How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life

I guess I didn't read the introduction when I purchased the book otherwise I might have known that in order to become a Monastic you first must become a Benedictine. That's a tongue in cheek comment by the way. There is the Oblate's in the Benedictine world and "Third Order of St. Francis" in the Franciscan order, both provide a somewhat structured method of achieving some sort of normalcy in a hectic world. The Oblates of St. Benedict is a unique group in that every Benedictine Monastery has a Oblate group. The interesting thing about being a Oblate is that you do not need to be a Catholic in order to join. In my own experience as well as my wife's, we have been Oblates for nearly ten years at a Monastery in Arkansas. There isn't much that they ask you to do except for praying the "Liturgy of the Hours," and following the writing of St. Benedict in his "Rules" book. Depending on the Oblate Director at the Monastery, your participation in their community as an Oblate can be done twice a year at a retreat. So I guess that If you learn anything from the book is that you can be a part of the community of Christ by praying and being a good person with the help of a local Benedictine Monastery. I would suggest to visit a Monastery, any Monastery, because all of them are founded on the same principle that each visitor is treated "as if Christ Himself came to the door!" Which is the primary principle of St. Benedicts Rule.

This book of course cannot set up a monastic schedule coordinating with your particular work and family life, as the variety is far too great within the intended audience of lay persons. FOr this you really need an individual Oblate Director and your own intense and daily prayer commitment in order to discern, discover and to realize all the ways and slow paths to conversion by which the ancient Rule For Monks of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict already winds its ineluctable road throughout your own individual life. But this book is a mighty guide, wise counsellor, constant coach, inspiring leader, generous gatekeeper, and encouraging friend in times of despair, disanimation, lassitude and the will to quit once and for all to path towards eternal life in God's merciful Love. In the words of Our Holy Father Saint BEnedict, may we all get there together (or, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., warned us, die apart as fools). Not much more to add to what has already been indicated here, except that this book has the power to open up for you the possibility of truly praying and living the Rule, and the Gospel, in your daily life, as difficult as this may be in our modern world. This book can set you free, to begin. Please read it and consider seriously taking on the commitment and the possibilities within your own limited life. What have we got to lose! I'll encourage you if you will encourage me too!

Benedictine life has as a major plank continual conversion. This book helps explain how Benedictine monks and Oblates seek Christ via prayer (the Psalms which were the prayers that Christ prayed) as well as Lectio Divina, stability and even works. A readable and enjoyable book. Benedict was a lay person and he wrote for regular people. Likewise this book was written for regular people who want to learn about Benedictine life. No fancy hurdles to jump.. No complicated idiosyncratic procedures.. The depth of the Benedictine life pursued is ultimately up to the monk or Oblate..

IF I COULD GIVE THIS BOOK 10 STARS I WOULD. FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BENEDICTINE OBLATE, THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE. BROTHER BENET WRITES WITH SUCH WARMTH AND A 'FIRESIDE-COSYNESS'---ONE DOES NOT WANT TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I AM READING IT NOW FOR THE 2ND TIME AND HAVE ORDERED BENET'S OTHER BOOK 'A VIEW FROM THE MONASTERY'. GET THIS BOOK. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.