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| St. Scholastica and Saint Benedict |
St. Anthony of the Desert Benedictine Fellowship
You are invited to grow in grace with our Benedictine Chapter, St. Anthony of the Desert.
St. Anthony of the Desert is an Oblate
Chapter of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, AR. We meet one Sunday a
month at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. While many of us are associated with St.
Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Chapter is open to Oblates
of other Monasteries and to any others who wish to deepen their experience in
the Life of Prayer.
The Chapter Meeting includes the singing
of the Benedictine Prayer Offices and a Meditation on various aspects of the
Life of Prayer. Each meeting is preceded by a cold collation. A cold collation
is a light meal that does not entail cooking.
Saint Benedict invites us into a school
of prayer; a school that gives “the strong something to yearn for, and the weak
nothing to run from”. He reminds us that God is ever present with us, and tells
us to "Prefer Nothing Whatever to Christ". Benedictines balance work
and prayer, and aspire to live a life of stability and obedience.
Oblate Rule of Life
The call to make an Oblation of their
lives in a specific Benedictine Monastery comes to those who by necessity live
their lives in the midst of the world of family and business. Oblates are conscious of the principle of St.
Benedict that Prayer and Work must be balanced in their experience. The Oblates Rule of Life is regarded more as
aspiration rather than obligation, yet it provides a guide that calls us to
gentle accountability.
The
Rule of Life
- To pray at
least one Office a day.
- To attend
Eucharist on Sundays and where possible on Feast Days.
- To pray
daily for the Monastery, including our fellow Oblates.
- To spend
some time daily, however short, in Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina has four steps: Reading
Scripture, Reflection, Response in Prayer, and Resting in the Presence of
God.
- To read the
daily reading from the Rule of St. Benedict.
- To wear the
Medal of St. Benedict.
- To make, in
so far as possible, an annual retreat at the Monastery.
- To support
the work of the Monastery financially and in other tangible ways.
- To be
flexible and governed by love and common sense in the carrying out of the
Rule of Life.
Oblates make their oblation, or renew
it, at an annual retreat at St. Scholastica Monastery or at their Oblate
Chapter Meeting by arrangement with the Chapter Director of Oblates. There will be a formal interview with the
Chapter Oblate Director prior to admission as an Oblate.
The Oblation, although not a calling to
be a monk or nun, is nevertheless made in the context of The Rule of St.
Benedict who said, “Let him who is to be received make before all, in the
Oratory, a promise of STABILITY, CONVERSION OF LIFE, and OBEDIENCE, in the
presence of God and of his saints.” [1] Our call as Oblates equips us to live a
balanced life in the midst of our too often very busy and demanding schedules,
rather than in retirement from the world.
Oblate Vestments
Oblates may wear a black cassock with a
plain black leather belt, and a black scapula. The scapula is a black
knee-length overpiece that protects the cassock and is a symbol of the twin
Benedictine values of Work and Prayer. Oblates are not monks or nuns, and may
not wear a cassock with a hood, or a veil, or a cornette. Out of respect, that
is reserved for those who have made a life commitment to Christ in the
Monastery. Visitors and guests may wear street clothes.
During the year between enrolling as a
candidate to become an Oblate and making a full Oblation, those who attend the
Chapter of St. Anthony of the Desert may wear a black cassock and belt without
the scapula, or they may wear street clothes. The scapula is presented when one
has made a full oblation.
The Oblates of our Monastery, St.
Scholastica, do not customarily wear Oblate Vestments, but Oblates affiliated
with our Chapter have permission from the Prioress of St. Scholastica to wear
Oblate Vestments at our Chapter Meetings, but not at the Monastery.
Small Benedictine Medals and Crosses may
be worn by all those who honor St. Benedict. Oblates in our Chapter may wear
the larger Benedictine Medal and Crosses. The Larger medals or crosses are
presented at the time one has made a full oblation.
With the permission of their parish
priest, Oblates who are members of our Chapter, may wear their Oblate Vestments
when serving in their home parish.
Links
The
Order of St. Benedict: http://www.osb.org/
St.
Scholastica Monastery: http://www.stscho.org/
We
are glad to provide the following link to our blog: http://benedictinemeditations.blogspot.com/
For
further information and meeting times contact Dom Anselm [The Rev. Canon Dr.
Rob Smith Oblate OSB] at domanselm@hotmail.com.
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