FROM THE RULE:

Obedience in the oblate life: Fear or freedom?really obedient freedom. It is what themonastic oblate way invites one toexperience. To St. Benedict, obediencewas not just doing what the mostassertive voice tells us to do; it is aboutmutual love.

Obedience is a blessing to be shown byall, not only to the abbot but also toone another as brothers, since we knowthat it is by this obedience that we goto God. To Benedict, this meant youhave to listen to other people and notjust to yourself.

In Benedict’s chapter describing thegood zeal that monks should have forone another, he states: “No one is topursue what he judges better for him-self but instead what he judges betterfor someone else. To their fellowmonks they show the pure love ofbrothers to God, loving fear.” (RB,72:7, 8)

Thus the monastic way urges free andconscientious obedience. Oblates areconfronted by the widespread beliefthat you are free and in control if youfollow your feelings. The monasticway challenges that belief.

Alan Watts, an existentialist writer of the1960s, once wrote a treatise titled Masks

impossible to conceive of obedience asa virtue. To obey, we need to havesomeone to obey; and yet we havebeen taught to distrust all authority, tosearch for the facts and to make upour own minds.

Freedom of choice is a core value ofmodern life. An oblate candidate onceexpressed it this way: “I don’t want tobe told what to do. I want to be free tobe me. I express my freedom by exercis-ing my right to choose and I don’t wantto adhere to the dictates of an abbot.”

What this individual did not realizewas that the greatest freedom concern-ing obedience is that one chooses toobey. Obeying without knowing whyis not free choice. Oblates mustchoose those things that open upfuture possibilities and not thosethings that would enslave them.

The word “obedience” derives from theLatin word oboedire, which means notonly to obey, but also to listen. Theprefix ob means “in the direction of,”and audire means “to hear”; togetherthey become oboedire. The monasticway invites oblates to listen and selectwhat voices they are to follow.

Obedience should not be blind obedi-ence and should instead exercise dis-cernment. Discerning obedience is

WINTER 2010

VOLUME 16:1NEWSLETTER FOR BENEDICTINE OBLATES OF SAINT MEINRAD

see Obedience, p. 11

Obedience is not a popular wordtoday. It strikes fear in our hearts andreminds us of harsh, authoritativetyranny. We are reminded of peoplewho are servile, with groveling sub-mission to the point of being consid-ered weak and without self-respect.

The word “obedience” conjures up acertain meaning to those of us whowere born and reared in a democraticsociety based on individualism andindependence. It means subjection tosomeone or something with authorita-tive power.

As cynical adults, not only do we findit difficult to obey, but we find it

�

“Whoever listens toyou, listens to me.”

Chapter 5, Verse 6

�

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Benedictine Oblate is published four timesa year by Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

Editor: Mary JeanneSchumacher

Designer: Jo R. BishopOblate Directors: Fr. Meinrad

Brune, OSB

Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB

Send changes of address and comments toThe Editor, Development Office, SaintMeinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Dr., St.Meinrad, IN 47577, (812) 357-6817,fax (812) 357-6325 or e-mailoblates@saintmeinrad.eduwww.saintmeinrad.edu© 2010, Saint Meinrad Archabbey

“Whoever listens to you, listens to me.”Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 5, Verse 6

Adherence to obedience is often a difficult vow. As little children seekingindependence, we often rebelled against parental authority. As adults, ourindependence also inhibits us from becoming obedient, and we view it asa detriment to success.

It was no different in St. Benedict’s time. To provide a biblical foundationfor an instant and willing obedience, he quotes twice from Luke 10:16.This verse, which Jesus applied to His disciples, St. Benedict also appliedto his abbots and monks. Whoever listens to the abbot listens to JesusChrist Himself.

As Benedictine oblates affiliated with a monastery, we are subject to obedi-ence to the abbot and, therefore, to Christ. The oblate is never excusedfrom exercising the discernment of conscience toward a specific demandof authority. This can be interpreted as a sign of weakness to those wholive solely in a materialistic world that governs their actions and goals.

The abbot, in perpetuating the mandate of his office, does so with prayer-ful seeking of the will of God, and he accepts the responsibility to God forhis actions. As difficult as obedience is to the individual oblate, it is alsothe first step toward humility.

A POINT TO PONDER FROM THE RULE

The Oblate Letter, begun in 1918 as ameans of communication with stu-dents of Saint Meinrad by Fr. HenryBrenner, OSB, was developed overtime into a mailed communication forSaint Meinrad alumni, most of whomwere oblate priests. The abbot at thetime was Ignatius Esser, OSB, whosedeep interest in the oblate programhelped to develop the program intowhat it is today.

Fr. Henry’s many interests and themany “hats” he wore contributed tothis development, as well as to hiscontribution as editor at the fledglingAbbey Press in the form of St. Rita’sLetter. His devotion to this saint wasunquenchable. A well-read man,Fr. Henry was also a literary figurein his own right.

This means of communication servedso well that it was improved upon byevery succeeding director of oblates—

the most noticeable being Fr. WalterSullivan, OSB. These improvementswere then polished by his successors,namely Fr. Cyril Vrablic, OSB, withFr. Raban Hathorn, OSB, as his assis-tant. These men picked up whereFr. Walter left off.

Succeeding directors, despite manyother obligations, maintained TheOblate Letter, though its impact wasnot as great. More polishing can beattributed to Fr. Gerard Ellspermann,OSB, whose dedication to it and theprogram rivaled that of Fr. Walter,who, by the way, he served under asan assistant on many occasions.

