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May 4, 2023Every year, Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee holds a Spring and Fall Oblate Sunday for the more than 200 active oblates.
A Benedictine oblate is a person committed to the service of a particular Benedictine monastery, but not under monastic vows or the monastic rule. An oblate can be any lay or clerical person (single or married) committed to living a Christian life in the world (in their personal vocations) in harmony with the spirit and the rule of Saint Benedict.
Becoming an oblate is a unique and personal calling. “To make an oblation means to make an offering of self to God,” said Father Nicholas Ast, O.S.B., the oblate director at Saint Gregory’s Abbey.
The Oblate Program at the Abbey has been in place for as long as most senior monks can remember. The interest has been steady over the years, with four-to-six novices admitted to the program and a similar number of oblate novices making their final oblation every year. During the enrollment ceremony, the oblate novices receive the Jubilee Medal of Saint Benedict along with the rule and the handbook for oblates. The oblate novices making their final oblation sign an official certificate as a pledge of their life-long commitment, which is also sealed with the signature of the presiding abbot.
“People are interested in becoming an oblate because of the kind of spirituality that the rule of Saint Benedict offers. The rule has been around for over 1,500 years. It has proven its validity and relevance for centuries, and it attracts many people because it provides stability in their lives. They find it consoling, accessible and edifying; it is something they can do, and which anchors them in their spiritual lives,” said Father Nicholas, O.S.B.
Father Martin Lugo, O.S.B., who served previously as the oblate director at the Abbey, concurred with Father Nicholas, O.S.B.
“People are looking for spirituality that will help them balance their life of prayer and work. And this is exactly the motto of Saint Benedict written in his rule, ‘Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus,’ (In all things God may be glorified) said Father Lugo, O.S.B.
Father Lugo, O.S.B. also mentioned Raïssa and Jacques Maritain, French Benedictine oblates and Servant of God Dorothy Day, a U.S. oblate – all three currently on the path to canonization, as he continued to explain the special calling of the oblates, “Oblates should imitate the Benedictine missionary spirit by spreading the Gospel values not only for their own sanctification but by helping others to become holy, through small or great things, by making their ordinary personal and professional lives Christ-centered in all they do, while respecting God’s creation, and loving and preserving the beauty of the nature.”
Potential candidates are invited to contact the oblate director at [email protected], and submit an application, upon which they become enrolled as oblate novices for one year on Oblate Sunday.
During their personal discernment process the novices will decide individually if they are ready to make the final oblation for life the following year, or at a later date. The amount of participation in the Abbey prayer life and service is voluntary, while most oblates are spiritually connected with the monastery through prayer, the Divine Office, readings and reflections on the Scripture and frequent participation in the Holy Eucharist at their places of residence.
Father Nicholas, O.S.B. encouraged interested persons to consider becoming an oblate.
“For everyone interested in becoming an oblate of the Abbey, we invite them to come visit us here at the monastery first and connect with other oblates to learn how they live their oblate spirituality in their personal lives,” Father Nicholas, O.S.B. said.
More information and resources about Saint Gregory’s Abbey Oblate Program can be found at monksok.org/oblates.
Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: Fr. Nicholas Ast, O.S.B. Photo Jad Ziolkowska/Sooner Catholic.
