A comprehensive guide to living as an oblate - in the home, in society, at work and in the church. Written by experienced oblate directors from around the world, it is an essential, lifelong formative guide for anyone living or considering the oblate life.

\["For those drawn to the Benedictine way of life","Guides you in applying monastic wisdom today","You will find a deeper rhythm for your daily walk"\]

A comprehensive handbook for integrating monastic values into your daily home and work life.

Gervase Holdaway

The Oblate Life

Copyright information

Foreword

Introduction

Part One. The Benedictine World

I. The Benedictine Family

1. The Life of St Benedict

2. The Benedictine Heritage

3. The Origins and History of the Oblate Movement

4. Being Part of the Benedictine Family

5. To Go to Rome

Perspectives from an Anglican on the First Benedictine Oblates' World Congress

6. To Assemble an Oblate Collage

II. DISCERNING YOUR CALL

7. Life Choices

8. The House of the Lord

9. Suscipe Me, Domine! Uphold Me, Lord! Abba, Daddy, Pick Me Up!

A Meditation on Final Oblation

III. THE FOUNDATIONS OF AN OBLATE'S LIFE

10. Opus Dei

11. The Psalms

12. Lectio Divina

13. Silence

14. Prayer

IV. THE ESSENTIALS OF BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY

15. The Rule and the Oblate: Formation in the School of the Lord's Service

16. Shaping Holy Lives

17. Stability

18. Obedience

19. Moderation: The Key to Permanence

20. Benedictine Hospitality

Part Two. Living the Oblate Life

V. The Oblate in the World

21. Was Blind but Now I See

22. Creation

23. The Oblate Life: Spirituality at Work

24. Cyberspace, Community and the Oblate

25. Serving the Local Community

VI. THE OBLATE IN THE CHURCH

26. Serving the Local Church

27. Building Christian Unity

28. Benedictine Oblates and Interreligious Dialogue

VII. THE OBLATE IN THE HOME

29. Marriage and Family

30. The Single Oblate

31. Friendships and Relationships

32. Possessions

33. Leisure and the Benedictine Oblate

34. Health and Sickness

35. Doors: One Man's Story of Retirement

36. Aging and Death

Afterword

Part Three Resources for Oblates

VIII. APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Contributors to The Oblate Life

Appendix 2 List of Selected Monasteries with Oblate Programmes

Appendix 3 Further Resources

Appendix 4 The Medal of St Benedict

Appendix 5 A Glossary of Benedictine Terms

The pattern of religious life is changing dramatically. While the numbers of professed monks and nuns is small and falling, large numbers of men and women people are formally promising to live in the world by monastic values. Equally, churches are failing to win large numbers, but many are drawn to the simplicity and wisdom of monastic life. Among Benedictines, these are known as oblates. Here is a comprehensive guide to living as an oblate - in the home, in society, at work and in the church. Written by experienced oblate directors from around the world, it is an essential, lifelong formative guide for anyone living or considering the oblate life. Contributors include ROWAN WILLIAMS, ESTHER DE WAAL, MARIA BOULDING and dozens of other well known spiritual writers.

'This beautifully produced book is a precious resource for all who seek to understand and follow the rule of St Benedict.' RENEW

GERVASE HOLDAWAY is oblate director of Douai Abbey near Reading.

'This beautifully produced book is a precious resource for all who seek to understand and follow the rule of St Benedict.'

A comprehensive guide for those living or considering the oblate life. Features insights from experienced directors and renowned spiritual writers on monastic values in daily life.

\["For individuals seeking to live monastic values daily", "Helps you navigate spiritual formation in everyday life", "You will grow in faith and community through oblate living"\]

This handbook offers practical guidance for living the oblate life with spiritual depth.

Eden

If you are considering becoming an oblate, or simply want some advice for spiritual growth in daily secular life, this book is the best I have come across. It explains in a clear and easy-to-read manner the history of the Benedictine Order and the tradition of Benedictine Oblates; the virtues a Benedictine Oblate should cultivate; and how to live as an Oblate in daily life. It also has a wealth of links to extra resources. The book itself is wonderfully made, the cover is imitation leather and feels like that which it is imitating (it doesn't look or feel plastic as some imitation leathers do). It really is a treasure.

Fantastic

How to be an Oblate! The ecumenical group of essayists who produced this ‘manual’ on Benedictine oblation provide a very helpful background to this rapidly growing form of monastic observance within the world and outside the monastery. The historical outline of the development of oblation, contributions on the organisation, spiritual formation and possible future progress of the oblate life, all add to the importance of this book. Clearly the guidance of Abbot Primate Notker Wolf has been crucial in recent years, especially as he was the prime mover of the first Benedictine Oblates World Congress in 2005. Expect great things in the future.

A Handbook for Spiritual Formation

Oblate Life

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Oblate Life

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A comprehensive guide to living as an oblate - in the home, in society, at work and in the church. Written by experienced oblate directors from around the world, it is an essential, lifelong formative guide for anyone living or considering the oblate life.

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