Oblate Formation 
Posts concerning Oblate and Novice formation. These include articles which are also applicable to most Christians, whether Oblate or not. Additional articles on instruction of various parts of the Rule can be found under that category.
Lincoln: The Overruling Power of God
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and… Read More ›
To Be Present to the Present
Being where we are — immersed in it, aware of it, alert to it — may well be the secret to living well, to living fully. It is a lesson to be learned. In a culture based on motion it is no small trick to allow ourselves to be present to the present, to see… Read More ›
The Benedictine Charism Today
What does the Benedictine charism offer to today’s world? Put another way, how does The Rule of St. Benedict and the vision of St. Benedict speak to us today, particularly to lay people like myself? About 15 years ago when my husband went to be the dean of Canterbury Cathedral, we went to live in… Read More ›
Deep
The human heart is deep; filled with longings and desires than can not be fulfilled. Or if they are, or seem to be, it is soon discovered that fulfillment is also an illusion. There is always something more to be attained or sought after. Relationships seem to be one of the main sources of suffering… Read More ›
Talent
I knew a Janitor once who for a hobby did carpentry and was an expert at it. He did not want to make a living making cabinets since it would take the pleasure away from his sideline. He also loved to give them away as gifts. Now that was a very intelligent choice. In fact… Read More ›
Thoughts have power
The test of life – one of the tests – is how we deal with thoughts: what enters our minds. Here is a real resolution. Which thoughts do we hold onto? Which thoughts do we choose to keep? Are we inclined to anger, dislike, or lust? It is in the interior discourse that sin begins… Read More ›
Encouragement
At times the inner voices can be just a little annoying, sort of like being bitten my mosquitoes on a summer evening walk, buzzing around the ears but really not too loud and not much of a problem to deal with. At other times these inner shouting’s can seem like a swarm of hornets, angry… Read More ›
What Child is This?
As we turn our eyes on Bethlehem and away from the rich and busy world, we recall the following lines: A little Child, A shining star, A stable rude, The door ajar. Yet in that place So crude, forlorn, The hope of all The world was born. If only the people of this world could… Read More ›
Love Lays Bare
It was a bitterly cold Christmas eve in Korea in 1952. A pregnant young mother, Bak Yoon, hobbled through the snow toward the home of a missionary friend where she knew she could find help. Tears of sorrow froze on her face as she mourned her husband. He had recently been killed in the Korean… Read More ›
Astounded
As I age (I have just turned 62), I find myself being astounded at the turn of events in my life. In the past, when I went to the doctor, it was a simple matter of going in and getting a clean bill of health; it was expected and I was not disappointed. Then when… Read More ›