The final sheen, however, has comethrough the talent for organizationand the efforts of Fr. Meinrad Brune,OSB, the current oblate director. Fr.Meinrad was appointed by ArchabbotLambert Reilly, OSB, who himself hadserved as an assistant director and

whose interest in the program hadbeen maintained.

In 2010, we celebrate the 92nd birth-day of this marvelous connection withthe thousands of oblates of SaintMeinrad Archabbey. Reading throughthe copies that had been saved andcarefully guarded by Fr. Gerard, assem-bling them into 13 volumes, beginningin 1987), and keeping them in theOblate Library provide a trip throughhistory and nearly a companion vol-ume to Fr. Albert Kleber, OSB’s book,History of St. Meinrad Archabbey.

The assembled volumes were missingmany issues (and still are), but thegenerosity of many oblates who hadkept back issues and responded to myplea by contributing to the volumespermitted me to fill in many places.Today, new issues are added as theyare published.

Mona L. Rinear, oblateMartinsville, IN

This year celebrates 92 years of oblate communication

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VVooccaattiioonnss

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Anniversaries celebrated

Oblate Eddy Poor and his wife, MaryLou, from Taylorville, IL, celebratedtheir 50th wedding anniversary on May3, 2009.

Oblates Philip and Nancy Messerlyfrom Lancaster, OH, celebrated their50th wedding anniversary on October 25, 2009, the day after theiractual anniversary.

Prayer book is welcomed

The new, easy-to-use Liturgy of theHours for Benedictine Oblates with itsfour-week cycle has been warmly wel-comed by oblates as a means of sup-porting their prayer life based on theway the monks pray in the ArchabbeyChurch. The book may be orderedfrom the Oblate Office for $20 plus $5shipping/handling.

Exploring “Obedience: A MonasticWay of Living”

At the June 15-18 Oblate Study Days,the oblates generated more than 30terms that meant “obedience” to them,each partly correct. Fr. Brendan Moss,OSB, said obedience requires lovingGod with our whole being and leads toredemption—it is not a loss of freedom.

Obedience requires listening to God.We discover what Jesus says by readingthe Gospels—hearing God’s words inScripture and experiencing God’s lovebetween the lines. We are to listen, toobey and to respond to this personalword of the God who desires us. Ourobedience to this word leads to an inti-mate relationship with God. We mustparticipate in this conversation becauseobedience cannot be blind—itdemands that we make a choice.

Are we making the right choice?Discerning God’s voice is not easy. Hespeaks to us through Scripture, throughothers and, at times, through ourselves.Remaining within a community ofbelievers is important for checks andbalances to guide us and help us discern

beyond ourselves. Discernment, spiritu-al decision-making, is prayerful, holisticand a journey that is never ending.

It requires listening, patience, honesty,trust, spiritual direction, prayer, courageand time. To discern, we must clarifythe question and be specific about whatwe are asking—differentiating betweenour wants and needs. After consideringseveral options, getting spiritual direc-tion, listening to others and prayingabout which is the most life-givingchoice, we choose an option to see howit feels. If it does not feel right, weshould look at our options again.

To “listen with the ear of your heart”means to be passionate about listeningas Benedict asks us to be passionateabout obedience—which leads us tolive in the love of Christ’s obedience toGod’s will. Passionate obedience meansmore than doing God’s will—it meansembracing God’s will.

Obedience is not about doing what weare told to do. It is about love. Lifebecomes the search for God’s agendain our lives. Are we using our will tochoose our own agenda or to chooseGod’s agenda? We have the freedom to choose.

Obedience comes at a price. Fr.Brendan said it requires us to love God

with our whole being, giving ourselvescompletely so we can be loved com-pletely by God. When we live monasti-cally, we are learning how to live forGod and search for God’s agenda.Choosing to collaborate with Christ isto become the best person that Godwants us to be.

St. Benedict says, “It is by this way of obedience that we go to God.” (RB 71:2)

Gail Chambers, oblate Memphis, TN

Joint day of recollection held

The 15 oblates of Lancaster, PA, alongwith oblates of St. Vincent Archabbeyand Emmanuel Monastery, beganSaturday, September 12, with a Masscelebrated by Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB,and Fr. Brendan Moss, OSB.

Fr. Brendan presented three conferenceson “Obedience: A Monastic Way ofLiving,” focusing on involving the wholeperson, seeking God in His Word, pray-ing and listening as, in lectio divina, tofind and discern God’s voice in our lives,and learning from the wisdom of holypeople such as St. Benedict.

There was discussion, reconciliation,time in the adoration chapel as well as

OBLATE NEWS

see Oblate News, p. 4

Oblates’ World Congress participants gather near Rome from October 2-10. Thetheme was: “The Religious Challenges of Today—The Benedictine Answer.”

4

the praying of Morning Prayer, NoonPrayer and Vespers. It was a day filledwith many blessings, as indicated bySharon Ogden and Joe Lamont, oblatesof Lancaster.

Fr. Joseph talks on silence

Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB, gave a talk on the value of silence at the September 13 meeting of the Merrillville Oblate Chapter.

Akathist services set to music

“Akathist Service to Our Lady ofLourdes” and “Akathist Service to theLord Jesus, the All-Merciful Lover ofMankind,” written by oblate Dr.Alexander Roman of Toronto, Canada,have been put to music. The first wassung at Lourdes in September during apilgrimage there. The second is usedfor some who suffer from addictions.

Cincinnati has Web page and libraryon wheels

Melinda Reckers reports that theCincinnati Oblate Chapter Web page(www.cincinnatioblates.org) includesmeeting minutes, newsletters, a link toSaint Meinrad Archabbey, a link to the“Seeking God” CD, chapter event pic-tures and articles written by members.A converted, unused carrying case withwheels is now a portable library con-taining articles and books that memberscan borrow. Members have the oppor-tunity to share or donate their books.

