https://myoblatereflections.blogspot.com/2019/04/living-rule-abbot-part-one.html .
The Abbot is, without a doubt, the central authority figure in the monastery.
His is a great responsibility, one that he will ultimately
give account for when he faces the Christ whom he represents before the
brothers.[1]
Those that hear the voice of God calling them to life within Saint Benedict’s
School of the Lord’s Service are dutifully bound to submit to the authority of
the Abbot and the Holy Rule.[2]
One of the things that I immediately garner from the
relational aspect represented here concerns personal accountability. I
see this personal accountability factor not only here but throughout the Rule
of Saint Benedict.
Solemn Vows, Monastic Professions, are, in one respect, a
total surrender of the will. Professed brothers [and sisters] willingly submit
themselves for life. Their will is to no longer serve themselves but to serve
God in the community formed by the Rule of Saint Benedict, the Abbot, and the
community within the monastery for all the remaining years and days of their
lives.[3]
The Solemn Promises for Oblates of Saint Benedict, though
not binding under pain of sin like the Solemn Vows of our cloistered brothers
and sisters, are yet a weighty matter not to be entered into lightly.
“Just as the monk takes these three vows[4]
at the time of profession, so does the Oblate implicitly promise at the time of
Oblation to live by these values through the commitment to "dedicate
myself to the service of God and neighbor according to the Rule of St.
Benedict" (Oblation ceremony).
These promises of Oblation, while not binding under pain of sin, should
be taken seriously as part of a carefully discerned lifelong commitment.”[5]
Oblation, for Oblates, is much like marriage … intended
for life.
With what strictness will Oblates of Saint Benedict be
judged when at last we are called to give an account of our stewardship of the
Deposit of Faith and the relational guidelines that are at the heart of the
Rule of Saint Benedict?
We, as Oblates, should be careful to not make light of the
“not binding under pain of sin” that is mentioned. All of us … Monk, Nun,
Oblate, Average Joe … will be called to give account for the truth that we know.
The truth that we know will play a role when we are unavoidably called to give
account. “For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that
each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or
evil.”[6]
Consider these few verses from the Holy Rule regarding the
Abbot.
When, therefore, anyone taketh the name of Abbot he
should govern his disciples by a twofold teaching; namely, he should show them
all that is good and holy by his deeds more than by his words; explain the
commandments of God to intelligent disciples by words, but show the divine
precepts to the dull and simple by his works. And let him show by his actions,
that whatever he teacheth his disciples as being contrary to the law of God
must not be done, "lest perhaps when he hath preached to others, he
himself should become a castaway" (1 Cor 9:27), and he himself committing
sin, God one day say to him: "Why dost thou declare My justices, and take
My covenant in thy mouth? But thou hast hated discipline, and hast cast My
words behind thee" (Ps 49[50]:16-17). And: "Thou who sawest the mote
in thy brother's eye, hast not seen the beam in thine own" (Mt 7:3).[7]
Abbot Benedict was writing these words to himself. He was
writing these words to every Abbot that would come after him.
Not only so.
What
is being said here of the Abbot is applicable to all of us regardless of where
we fit in the grand scheme of things. What is being said here is applicable to
all of us regardless of which pew or chair we normally sit on.
To be continued.
[1]
Holy Rule Chapter 2:1-10
[2]
Holy Rule Prologue
[3]
Holy Rule Prologue 50
[4]
Obedience, Stability, Conversatio Morum
[5]
OBLATE FORMATION BOOKLET for Oblates of Saint Benedict affiliated with Saint
Vincent Archabbey
1995, revised
in 2002 and 2013
[6] 2
Corinthians 5:10
[7]
Holy Rule 2:11-15
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