Benedictine Spirituality
Introduction
Spirituality in its simplicity is a search for answers and explanations about individuals. Spirituality can be defined as a progression of individual revolution in accordance with religious ideals. Spirituality can be focused on personal knowledge, understanding and experience and psychological development. There are various types including mystical, authoritarian, intellectual, service and social. Benedictine spirituality, one of the most influential spiritualties, is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. This report is an analytical essay that will compare and contrast Benedictine spirituality with my own spirituality.
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Benedictine Spirituality encourages all members of the community …show more content…
to have a balanced life incorporating spiritual reading, work in the context of community and corporate worship. Within the community people are seen as an integrated whole which includes the body, mind and spirit. Benedictine Spirituality was named after Benedict of Nursia or Saint Benedict. He was a gentle, efficient and effective workingman, demonstrating characteristics of kindness, loyalty of observance as well as faithfulness and power of organisation. Benedict is often referred to as the founder of Western Monasticism. Various centuries of the Middle Ages have been named after St Benedict. He was remembered for being a considerably influential person. This was primarily due to his book called Rule of St. Benedict, which quote Pope Benedict XVI, “exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilisation and culture”. The Rule, to the present time is the most common and influential Rule used by monasteries and monks, after its writing more than 1,400 years ago. Benedict of Nursia, all dedicated to Monks, founded twelve communities. (Benedict of Nursia, 2014) The key values and principles of Benedictine Spirituality are stability, obedience, personal transformation, humility, and hospitality, care of the sick, peace and listening for God in all of life. All of these values and principles combine in the four aspects of life, which are prayer, study, work and leisure. (Benedictine Spirituality for the Agora, 2003) They are means to living a life in Christ. The most prominent principles of Benedictine Spirituality are found in the Rule. The communities who follow this spirituality perform two or three public Masses each day; Morrow Mass, High Mass and optionally the Mass of our Lady, devoted to the Virgin Mary. The celebration of the Devine Office, the Offices of All Saints, the Dead, and Our Lady, as well as other psalms, differs between homes, but in common these practises and rituals take up most of the day. Private prayer sessions are offered throughout the day, dictated by the Horarium. (Benedictine Spirituality, 2014) The Rule of Benedict calls for dedicating a substantial amount of every day to reading. This is the meditative, contemplative prayer that is referred to as lectio divina, a type of reading and reflection that focuses on Sacred Scripture and takes time. (Benedictine Prayer and Spirituality, 2011)
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My spirituality, like most spiritualties is about gaining an understanding of what my purpose is and living life to the fullest on my own terms.
I personally follow/believe in Christian spirituality, although, in saying this, I am not heavily influenced by all its values, principles, characteristics, rules, rituals, prayers, etc. I believe in God the Creator, but I also believe in evolution and scientific beginnings. I am inspired by my surroundings, environment and opportunities and people whose career category I follow closely and admire and therefore see as individuals who are relatable. I value relationships, giving back to the community as well as reflection. I have learnt to respect relationships, following the common rule treat your neighbours and friends, as you would want to be treated. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, because I enjoy being around people. I am very fortunate and privileged that I have a where I can easily access all the vital necessities of life and therefore think that it is a responsibility to help the poor and marginalised by actively making a difference or giving any sort of needs and goods. It makes me feel proud and satisfied to know that I have made a difference to a stranger’s life through generosity. I value reflecting on life, I am an extreme procrastinator and often reflect on things in life. This makes me appreciate the life I have and understand how I can make it better for myself and people around me. I have many practises and rituals. School, Tuesday Morning Mass, Tuesday Assembly, Afternoon Prayer, Transport are all examples of rituals, which I perform usually on a weekly basis. I also practise significant calendar events, sport trainings, extra-curricular activities, school subjects and meals. My spirituality has a focus on study, work, social and leisure, as these are four key parts of my life. I believe in my own type of spirituality because I have been brought up this way and adapted to this lifestyle and
culture. I am very privileged to have the life I have and feel as though I need to follow my unique spirituality in order to live life with the most joy and contentment whilst abiding by my values.
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There are various similarities and differences when comparing and contrasting Benedictine Spirituality with my own exclusive spirituality. The similarities between the two spiritualties are that they both help to find what purpose an individual has here and what they must do for this to happen. They both have set values, which are followed closely. The two spirituality focuses on study, work and leisure. They both have daily prayers and dedicated time slots for Mass and other celebrations. The differences between the two spiritualties are revolved around the level of dedication and consistency. Benedictine has a stronger set of values, principles, rules and characteristics that members of the community continuously practise and follow to ensure that they continue to understand their life. Benedictine Spirituality is a worldwide spirituality, followed by millions, where as I have a unique spirituality.
Conclusion
This essay has identified key aspects of two spiritualties: Benedictine and my own and compared and contrasted these significant characteristics through similarities and differences. It is obvious that Benedictine Spirituality is a much more renowned spirituality, but my own spirituality still allows myself to understand and find my purpose and how I can make it happen whilst enjoying life, in particular study, work, social and leisure.