Tell City native named bishop

Rev. Paul Etienne, son of oblate KayEtienne and her husband Paul, wasappointed on October 19 as the newbishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne,WY. In recent months, he had beenserving as pastor of his home parish, St. Paul’s in Tell City, IN.

Oblate Msgr. Noon speaks to chapter

Due to the absence of Oblate Director

Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB, Msgr. RobertNoon presided at Mass and gave theconference at a recent meeting of theColumbus, OH, Oblate Chapter. Sincethe new Liturgy of the Hours forBenedictine Oblates book has been pub-lished, Msgr. Noon explained how to pray the psalms in a more spiritual manner.

He stressed that in praying the psalms,we are praying with the Church to Godthe Father and praying as Jesus prayedduring His life here on earth. With thisfour-week psalter, a new world of prayeris being opened up to us.

Rita MerkLancaster, OH

Oblate secretary’s father dies

On October 23, 2009, Erwin Jentpassed away at Memorial Hospital inJasper, IN. He is the father of BrendaUbelhor, secretary in the Oblate Office.His wife, Hilda, is still living at home.Both Erwin and Hilda previouslyworked for the monastery. The funeralMass was October 27 at St. MeinradParish. Let us remember him in prayer.Brenda offers her thanks for the manyprayers, flowers, phone calls and cards.

Parish’s ministry fair includesBenedictine Oblates

To acquaint parishioners with the manyactivities within the parish, Prince ofPeace Church in Sun City Center, FL,held a ministry fair October 29 withabout 40 organizations participating,including the Benedictine oblates. Thisparish is made up almost exclusively ofretirees from all 50 states and some for-eign countries.

A display table, organized by oblateJoan Sullivan, included printed infor-mation about Benedictine oblates andoblate activities. A “Welcome to SaintMeinrad” video was shown periodically,and oblates answered numerous ques-tions about the oblate program. TheFlorida oblate group was assisted byoblates from Prince of Peace Abbey inCalifornia and St. Leo Abbey in Florida.

Oblate publishes collection of spiritual poems

The Number Touched Untold by oblateDorothy M. Colgan of St. Meinrad,IN, is her first book of poetry. The col-lection is reflective of her everydayexperiences, a response to a lifetime ofdivine reading.

The poems focus on reverence for thosewho have gone before us, death anddying, the meaning of life, the smallthings in everyday life and, of course,the Scriptures. She is the mother ofseven children (one of whom is Fr.Prior Tobias Colgan, OSB, of SaintMeinrad Archabbey) and her poemsrepresent 30 years of writing inspira-tional poetry.

This book is highly recommended foroblates and others who seek deeperinsight into how to grow closer to God.The book may be purchased for$19.95 plus $7.50 UPS shipping or $5Priority Mail shipping from the ScholarShop, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN47577. You can call (812) 357-6571,fax (812) 357-6966 or e-mail scholarshop@saintmeinrad.edu.

Eight oblates to celebrate milestones

Several oblates are celebrating 25th and50th anniversaries of their oblation thisyear. Celebrating their 25th anniversaryare Mrs. Anna Heeke of Tell City, IN;Mr. Edward and Mrs. Hamako RingleJr. of Jeffersonville, IN; and Ms. MaryAnn Doss of Lafayette, IN.

Celebrating their 50th are Mr. AngeloMusone of Lady Lake, FL; Mrs. SandraBorho of Tell City, IN; Mr. GeorgeMcLaughlin of Larchmont, NY; and Dr.Lavonne Bastnagel of Indianapolis, IN.

May God’s blessings be upon them fortheir many years of being faithfuloblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

Finance Committee reviews fiscalyear income

The Oblate Finance Committee meton October 16 and reviewed the

Oblate News from p. 3

see Oblate News, p. 5

5

Oblate News from p. 4

income statement for the fiscal yearending June 30, 2009. Expenses andrevenues included in the statementwere discussed. Revenues surpassedexpenses for the year, due to severallarge gifts and strong support from theoblate community. The final budget forfiscal year July 1, 2009, through June30, 2010, was reported and it projects adeficit for next year.

Gerald CampbellChillicothe, OH

Oblate Council considers future projects

The Oblate Council met on October17 with Br. Martin Erspamer, OSB, todiscuss several art projects that arebeing considered for future production.He displayed several pieces of art anddiscussed the requirements and meth-ods necessary for production. Anothermeeting will be set for further pursuitof this project.

Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB, discussed aproject to develop a companion CD forthe Liturgy of the Hours book. The CDwould include hymns and prayersrecorded by monks of Saint MeinradArchabbey. Purchases of the book byoblates have been at a higher rate thanexpected. With the good response, it isexpected that the book will be used infuture oblate chapter meetings.

An extended discussion took placeregarding the 2009 meeting of chaptercoordinators and representatives and itwas decided that a committee wouldmeet in January and report back to theOblate Council. It was reported thatthe North American Association ofBenedictine Oblate Directors confer-ence for 2011 will be held at SaintMeinrad. Preparations for this eventwill begin soon.

An update on the database and e-mailsystems used by the Oblate Office wasgiven and it was noted that the volumeof data has grown considerably. It wassuggested that a communications per-

son could be designated to handle datapertaining to individual oblates in eachchapter. Further review of this sugges-tion will be undertaken.

Oblates Janis Dopp and Jennie Lattareported on their attendance at theWorld Congress held in Rome. OblateGail Chambers reported that theprayers and rituals book forBenedictine Oblates is expected to beprinted in June 2010.

