Oblates And The Benedictine Way Of Life

An oblate is a Christian who offers himself or herself to God in association with a Benedictine monastery. Oblates are not monks, and they do not ordinarily live inside the cloister. They remain in their homes, workplaces, parishes, and families while seeking to shape ordinary responsibilities according to the spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

At Mother of the Redeemer Monastery in Plaisance, Louisiana, oblates share a spiritual bond with the Olivetan Benedictine community. Their commitment grows through prayer, fidelity, humility, and a steady desire to let the Gospel guide daily choices. The oblate vocation creates a bridge between monastic prayer and the wider Church.

The Benedictine Rule does not offer a narrow checklist. It presents a balanced pattern of life centered on prayer, work, community, obedience, hospitality, and conversion of heart. Oblates adapt these principles to their circumstances while remaining connected to the monks through liturgical prayer, formation, and friendship.

Living A Monastic Vocation In The World

The first responsibility of an oblate is to seek God faithfully within the life already given to him or her. A parent may practice the Rule by creating a peaceful rhythm of family prayer. A teacher may pursue patience and fairness as acts of Christian service. A retiree may offer time to the Church, the sick, or a neighbor in need.

This approach makes Benedictine spirituality practical. The oblate does not imitate the external details of monastic enclosure, manual labor, or communal schedules in a literal way. Instead, the oblate receives the inner purpose of those practices: to place God first, receive each day with gratitude, and become more attentive to the needs of others.

Oblation is therefore a long-term promise of spiritual direction. It calls for perseverance when enthusiasm fades and circumstances become difficult. The oblate returns repeatedly to prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and the wisdom of the Rule, trusting that holiness is formed through faithful repetition.

Prayer As The Center Of Daily Life

Prayer gives the Benedictine way its center of gravity. Oblates are encouraged to participate in the Church’s liturgical prayer as their circumstances allow, especially through Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, psalms, and intercession. Even a short period of quiet prayer can become a deliberate reminder that work and family life belong to God.

Lectio divina is another important Benedictine practice. Through slow, prayerful reading of Scripture, the oblate listens for the word that needs to be received and lived. The aim is not simply to gather information. It is to allow the Word of God to correct, console, and gradually reshape the heart.

The rhythm of the liturgical year also helps oblates remain connected to the monastery. Feasts of the saints, seasons of fasting, and celebrations of the Resurrection offer a shared spiritual calendar. Learning about the patronal celebration of the community through the Saint Benedict celebration can deepen an oblate’s appreciation for the saint whose Rule continues to guide the monastery.

Prayer also includes intercession for the monks, the Church, benefactors, visitors, and those who request prayers. In this way, an oblate participates in the monastery’s apostolate even when miles away. The prayer offered in a home or parish becomes part of a wider communion.

Stability And Faithful Presence

Stability is traditionally associated with remaining in one monastery for life. For oblates, this principle takes a form suited to their vocation. It means learning to remain faithful to God, to one’s legitimate responsibilities, and to a particular spiritual home rather than constantly searching for novelty.

An oblate’s connection with Mother of the Redeemer may include regular visits, correspondence, attendance at liturgy, spiritual conferences, or participation in oblate gatherings. These practices help develop a genuine relationship with the community. The monastery’s monastery news can also keep oblates aware of liturgical celebrations, community developments, and opportunities for prayerful support.

Stability does not mean refusing necessary change. Family duties, health concerns, employment, and other obligations may alter how an oblate participates. Faithfulness means returning to the essential commitment with honesty and patience. A stable spiritual life can grow through small acts repeated over many years.

This steady presence benefits both the individual and the monastery. The oblate receives encouragement and formation, while the monks are supported by a wider circle of people who understand and value their prayer-centered mission.

Work, Service, And Hospitality

Saint Benedict treats work as part of a balanced human and spiritual life. Oblates bring this teaching into occupations, household duties, volunteer service, and care for relatives. Honest work becomes an offering when it is performed with diligence, humility, and concern for the good of others.

