Oblate Formation Booklet

Table of Contents

• FOREWORD BY ARCHABBOT DOUGLAS R. NOWICKI, O.S.B.
• PREFACE
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• GENERAL STATEMENT
  • Why People Become Oblates
  • The Meaning of Oblate Life
  • Oblates as "Monasticism's Gift to the World"
• GUIDELINES FOR FORMATION OF OBLATE NOVICES AND ONGOING FORMATION OF OBLATES
  • Entering the Oblate Program
  • Who is Called to Be an Oblate of St. Benedict ?
  • Conditions for Becoming an Oblate Novice
  • Conditions for Becoming an Oblate
  • Recommended Practices for the Oblate Novitiate before Readiness for Full Oblation
  • Instruments of Ongoing Formation of Oblates after Oblation
  • Church Regulations Regarding Monastic Practices for Oblates
• OBLATES AND THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT
  • Applying the Rule Outside the Monastery
  • How to Read the Rule
  • The Various Parts of the Rule
    1. The Prologue
    2. Spiritual Doctrine
    3. The Liturgical Code, Chs. 8-20
    4. Practical Arrangements for Community Living
    5. Living in Commmunity: Seeking God in and through Dealings with People
• BENEDICTINE VALUES FOR OBLATES
  • Seeking God
  • "Prayer and Work" -- a Balanced Life
  • The Promises: Obedience, Stability, and Conversion of Life (RB 58)
    1. Obedience
    2. Stability
    3. Ongoing Conversion
  • Silence and Humility
  • Peace
  • Glorifying God in All Things
  • Community
  • Other Elements of Benedictine Life Significant for Oblates
    1. The Practice of Lectio Divina
    2. Reverence for Scripture
    3. Hospitality
    4. "Holy Leisure"
    5. Liturgy of the Hours ("Divine Office" - Opus Dei)
    6. Eucharist
    7. Care for the Poor and Social Concerns
    8. Prophetic Witness
    9. Stewardship and Care for the Environment
• A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE OBLATE MOVEMENT AND OF THE OBLATES AFFILIATED WITH ST. VINCENT ARCHABBEY
  • The Oblate Movement throughout the World up to 1930
  • The Oblates Affiliated with St. Vincent Archabbey: the Early Years, up to the 1930's
  • Revival of the Oblate Program at St. Vincent in the 1930's and 1940's
  • New Developments at St. Vincent in the 1950's and 1960's
  • New Developments at St. Vincent in the 1970's and 1980's
  • State of the Oblate Program at St. Vincent as of 1995
  • Meetings of Oblate Directors since 1948
• READING LIST FOR OBLATES
  • Books Specifically on the Rule and Benedictine Values
  • Other Books on Spirituality by Benedictine and Cistercian Authors
  • Other Books of Value for Spiritual Reading
  • Historical and Literary Books on the Rule, St. Benedict, Benedictine Life, and St. Vincent Archabbey
• APPENDICES
  • List of Breviaries
  • Prayers before and after Meetings
    1. Sample of Prayer before Meetings
    2. Sample of Prayer after Meetings
  • Benedictine Devotions and Hymns
    1. Litany to St. Benedict:
    2. Novena to St. Benedict:
    3. The Benedictine "Ultima":
    4. Hymn to St. Benedict (Taken from the Booklet Novena to St. Benedict, p. 39)
  • Form for Those Seeking Novice Oblation
  • Form for Oblate Novices Seeking Full Oblation
  • A Note about the Rule of the Master (Abbreviated as RM)
  • Benedictine Calendar and Partial List of Saints
    1. Benedictine Calendar for St. Vincent Archabbey
    2. Partial Listing of Benedictine Saints
  • Responsibilities of St. Vincent Archabbey towards Oblates
  • Revised Decree on Indulgences for Oblates

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