Oblate Gerald Campbell reported thatthe oblate financial statement for theyear ending June 30, 2009, showed asurplus. The budget for the year endingJune 30, 2010, projects a deficit. TheOblate Council and Fr. Meinradexpressed deep appreciation for thecontinued financial support from theoblate community. Oblate Al Kovacsreported on several activities related torecruitment of young adult oblates.

Gerald CampbellChillicothe, OH

Evansville oblate publishes novel

In November, we received word thatoblate Mary Grace Bernardin McMullenof Evansville, IN, had published a novel,Odd Numbers. The story is set in thesouthern Indiana town of Lamasco, witha metaphysical twist and the innatelonging for belonging.

Oblate professes first vows

Br. Dominick Anthony Cervino, anoblate of Woodside, NY, made his firstprofession of vows as a member ofServants of the Eleventh Hour of theDivine Word on December 13, 2009.�

INVESTITURES & OBLATIONS

September 4, 2009, Investiture—Dr.Rebecca Wages of Yorktown, IN.

September 7, 2009, Oblations—Mr.Alan Francis Creus and Miss CarrieMonica Matillano, both of NewYork, NY; and Ms. Winifred BernardFarrell of Farmingdale, NY.

September 7, 2009, Investitures—Mrs. Patricia Allain of Greenwich,CT; Ms. Margaret Bediones of NewYork, NY; Ms. Ida Hidalgo ofJamaica, NY; and Mr. Paul Zalonskiof East Haven, CT.

September 9, 2009, Investiture—Ms.Kathleen Fischer of St. Louis, MO.

September 12, 2009, Investiture—Mr.Kenneth Taylor of Indianapolis, IN.

September 17, 2009, Investiture—Mrs. Barbara Leclair of FairfieldGlade, TN.

September 19, 2009, Oblations—Ms.Margret Ann Maria Teresa Mayles ofVincennes, IN, and Mr. MarkThomas van Lummel of Granger, IN.

September 24, 2009, Oblation—Ms.Rosalie Barnabas Jacques ofAvelaide, South Australia.

September 25, 2009, Oblation—Mr. John Gregory Rasche ofBonnyman, KY.

September 25, 2009, Investiture—Ms.Patricia Longfellow of Clarksville, IN.

September 27, 2009, Oblations—Ms.Nancy Anne Barnes of Cold Spring,KY, and Mr. Fred Michael Otto III ofFt. Thomas, KY.

September 27, 2009, Investiture—Deacon John Convery of Cincinnati,OH.

October 2, 2009, Investiture—DeaconJames Graham of Bluffton, SC.

October 3, 2009, Investitures—Sandra and Richard Bierly of NewAlbany, IN.

October 7, 2009, Oblation—Ms.Dolores Mary Joseph Pictor ofBloomington, IN.

October 7, 2009, Investitures—Margaret and Michael Rippy ofLouisville, KY.

October 10, 2009, Investitures—Ms.Mary Louise Jones of Indianapolis,IN, and Mrs. Autumn Wilson ofNineveh, IN.

see Oblate News, p. 7

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A Benedictine approach to technology

Several years ago, as I was preparing toenter the monastery, I asked my soon-to-be novice master if I would beallowed to bring my laptop computerwith me. He responded that the Rulesays that every monk should have astylus and writing tablet (cf. RB55:19).

In so many ways, the world we live intoday is very different than that of St. Benedict, who wrote his Rule formonks over 1,500 years ago.Technology has radically altered ourlandscape and our outlook on life. Yet,at the same time, our basic humannature remains the same. Our desireto communicate, to express ourselvesto others, to preserve our thoughts inwords, remains as strong today as itwas in Benedict’s time.

Today we simply use computers to doso, rather than wax writing tablets.Benedict takes account of the fact thatone culture’s way of doing things maybe different than another’s, when hestresses on several occasions that “localconditions” should prevail over what isprescribed literally in the Rule.

On that account, computers and othermodern pieces of technology—cellphones, iPods, PDAs and so forth—are not at all incompatible withBenedictine spirituality or the monasticlife. The important thing is that we rec-ognize them for what they are, and thatwe use them in a way that fulfills ratherthan contradicts the Gospel message.

The down side, however, of our cul-ture’s rapid advance in technology isthat we have become what might bedescribed as a “throw-away” society.Household goods have becomeincreasingly cheap—both in terms ofcost and quality. This has conditionedus to think of many of the things weacquire as being disposable. It is often

cheaper and easier to replace some-thing than it is to make the effort totake care of it.

The more recent exponential growthin technology, especially in the area ofcomputers and other electronicdevices, has only worked to cementthis attitude. To keep up with the lat-est technology, to be able to use thelatest software and programs, we havecome to expect that these will have tobe replaced or updated at least everythree to five years.

Although the progression of time haschanged the types of goods thatmonks are accustomed to using—computers rather than styli andtablets—nevertheless, the proper atti-tude toward these goods, prescribed bySt. Benedict, remains the same:“Whoever fails to keep the thingsbelonging to the monastery clean ortreats them carelessly should bereproved” (RB 32:4).

The monk is advised to “regard allutensils and goods of the monastery assacred vessels of the altar, aware thatnothing is to be neglected” (RB31:10-11). To take care of what youhave, to treat with loving care whathas been put in your possession—thisis another important lesson I learnedfrom my novice master.