Spirituality in its simplicity is a search for answers and explanations about individuals. Spirituality can be defined as a progression of individual revolution in accordance with religious ideals. Spirituality can be focused on personal knowledge, understanding and experience and psychological development. There are various types including mystical, authoritarian, intellectual, service and social. Benedictine spirituality, one of the most influential spiritualties, is a way of life that helps a person to seek God and his will daily. This report is an analytical essay that will compare and contrast Benedictine spirituality with my own spirituality.
Paragraph One
Benedictine Spirituality encourages all members of the community …show more content…
to have a balanced life incorporating spiritual reading, work in the context of community and corporate worship. Within the community people are seen as an integrated whole which includes the body, mind and spirit. Benedictine Spirituality was named after Benedict of Nursia or Saint Benedict. He was a gentle, efficient and effective workingman, demonstrating characteristics of kindness, loyalty of observance as well as faithfulness and power of organisation. Benedict is often referred to as the founder of Western Monasticism. Various centuries of the Middle Ages have been named after St Benedict. He was remembered for being a considerably influential person. This was primarily due to his book called Rule of St. Benedict, which quote Pope Benedict XVI, “exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilisation and culture”. The Rule, to the present time is the most common and influential Rule used by monasteries and monks, after its writing more than 1,400 years ago. Benedict of Nursia, all dedicated to Monks, founded twelve communities. (Benedict of Nursia, 2014) The key values and principles of Benedictine Spirituality are stability, obedience, personal transformation, humility, and hospitality, care of the sick, peace and listening for God in all of life. All of these values and principles combine in the four aspects of life, which are prayer, study, work and leisure. (Benedictine Spirituality for the Agora, 2003) They are means to living a life in Christ. The most prominent principles of Benedictine Spirituality are found in the Rule. The communities who follow this spirituality perform two or three public Masses each day; Morrow Mass, High Mass and optionally the Mass of our Lady, devoted to the Virgin Mary. The celebration of the Devine Office, the Offices of All Saints, the Dead, and Our Lady, as well as other psalms, differs between homes, but in common these practises and rituals take up most of the day. Private prayer sessions are offered throughout the day, dictated by the Horarium. (Benedictine Spirituality, 2014) The Rule of Benedict calls for dedicating a substantial amount of every day to reading. This is the meditative, contemplative prayer that is referred to as lectio divina, a type of reading and reflection that focuses on Sacred Scripture and takes time. (Benedictine Prayer and Spirituality, 2011)
Paragraph 2
My spirituality, like most spiritualties is about gaining an understanding of what my purpose is and living life to the fullest on my own terms.
I personally follow/believe in Christian spirituality, although, in saying this, I am not heavily influenced by all its values, principles, characteristics, rules, rituals, prayers, etc. I believe in God the Creator, but I also believe in evolution and scientific beginnings. I am inspired by my surroundings, environment and opportunities and people whose career category I follow closely and admire and therefore see as individuals who are relatable. I value relationships, giving back to the community as well as reflection. I have learnt to respect relationships, following the common rule treat your neighbours and friends, as you would want to be treated. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, because I enjoy being around people. I am very fortunate and privileged that I have a where I can easily access all the vital necessities of life and therefore think that it is a responsibility to help the poor and marginalised by actively making a difference or giving any sort of needs and goods. It makes me feel proud and satisfied to know that I have made a difference to a stranger’s life through generosity. I value reflecting on life, I am an extreme procrastinator and often reflect on things in life. This makes me appreciate the life I have and understand how I can make it better for myself and people around me. I have many practises and rituals. School, Tuesday Morning Mass, Tuesday Assembly, Afternoon Prayer, Transport are all examples of rituals, which I perform usually on a weekly basis. I also practise significant calendar events, sport trainings, extra-curricular activities, school subjects and meals. My spirituality has a focus on study, work, social and leisure, as these are four key parts of my life. I believe in my own type of spirituality because I have been brought up this way and adapted to this lifestyle and
culture. I am very privileged to have the life I have and feel as though I need to follow my unique spirituality in order to live life with the most joy and contentment whilst abiding by my values.
Paragraph 3
There are various similarities and differences when comparing and contrasting Benedictine Spirituality with my own exclusive spirituality. The similarities between the two spiritualties are that they both help to find what purpose an individual has here and what they must do for this to happen. They both have set values, which are followed closely. The two spirituality focuses on study, work and leisure. They both have daily prayers and dedicated time slots for Mass and other celebrations. The differences between the two spiritualties are revolved around the level of dedication and consistency. Benedictine has a stronger set of values, principles, rules and characteristics that members of the community continuously practise and follow to ensure that they continue to understand their life. Benedictine Spirituality is a worldwide spirituality, followed by millions, where as I have a unique spirituality.
Conclusion
This essay has identified key aspects of two spiritualties: Benedictine and my own and compared and contrasted these significant characteristics through similarities and differences. It is obvious that Benedictine Spirituality is a much more renowned spirituality, but my own spirituality still allows myself to understand and find my purpose and how I can make it happen whilst enjoying life, in particular study, work, social and leisure.