Our Benedictine Values - Insights from the Rule of St Benedict
Awareness of God
To look for God not in the abstract but in the ordinary events of every day.
"We believe that the divine presence is everywhere." R. S. B. 19
Prayer
Attending to the mystery and sacredness of life, abiding in the divine presence, listening and responding to God.
"Listen intently to holy readings. Give yourself frequently to prayer." R. S. B. 4
Listening
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings.
"Listen ... with the ear of your heart." R. S. B. Prologue
Moderation
To be content with living simply and finding balance in work, prayer, and leisure.
"All things are to be done with moderation." R. S. B. 48
Dignity of Work
To appreciate the dignity of work in God's creation.
"...they live by the labor of their hands." R. S. B. 48
Hospitality
To offer warmth, acceptance, and joy in welcoming others.
"Let all...be received as Christ." R. S. B. 53
Brotherhood
"No one is to pursue what is judged best for oneself, but instead, what is better for someone else." R. S. B. 72
Stability
To cultivate rootedness and a shared sense of mission.
"To stand firm in one's promises." R. S. B. 58
Peace
To strive for peace on all levels: with self, others, and God. R. S. B. Prologue
PAX
We subscribe to the "Monk Manifesto"
Monk: from the Greek monachos meaning single or solitary, a monk in the world does not live apart but immersed in the everyday with a single-hearted and undivided presence, always striving for greater wholeness and integrity.
Manifesto: from the Latin for clear, means a public declaration of principles and intentions.
Monk Manifesto: A public expression of your commitment to live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life.
1. I commit to finding moments each day for silence and solitude, to make space for another voice to be heard, and to resist a culture of noise and constant stimulation.
2. I commit to radical acts of hospitality by welcoming the stranger both without and within. I recognize that when I make space inside my heart for the unclaimed parts of myself, I cultivate compassion and the ability to accept those places in others.
3. I commit to cultivating community by finding kindred spirits along the path, soul friends with whom I can share my deepest longings, and mentors who can offer guidance and wisdom for the journey.
4. I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish.
5. I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways.
6. I commit to rhythms of rest and renewal through the regular practice of Sabbath and resist a culture of busyness that measures my worth by what I do.
7. I commit to a lifetime of ongoing conversion and transformation, recognizing that I am always on a journey with both gifts and limitations.
8. I commit to being a dancing monk, cultivating creative joy and letting my body and "heart overflow with the inexpressible delights of love."* (*quote is from the Prologue of the Rule of Benedict)
(The Monk Manifesto is the work of Christine Valters Painter)