The purpose of such attitudes towardour tools and goods, whether they beshovels and hammers, styli and tablets,or computers and cell phones, istwofold. First of all, Benedict wants usto understand our tools and technolo-gy for what they are—not ends inthemselves, but instruments for serv-ing God, promoting the Gospel,strengthening the Church, buildingup our relationships and realizingcommunion with one another.

Second, the way we treat our posses-sions will ultimately be reflected in

how we treat other people. If we seetechnology as just an efficient way toserve our own needs and gain anadvantage over others, then the criteri-on for our personal relationships likelywill be “what’s in it for me?”

If we acquire inexpensive and poorlymade goods, if we mistake cheapnessfor value, if we view our possessions asshort-term investments that will bedisposed of quickly and take care ofthem accordingly, then we most likelywill approach our personal relation-ships with a temporary outlook as well.

The assumption behind Benedict’sRule is that our life in this world is apreparation for the eternal life that isto come. How we treat little things—our tools and goods, for instance—ultimately reveals to God our readi-ness for receiving bigger things, suchas the love and trust that grows out ofour committed relationships to oneanother, which are the prelude to ourpromised eternal life with Christ.

Questions for ReflectionHow much time do I spend on thecomputer every day? How much timedo I spend conversing with otherseach day?

Do I use my time on the computer orthe cell phone to build relationships,or as a convenient way of avoiding apersonal, face-to-face connection?

Do I take care of my computer (andother electronic devices) and inten-tionally get as much use out of it as Ican, or am I thinking about what mynext one will be as I am taking mynew one out of the box?

What are some concrete ways that I can use computers and technology to spread the Gospel and build up the Church?

Br. Matthew Mattingly, OSB Monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey

What’s playing on St. Benedict’s iPod?

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Oblate Life—Personal EvaluationEach year, oblates are encouraged to carefully examine and evaluate theliving of their oblations and seek thoughtful, honest answers to areasthat need improvement and poor habits that need elimination.

In a world full of distractions, it is easy to struggle through life, withall of its interruptions and demands, without realizing the neglect ofsome of the spiritual and joyful aspects of oblation.

A prayerful and honest look at one’s oblate life may stimulate moreattention to spiritual obligations and pursuits.

October 12, 2009, Investiture—Mrs.Lynn Hansen of Bloomington, IN.

October 15, 2009, Investiture—Mr. Morris Brown of DawsonSprings, KY.

October 17, 2009, Investiture—Mr. Edward Penton of Ottawa,Ontario, Canada.

October 22, 2009, Investitures—Dr.Fred de Rosset and Dr. JohnWallhausser, both of Berea, KY.

October 26, 2009, Oblation—Dr.Andrew Columba Headden ofCameron, CA.

November 7, 2009, Oblations—Ms.Linn Anne Meinrad Robison ofLouisville, KY, and Mrs. Linda MarySwindell of Indianapolis, IN.

November 15, 2009, Investiture—Mrs.Debra Wheeler of Beverly Hills, FL.

November 17, 2009, Investiture—Rev. Joseph Phelps of Louisville, KY.

November 19, 2009, Investitures—Miss Anna Glass and Mrs. HelenSexton, both of Columbus, OH.�

DEATHS

Mrs. Jean Marrero of Cincinnati,OH, died on September 15, 2009.

Mrs. Joy Greene-Kistle of GrassValley, CA, died on September 18,2009.

Mrs. Victoria Markunas ofFarmingdale, NY, died on September21, 2009.

Mr. Charles Cooper Jr. of Louisville,KY, died on October 15, 2009.

Mr. Thomas Souders of Lancaster,PA, died on October 17, 2009.

Mrs. Estella Burger of Jasper, IN,died on November 4, 2009.

Mrs. Catherine Betz of Jasper, IN,died on November 17, 2009.

Mr. Wayne Suite of Nashville, TN,died on November 23, 2009. �

Oblate life—personal evaluationTo see how well you are fulfilling your vocation as an oblate of SaintMeinrad Archabbey, reflect on and ask yourself the following questions.These questions are for your personal consideration and evaluation, sothat you may see how you are growing as an oblate. We, the OblateDirectors, are convinced that if you sincerely reflect on these questions,you can only deepen your relationship with God. In doing so, you aretruly growing in Benedictine spirituality.

1. What have I done during the past year to continue ongoing formationas an oblate?

2. What do I plan to do during the coming year?

3. How well do I see myself living the oblate promises:(Please rate yourself on a scale of 1 – 5 with 1 as “needing improvement”and 5 as “doing well.”)

• Stability of Heart? 1 2 3 4 5• Fidelity to the Spirit of the Monastic Life? 1 2 3 4 5• Obedience to the Will of God? 1 2 3 4 5

4. How well do I see myself fulfilling the oblate duties:

• Praying the Liturgy of the Hours? 1 2 3 4 5• Reading from the Rule of St. Benedict? 1 2 3 4 5• Daily practice of lectio divina? 1 2 3 4 5• Participating in the sacraments of the Eucharistand Reconciliation or in my own faith tradition of church and prayer? 1 2 3 4 5• Attentiveness to God’s presence in myordinary, daily life? 1 2 3 4 5

5. In what ways can I offer my time, talent and treasure to the services of the Oblate Community of Saint Meinrad Archabbey?

6. If I need to improve in any of these areas, what do I plan to do?

Oblate News from p. 5

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My parish priest for eight years wasanother mentor. I had been an altarserver since I made my First HolyCommunion. One Holy Week onGood Friday, he asked me to carry thecrucifix in procession and then hold itas the people came up to kiss the feet ofJesus. I was impressed that the priesttrusted a 10-year-old to hold the cross. Ifelt that I was there giving communionto the people. This good experience wasthe beginning of a foundation.

