 1004 and again from 1009 to 1017 Duke of Bavaria, from 1002 to 1024 King of Eastern Franconia (regnum francorum orientalium), from 1004 to 1024 King of Italy and from 1014 to 1024 Roman-German Emperor. Founder of the Bamberg diocese and the Bamberg Cathedral .
• Thomas Beckett , also known as Thomas of Canterbury , (* December 21, 1118 in London , † December 29, 1170 in Canterbury) was English Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170.
• Thomas Aquinas (* 1224; † March 7, 1274 in Fossanova ) was the most outstanding philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages.
• After the death of her husband in 1433, Francesca Romana (* 1384; † 1440) founded her own oblate community based on the Rule of Benedict.
• Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (born June 25, 1646 in Venice , † July 26, 1684 Venice) was an Italian philosopher and scholar. She was the first woman to receive a doctorate.
• Paul Claudel (born August 6, 1868 in Villeneuve-sur-Fère, † February 23, 1955 in Paris ) was a French writer, poet and diplomat.
• Romano Guardini (born February 17, 1885 in Verona , † October 1, 1968 in Munich ) was a Catholic priest, religious philosopher and theologian. Oblate of the Archabbey of Beuron , Oblation after a year of probation on April 21, 1909 under the name Odilo .
• Petro Werhun (born November 18, 1890 in Gródek Jagiellonski, Galicia, † February 7, 1957 in Angarsk , Siberia ) was a Ukrainian priest and martyr . Prelate Werhun was an Oblate of the Benedictine Abbey of Niederaltaich . He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
• Johannes Pinsk (born February 4, 1891 in Stettin ; † May 21, 1957 in Berlin- Dahlem) was a German Catholic theologian and university professor and Oblate of the Maria Laach Abbey .
• Zita Maria delle Grazie von Bourbon-Parma (born May 9, 1892 in Camaiore , Capezzano Pianore, Italy; † March 14, 1989 in Zizers, Switzerland) was the wife of Charles I / IV. from 1916 to 1918 last Empress of Austria and until 1921 Apostolic Queen of Hungary. She had particularly close relationships with the famous Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes , which is located in the Diocese of Le Mans, and was Benedictine oblate of Solesmes.
• Dorothy Day (born November 8, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York , † November 29, 1980 in New York) was an American social activist and journalist.
• Maria Mechelen (born February 25, 1903 in Neuwied; † April 30, 1991 ibid) was a German Benedictine oblate of the Maria Laach Abbey, a social worker and local politician
• Barbara Stühlmeyer (born November 12, 1964 in Bremen ); Author, Hildegard researcher , mediaevalist and musicologist. Oblate of the St. Hildegard Abbey (Eibingen) .

Web links

• Benedictine wafers in German-speaking countries
• Official website of the Organizing Committee of the World Congress of Benedictine Oblates

literature

• Guided by the Gospel, Manual for Benedictine Wafers. Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron 1990, 2nd edition 1999, ISBN 3-87071-058-6 .
• Archabbey of St. Ottilien (ed.): Don't let love ... 100 years of St. Ottilien Oblate Community 1898–1998 . EOS, St. Ottilien 1998.
• Hermine Koller: Third-born children of Benedict. History and present of the Benedictine wafers. EOS, St. Ottilien 2009, ISBN 978-3-8306-7358-3 .
• Irmgard Schmidt-Sommer, Gabriele F. Heitfeld-Panther, Hermine Koller, Albert Altenähr, Hildegard Wolters, Erika Ising : Departure with Benedict: Oblates - a Christian way of life. EOS, St. Ottilien 2009, ISBN 978-3-8306-7377-4 .
• Ursula Theresa Dippel, Johanna Domek: To be close to the Benedictine spirit. My life as an oblate . Four towers, Münsterschwarzach 2010, ISBN 978-3-89680-461-7 .
• Notker Wolf OSB and Jean Ritzke Rutherford Obl. OSB: Oblates, Oblate Rectors and the Question of Community . In: Erbe und Einsatz, Volume 96 (2020), pp. 221–226.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} From the wafer information of the Abbey of St. Procopius ( Memento of December 18, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (English)
2. ↑ Source: “Under the guidance of the gospel”, manual for Benedictine oblates, published by the working group Benedictine oblates for the German-speaking area, Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron 1990, p. 85.
3. ↑ Source: "The Oblate Life", Edited by Gervase Holdaway OSB, Canterbury Press Norwich, 1st edition. 2008, pp. 81-139.
4. ↑ “Nothing should be preferred to the divine service”, RB Prolog 3
5. ↑ "The Order of the Psalms", Regula Benedicti 18
6. ↑ "Love to hear holy readings", RB 4,55
7. ↑ "Listen, my son, to the teachings of the Master (...)", RB Prologue 1
8. ↑ “Often prostrating to pray”, RB 4,56
9. ↑ Under the guidance of the gospel. Manual for Benedictine oblates, published by the Benedictine oblate working group for the German-speaking area. Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron 1990, pp. 85-103.
10. ^ Elmar Salmann : Conversatio morum . In: Letters from Gerleve Abbey , 2016, issue 1, pp. 10-13.
11. ↑ Esther De Waal: Looking for God in everyday life . Vier-Türme-Verlag, Münsterschwarzach 1992, p. 61.
12. ↑ From the Oblaten-Information of the Archabbey of St. Meinrad / USA
13. ^ "Under the guidance of the gospel", manual for Benedictine wafers, ed. vd Arbeitsgemeinschaft Benediktineroblaten for the German-speaking area, Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron, 4th edition. 2007, p. 78.
14. ^ "Under the guidance of the gospel", manual for Benedictine wafers, ed. vd Arbeitsgemeinschaft Benediktineroblaten for the German-speaking area, Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron, 4th edition. 2007, p. 79.
15. ^ Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz: Romano Guardini. 1885-1968. Life and work. Mainz 4th edition 1995, p. 79.
16. ↑ "Niederaltaicher Oblatengemeinschaft" http://www.abtei-niederaltaich.de/kloster/oblatengemeinschaft/
17. ↑ "Beatification in the partner bishopric, proceedings for Empress Zita started in Le Mans", in: Der Dom, Edition 2011–2051 Archive link ( Memento from February 14, 2010 in the Internet Archive )