Benedictine spirituality also teaches respect for every person and every task. An oblate may practice this by listening before speaking, completing an unglamorous responsibility without complaint, or treating coworkers with dignity. Such actions may appear ordinary, yet they form the habits of patience and charity that support Christian maturity.

Hospitality is another visible expression of the Rule. Oblates welcome guests, newcomers, and people who feel forgotten. They may support a parish ministry, assist someone in crisis, prepare a meal, or make room for silence when another person needs peace. Hospitality does not require constant activity; it begins with recognizing the presence and dignity of the person before us.

The monastery itself offers a setting where visitors can encounter prayer, quiet reflection, and liturgical life. Oblates can help extend that spirit beyond the monastery grounds by creating homes and communities marked by attentiveness, reverence, and generous welcome.

Benedictine Practices In Ordinary Circumstances

The Rule becomes fruitful when it is translated into specific habits. Oblates may use a simple daily plan rather than attempting an unrealistic schedule. The purpose is to establish regular points of contact with God and to make spiritual priorities visible.

A personal rule of life can include morning prayer, Scripture reading, attendance at Sunday Mass, an examination of conscience, and a set time for silence. It can also identify practical duties: speaking truthfully, limiting distractions, forgiving promptly, and serving family members without seeking recognition.

Helpful practices include:

These practices should lead to greater charity, not spiritual anxiety. Benedictine moderation encourages oblates to recognize their actual responsibilities and capacity. A faithful five-minute prayer offered daily may be more fruitful than an ambitious plan abandoned after a week.

How Oblates Support The Monastery

Oblates support the monastery first through prayer. They pray for vocations, perseverance among the monks, the needs of the Church, and the people who come seeking refuge or spiritual renewal. Their intercession reflects the monastery’s own mission of presenting the praise of God to the world.

They may also support the community through practical service. Depending on the monastery’s needs and the oblate’s abilities, this could involve hospitality, event assistance, grounds work, administrative help, transportation, or sharing information about retreats and liturgical celebrations. Every form of service should respect the monks’ way of life and be offered with humility.

Financial generosity is another possible expression of communion. Monasteries depend on benefactors for ordinary expenses, maintenance, and larger projects such as chapel expansion. An oblate gives according to personal means, without treating financial support as a requirement for spiritual belonging. Prayer and friendship remain essential gifts.

Formation keeps the commitment rooted in understanding. Oblates benefit from studying the Rule of Saint Benedict, learning about the history of the community, attending conferences, and speaking with those responsible for oblate formation. This ongoing learning prevents the vocation from becoming merely sentimental and helps it mature into a stable way of life.

Growing Through Conversion Of Heart

The Benedictine phrase conversatio morum points toward an ongoing conversion of life. It describes the willingness to let God reform one’s habits, priorities, relationships, and responses. Oblates live this conversion gradually, accepting that growth often appears through ordinary struggles rather than dramatic experiences.

This conversion requires humility. An oblate learns to receive correction, admit failure, ask forgiveness, and begin again. The Rule’s wisdom is especially valuable in family and workplace situations, where impatience and self-importance can quickly surface. Monastic spirituality offers a framework for responding with greater calm and responsibility.

Oblates also practice obedience in a broad Christian sense. They listen carefully to God, to the teachings of the Church, to legitimate authority, and to the wise counsel of those entrusted with spiritual formation. Obedience is not passivity; it is a disciplined willingness to seek what is true and good rather than making personal preference the final measure.

The result is a life that quietly reflects Benedictine values. Prayer becomes more regular, work becomes more purposeful, relationships become more patient, and service becomes less dependent on recognition. Through this gradual transformation, oblates carry the monastery’s spirit into places the monks may never visit.

To learn more about the community, its prayer, history, vocations, visiting opportunities, and ways to remain connected, explore the monastery website. Those drawn to the oblate vocation can begin by praying with the Rule, visiting Mother of the Redeemer when possible, and contacting the monastery for information about formation and participation. A faithful response often begins with one quiet step and grows through a lifetime of seeking God.