My paternal grandfather was veryimportant. I was 17 and just graduat-ed from high school. The Serra Clubwas giving a talk at my parish on avocation discernment retreat. He hadtalked with the Serra Club lady, andshe said I would be welcome at thatretreat even though I was not 18. I didnot know how he knew that I wantedto go.

Q. Where did you do your under-graduate study? What was yourmajor? Did you do graduate workbefore coming to the monastery?

A. I began my first year as a physicsmajor at Susquehanna University inPennsylvania, and I found that Ienjoyed my philosophy class morethan the physics class and was not asgood in calculus as I hoped I wouldbe. I transferred to Scranton University(a Catholic school) and switched mymajor to philosophy, graduating with aBA in philosophy in 2002.

I visited Xavier Monastery in upstateNew York, where they had a vocationdiscernment program, similar to theone that is conducted here at SaintMeinrad. I spent a month living in themonastery, doing monastic chores,working with sheep and attending littleclasses on the history of monasticism.

It was a wonderful experience, but Ididn’t think it was for me because I

Br. ThomasGricoski, OSB,made hissolemn monas-tic professionon August 15,2009. Then,on October31, 2009, hewas ordained

to the diaconate, the next step towardbecoming a priest. Br. Thomas dis-cerned early in life that he wanted tobecome a monk and a priest. In thisinterview, he tells about that journey.

Q: In what community did you growup? Were you always Catholic?

A: I was born in Hyattsville, MD, butlater my family moved back to myfather’s hometown of Frackville, PA.My father’s family was Catholic, mymother’s family was Protestant, and Iwas baptized and raised in theCatholic Church.

Q: Did your family background playa role in your decision to become apriest or monk? Who were yourheroes or mentors at this time?

A: Wanting to be a priest or a monkwas a bit of a rebellion, as my fatherwanted me to go to college and playsports. As a private detective, he had asecurity agency that provided securityguards to various institutions and busi-nesses, and I worked for him for awhile. He wanted me to follow in hisfootsteps, but I had other things inmind—such as being a scientist andthen a priest and if that didn’t work out….

My maternal grandmother was veryimpressed with what was going on. It helped that she was not Catholic,but was interested in my ecumenicaloutlook.

An interview with Br. Thomas and his journey to monastic lifewanted to teach and there was noschool. I did not know about SaintMeinrad yet, and I didn’t know aboutother monasteries. I considered theDominicans because of their teachingand preaching. Fr. Patrick Mohr, myJesuit professor, said that I should notjoin the Jesuits because I was notaggressive enough. I wanted to focuson prayer and community.

The only door open to me was thediocesan program, so I affiliated with theDiocese of Scranton. I knew that I want-ed to be a priest. They sent me to a semi-nary in Belgium—the American Collegein Louvain—where I spent two yearsdoing a master’s degree in philosophy.

After graduation, I returned toPennsylvania and was assigned to live atthe Immaculate Conception Parish inScranton as a pastoral intern. There Ihelped with RCIA and sixth gradeSunday school, visited hospitals andgave out Communion, served at Massevery day and helped at the food pantry.

The desire to be a monk was stillthere! While in Belgium, I had metSaint Meinrad monks Fr. Denis andFr. Aurelius and learned about SaintMeinrad, feeling that it would be agood place for me. I attended a retreatat Saint Meinrad in 2004 and fell inlove with the place.

I returned to the diocese, and thedesire to be a monk was stronger thanever. For two months, I remained withthe parish church, finding it harder topray and knowing I felt much happierwhen I was at the monastery. God wasleading me in the monastic direction.

I applied to leave the diocese. Thebishop approved, saying that I couldcome back at any time. At anotherretreat at the monastery during HolyWeek of 2005, I met Fr. HarryHagan, OSB, who was the vocationdirector. He helped me with applying

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question that I asked myself in dis-cernment was that if I had to choosebetween being a monk and not beinga priest or being a priest and not beinga monk, I would choose being a monkand not being a priest. My main desireis to be a monk with priesthood as apart of it.

Q. Is there any area of concentrationon which you would like to focusyour chosen vocation?

A: In my four years of being a monkhere, the part of monastic spirituality Ikeep going back to is the Institutes ofJohn Cassian and his teaching on theeight thoughts that come up when amonk tries to pray. I feel inclined tofind ways of applying this in my ownlife, and I find that this is mostly whatI do when I prepare a talk for theoblates or give a retreat.

Thomas J. Rillo, oblateBloomington, IN

What I found was that the communi-ty is really a part of the spiritual life inthe monastery. The community drawsyou outside yourself. It is easy to getcaught up inside with worrying aboutthings and having distraction inprayer. It is going out into the com-munity and going to the calefactoryand talking to Br. Mario Ibison, OSB.This immediately puts a smile on yourface, and it brings you outside your-self. It lets you see things in a biggerperspective.

Q: One of your goals is to become apriest. Has this been a constant inyour discernment?

A: Yes! Before I knew what a monkwas, I wanted to be a priest. After Iread Thomas Merton’s books and thevocational materials fromGethsemane, I read through the litera-ture that said only a few of the broth-ers were sent away to become priests.They did not need many priestsbecause the concentration was not inextending beyond the monastery wallsto do pastoral work.

Only a few priests were needed toadminister the sacraments to their fel-low monks. I knew that I wanted tobe a priest and realized that I did feelcalled to join that community. The

to Saint Meinrad, and I became anovice in August of 2005.

Q: Were there any internal or exter-nal influences affecting your discern-ment and decision to become amonk? Are there any publications byspiritual writers that might haveinfluenced you?

