Oblate Program

Our Oblate program is for laity who choose to follow a pattern of Benedictine prayer and spirituality. These men and women support the Church through prayers of intercession, while working on their own spiritual advancement.

An OBLATE of The congregation of Roman Orthodox Benedictines is someone living in society (i.e. a lay person) who has heard God's call to guide their life according to the Rule of St. Benedict, and who has responded to that call by living in spiritual union with our community. This union is established and made explicit through the promises made at the ceremony of Final Oblation.

Oblates sometimes have meetings on a regular basis. Some, however, prefer to live as oblates in greater solitude, maintaining their contact with the order through private retreats and visits.

The Call: 
Like all religious life, the Roman Orthodox Benedictine life is the response to a call from God. This is not something we decide ourselves, it is a gift we receive. It is not just a simple personal choice. It is out of love that Jesus calls us to follow him in a religious vocation.

The Answer: 
This calling from God is left to the freedom of man; God makes a gentle offer, He does not impose. Today there is added difficulty that might exist in responding to this call. Rarely viewed in esteem, The Benedictine life is so far from, and often seems so contrary to what the modern world holds as valuable that few are ready to accept it.

The Oblate:
The candidate for Oblate must have a profound desire to consecrate their life to prayer and the search of God in love. The oblate must have a desire for work and prayer (Ora et Labora). This is the framework on which the Benedictine life is built. Since the Roman Orthodox Benedictines are not hermits, there is a strong sense of communal life which cannot be disregarded. It is therefore imperative that the candidate not only have a penchant for our Benedictine Spirituality, but for communal life as well. Even though we may sometimes be geographically separated, we are still in every way a community. Among other necessary qualities, are mental balance and judgment. We can further add: a maturity capable of preparing oneself to make a commitment to a new life, a spirit of faith and openness that allows itself to be led by obedience, and stability are also necessary.

The call to this life will often present itself by a desire which might suddenly appear, or it may show itself slowly over time. In practice, it is not easy to judge from a distance the proper traits and aptitude of the candidate. This is why, an application, interview, and a period of prayer and contemplation are necessary to help discern God's calling.