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Every person has a vocation, for most this will include marriage and family life, for others the single state and for some
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Benedictine Studies Day to be held in Sydney
A Benedictine Studies Day will be held at the Good Samaritan Congregational Centre, Glebe on Saturday, 20th June from 10am to 3pm. The theme of the day is A Way to Live - Between the Ideal and the Real with presentations by three Benedictine monastics. Key aspects of the Benedictine way of life will be explored. Cost of the day is $20/$15. (Tea/coffee provided. Take your own lunch.)
The day is being held in conjunction with the meeting of superiors of the member communities of the Benedictine Union of Australia and New Zealand.
Registration is required by 15 June 2009
Telephone: 02 9660 1202 - Margaret Gianni
Fax: 02 9692 8701
Email: congcentre@goodsams.org.au
2009 Benedictine Experience Weekends
The 2009 Benedictine Experience Weekends will give an over-view of the Rule of St Benedict and will also look at some of the foundations of monasticism, e.g. the desert fathers and mothers.
There will be a focus on the gifts that monasticism offers people living in the 21st century: adopting a rule for life, embracing the contemplative, lectio divina (the prayerful reading of scripture) and Christian meditation.
The program will be suitable for people new to the Rule of St Benedict and to those who wish to extend their knowledge and deepen their spiritual life.
Dates
Sydney
The Sydney retreat will be held at the St Joseph's Spirituality and Education Centre, Kinkumber from the 24-26 July 2009.
Download a registration form for the Sydney retreat.
Melbourne
The Melbourne retreat will be held at the Holy Cross Centre, Templestowe from 18-21 September 2009.
Download a registration form for the Melbourne retreat.
For further information send us an email or ring 03 5593 2348.
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Below are some links that might be useful
Anglican Religious Communities in Australia
Advisory Council for Anglican Religious Life in Australia
Little Brothers of Francis
Society of St Francis
Subiaco Congregation of the Order of St Benedict
Other Benedictine and Cistercian Communities in Australia
Jamberoo Abbey, NSW
Holy Trinity Abbey, New Norcia, WA/font>
St Benedict's Monastery, Arcadia, NSW
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Benedictine Monastery, Tanby, Qld
Tyburn Priory, Riverstone, NSW
Benedictine texts and source material
http://www.osb.org
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Faith
education:
The St James'
Institute, Sydney
The Institute for Spiritual Studies, Melbourne |
| Articles |
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| We have an article that was written in 2005 and submitted to almost every Anglican Diocesan paper in Australia. Around six dioceses have printed it. Click here to read the article |
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| Newsletter |
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| Newsletter 2006–2007 |
| Newsletter 2007–2008 |
| Newsletter 2008–2009 |
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| FAQ |
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Why are you called Benedictine?
We are called Benedictine because we follow the way and wisdom set out by Saint Benedict of Nursia, Italy. Saint Benedict lived in the sixth century. After some years living a life consecrated to God as a hermit, he became the leader of monks, living in community. While abbot, and steeped in the traditions and teachings of the monastic life, Benedict wrote a Rule for his monks. This Rule sets out how monastics should live the Gospel principles of loving God and neighbour through a life-long response to God. Benedict founded several communities, beginning with Subiaco, and eventually settled with his community at Monte Cassino (both in Italy). Over the centuries many more communities were founded throughout Europe, and others adopted Benedict¹s Rule. This has led to Benedict being called the ‘Father of Western Monasticism’ and he was also given the title ‘Patron of Europe’ in 1980.
What did Saint Benedict teach?
Saint Benedict taught a practical way of living the Gospel of Christ. His unequivocal first priority is the love of the monk or nun for God. This love of God is seen in the relationships and work of daily life. For the monk and nun this way of love becomes the ‘straight way to God’.
What do monks and nuns do?
The chief work of monks and nuns is to love God. This is done through prayer (see the Prayer & Worship page) and through the imitation of Jesus Christ¹s way of life in love and service of others. What monks and nuns are is more important than what they do. Monks and nuns are chiefly witnesses to Christ and the presence and love of God in the world. God alone initiates the call and sustains monastics as they seek to live in obedience to Him. Prayer and work are not two separate entities for a monastic, but simply different aspects of the one, whole, life.
Why did you become a nun (or monk)?
A novice answers:
‘This seems to be the place where God wants me to be, so here I am finding out.’
From two senior monastics:
‘Why and how did I become a monk? The call evolved over a period of time; firstly with an awareness of being drawn to God. It was God¹s initiative and I knew I was free to respond or not. It was/is like a ‘challenge and response’ to an invitation from God. The monastic life is not the only way to seek God; it is an individual call, and in my own case an acceptance that this is the form of Christian life I wanted to live.’
‘I became a nun because - in a sense - I could not help it! Nothing else satisfied my innermost being. I had a good home and family, a professional career, friends and ample social and sporting activities. Eventually I went to a monastery ‘to try it’ -- hoping to be told I did not have a vocation. Forty years later I am thankful I was not!’
Why do monks and nuns make vows?
The vows are a public statement of the way they intend, by the grace of God, to live the rest of their lives. The vows are not something ‘imposed’ from outside, but rather, an expression of that which is deep in the heart, the tools by which the love of God is accepted, expressed and lived. To quote a former Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, “The vows of religion mean the total acceptance of the call of God and the gift from God – an acceptance ‘by faith alone’ and ‘by grace alone’. To God alone be the glory.”
Is it hard to be a monk or nun?
It is true that some people think that the monastic life is a life of deprivation. This is certainly not true, and is based on a complete misunderstanding of the life and of vocation. Doing the will of God is a joyful and fulfilling experience -- as is doing the will of anyone whom we love. To do God¹s will is to truly live the life He has given us and, therefore, to become the full and whole person God created us to be. This involves ‘taking up our cross’, but we have the choice of bearing that cross or of dragging it -- and that is what makes the difference in any life.
What is the difference between the black and the white habits (clothes) worn by the monks and nuns in the pictures on the website?
At Camperdown, the members of the community wear white habits in summer and black habits in winter. This is simply because of the temperature changes in this part of the world.
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