A: A parish priest in Scranton intro-duced me to the writings of ThomasMerton, a Trappist monk ofGethsemane Abbey. I read The SevenStorey Mountain, and this gave me myfirst interest in being a monk. I alsoread No Man is an Island and Seeds ofContemplation. This gave a feeling forwhat monasticism was like. I likedreading about the life of St. Dominicduring the time I was interested in theDominicans. A diocesan hermit friendtaught me a lot about monasticism.

I always felt more alive when I was inchurch and in liturgical prayer. Thismay be the internal influence that Ihave continually felt. It has alwayshelped me feel the presence of God andan intense desire to pray. My experi-ence at Mount Xavier in New York wasalso an internal energizing experience.

There were no distracting influences. Itwas an atmosphere of prayer in which Iwanted to stay. There were no radios ortelevisions. And instead of hearing pop-ular songs, one heard the psalms run-ning through your mind during theday when you prayed that morning.

Q: Did you really discern what liv-ing in a monastic community wouldbe like?

A: No! I joined the monastery know-ing that community life was a centralaspect. I did not expect communitylife to be that important to me, think-ing that I would able to be a monkalone in my cell praying all the time. Ithought that the community was justthe people with whom I lived. These oblates made oblation or were invested as novices during the 60th annual New York

oblate Labor Day weekend retreat.

VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATEDRecent volunteers in the OblateOffice were Monina Abrera, JerryCampbell, Ruth Engs, AnushkaFonseka, Brad Jensen, Thomas Lehr,Michael Luckette, Tom and JoanRillo, Dennis Skelton, DorothySoudakoff, George Thompson, ChrisToral, Stephanie Towle, and Jim andSteve Hulst. �

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UPCOMING EVENTS

February 20, 2010—Fr. Harry Hagan,OSB, will give a day of recollection forthe Louisville, KY, Oblate Chapter. Histopic is “Praying the Psalms.”

March 19-21, 2010—Fr. Noël Mueller,OSB, has chosen “Healing the Hurt ofHumanity: The Life of Obedience” asthe title for this oblate retreat.

May 15, 2010—The day of recollec-tion in Dayton, OH, will include Fr.Vincent Tobin, OSB. His topic will be“To Pray as Jesus Prayed: The Psalms inthe Liturgy of the Hours.”

June 14-17, 2010—Oblate StudyDays will be conducted by Fr. VincentTobin, OSB, and the topic will be “ToPray as Jesus Prayed: The Psalms in theLiturgy of the Hours.”

July 12, 2010—Fr. Brendan Moss,OSB, will give a day of recollection atSaint Meinrad Archabbey. His themewill be “Liturgy of the Hours.”

Pilgrimages—Br. Maurus Zoeller,OSB, is hosting two pilgrimages in2010 that have openings.

The May 9-19 trip to Austria andGermany will include the Passion Playof Oberammergau. The November 8-18 trip is a Benedictine pilgrimage toItaly (Venice, Florence, Assisi, Norcia,Subiaco, Rome). Call him at (812)357-6674 or e-mailmzoeller@saintmeinrad.edu. �

Vision statement of the Oblate Community

OBLATES: IN THEIR OWN WORDS

�“As an oblate, I focus moreon obedience, primarily toGod, and on humility inrelationships with others,

on my growth inspirituality by prayer lifewith the monks and daily

at home, and bystrengthening my abilityto share my faith with

other people and on myrelationship to God by

asking, “What does Godwant me to do?” ”

�

Gerald Campbell, oblateChillicothe, OH

We, members of the BenedictineOblate Community of Saint MeinradArchabbey, bear witness to the peacethat the Gospel of Jesus Christ andthe Rule of our holy father St.Benedict have brought into our lives.We embrace in our lives the valuestaught in the holy Rule of St. Benedict,according to our station in life: stabili-ty of heart, fidelity to the spirit of themonastic life, and obedience to thewill of God. These open us in love tothe social values of hospitality, serviceto others and responsible stewardship.

The goal of the oblate community isthe promotion of holiness in each ofits members. We seek to accomplishthis through common prayer andwork, by the grace of God.

We find value in being an oblate and invite others to share with us ouroblate vocation. We pledge to helpthose who begin their spiritual journey

as oblate novices to persevere in theirchosen path.

We look to the future, pledging ourselves to encourage the develop-ment of leadership qualities amongour oblates on the individual, chapterand organizational levels. We are faith-ful to the leadership of the Archabbotof Saint Meinrad Archabbey, asreflected in the Oblate Director he has appointed.

As Benedictine Oblates of SaintMeinrad Archabbey, who desire the peace and stability of Benedictinelife while living outside the monastery,we pledge to use our time, talent and treasure to continue the renewalstarted by our holy father St. Benedict.This oblate community will show to our Benedictine sisters and broth-ers, and to the world, the power of this vocation, lived with love and dedication.�

Tracy Andres makes her final oblation onNovember 29 in Manhasset, New York.Oblate Director Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB,presides.

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of Identity. In it, he wrote that we allwear masks of identity for specific situa-tions. Because in our overpopulated,urban society we are constantly bump-ing into one another, we counteract thisinevitable enforced contact by puttingon masks. We have one for the subway,elevator, shopping mall, supermarket,athletic events, concerts and theatre.

This wearing of multiple masks is away that people maintain their privacyand stay in control. What freedom ofchoice are they obeying? Putting onand taking off various masks does notspeak of obedience based on inno-cence and mutual love for our broth-ers and sisters. It would be a sacrilegeif an oblate put on a mask just forchurch, another for retreats and onejust for the kids’ soccer matches.

For oblates, the best demonstration ofobedience is to exercise great innerfreedom: the ability to judge what youdesire and what the other desires, andto choose freely to set aside yourdesires for the desires of another. Inessence, this is a description of theexercise of conscience. Conscience isnot the same as feeling. Conscience isthe inner process that enables one tolisten to voices that are beyond one’sfeelings and desires.

This inner process of judgment guidedby the power of conscience is at theheart of true obedience. You decidenot to have that extra drink becausean inner process of conscience enablesyou to discern the law against drunkdriving. This is a freely chosen obedi-ence, a conscientious choice.

At the beginning of Lent, the abbotsends out a form for an oblate to listbona opera, good works, to be per-formed for the Lenten season. Thecompleted form is then reviewed bythe abbot and consequently approved.The oblate is then obligated by thenature of oblation and obedience to

the monastic way to fulfill what he orshe freely chose to do as bona opera.

The obedience that Benedict calls foris an active obedience, an obediencethat struggles to obey because it isconstantly struggling to conquer self-will. Benedict expects instant obedi-ence from his monks, but does notexpect them to be mindless robots.

The monks are to struggle with obedi-ence. They are to be soldiers of Christ;as warriors, they are to do battle withthe devil and with themselves. It is sowith oblates. The struggle to obey isthe struggle of the spirit, and it iswithin that struggle that graceabounds. It is also from this strugglethat spiritual power flows.

It is said that those who have not yetbegun to struggle with obedience havenot yet begun to obey. The story ofobedience is one of rebellion, then ofrepentance, and then to return. This isvital for the path to salvation.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is anexcellent example of two sons andtheir obedience. One son struggleswith obedience and the other sonrebels. The son who rebelled repentsand returns, while the other son stillstruggles with obedience. The ques-tion is: which son becomes strongerbecause of the struggle?

Jesus tells another story of two sons.The father tells one son to go out tothe fields and work. He tells the otherson to do the same. The first son doesnot go and procrastinates. The secondson did not want to go at first, buteventually overcomes his struggle andgoes to the fields. Which son was thestrongest in his obedience?

The monks freely chose the monasticway of life and pledged their allegianceto the abbot. In a similar way, the oblatespledge their allegiance to the monasteryand the abbot. Monastic obedience can

Obedience from p. 1 be a simple road to religious freedomand thus it is full of pitfalls.

Some individuals embrace religiousobedience as an escape from the reali-ties of life. The monastic way is notfor those who seek its obedience outof a desire to opt out of the demandsof life. Some leave the monastic waywhen obedience becomes difficult.

St. Therese puts a lid on this notion bysaying there was freedom in obeyingeven when the superior seemed wrong.No one ever said that obedience wouldbe easy. The degrees of difficulty inobedience vary by individuals.

But the struggle within is ongoing andperhaps neverending. If it is born outof mutual love for one another, then itwill flourish and endure. It is in thisstruggle that monks and oblates havea common ground.

Questions for ReflectionWhat is your initial reaction to the word“obedience”? How does the monasticvow of obedience apply to you?

Do I obey everyone or just those whoare placed in authority over me? Canobedience help me with my relation-ships with others?

Obedience is defined as an attitudeand humility as an action. Have Ifocused on humility as a positive atti-tude? Have I meditated on the vow ofobedience to the point where it is anintegral part of my monastic oblation?

Do I see the relationship between obe-dience and the other monastic vows ofstability, hospitality, silence and con-version of life?

Can obedience help me internallywith meditation, prayer, fasting andstudy? Can obedience assist me exter-nally with simplicity, solitude, submis-sion and service?

Thomas J. Rillo, oblateBloomington, IN

Again, the book selection is by Albert Holtz, OSB. Thebook is Pilgrim Road: A Benedictine Journey ThroughLent (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2006).

Fr. Albert is a monk of Newark Abbey in Newark, NJ.He works in his monastery’s inner-city prep school,teaching courses in Christian Scriptures. For 25 years, hehas served as master of novices and as a retreat masterfor Benedictine communities in the United States.

I read this book as a part of my bona opera Lenten oblig-ation as a Benedictine oblate. I was profoundly intriguedas I read the few pages dedicated to each day of the 40days of Lent. Fr. Albert received permission from hisabbot to take a 40-day sabbatical that corresponded withthe season of Lent. It is a creative and thought-provok-ing travel guide for keeping a holy Lent in theBenedictine tradition.

Fr. Albert vividly describes his travels to other countriesand does his own illustrations with a fine artistic skill.Each day of Lent begins with a description of where Fr.Albert is visiting. He draws his readers into searching for

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the deeper meaning and boundless richness of their owntravels through life. He intersperses the monastic history,local lore and personal reflection with a Scripture read-ing and a quote from the Rule of St. Benedict.

This book, in Fr. Albert’s words, weaves the threads offour journeys into a single spiritual travelogue. Lent’sjourney from Ash Wednesday to Easter becomes a spiri-tual framework for the book. The four journeys are theLenten one, the inward journey with Jesus, the medievalpilgrimage and the sabbatical leave.

The chapters do not follow a specific format; rather theyare organized around six aspects of the wilderness jour-ney of the Israelites, one for each week of Lent. The top-ics are: self-discovery, fighting temptation, the call toconversion, meeting God, depending on the Lord foreverything and arriving in the Promised Land.

The book is a wonderful tool as part of the bona opera (goodworks) required of oblates during Lent. It makes the resur-rection of Jesus so much more of a spiritual awakening.

Thomas J. Rillo, oblateBloomington, IN

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