Contemporary Religious Life

From the earliest days of the Church, individuals have been compelled by the calling of the Holy Spirit to consecrate themselves to God in a vowed life.

As early as the third century, men, and later women, answered that call and bound themselves to a particular community and to a way of life that is now known as monastic.

One of the great events in Religious life occurred in the sixth century when a young man named Benedict, who was studying in Rome, became disheartened with the worldliness that existed both in the Church and in society. He abandoned his studies and became a hermit for several years at a place called Subiaco, where in time he acquired a reputation for holiness and miracles. Attracting many followers, Benedict established monastic communities at Subiaco, Terracina, and Monte Cassino. It was at Monte Cassino that he wrote a Rule which combined moderation with fidelity to the best traditions in Christian monasticism. During the following centuries, his monastic way of life spread throughout Europe, and Benedictine monasteries and convents became the principal centers of prayer, culture and education.

For the next 1500 years, hundreds of communities used the Rule of St. Benedict as a model and have modified it to meet the needs of their time and circumstances. Whatever the modification, the principles of Benedictine spirituality remained intact.

The spiritual pillars of prayer, work, sacred reading (lectio divina), study, meditation, reflection, and contemplation lay at the heart of Benedictine Vowed Religious life.

The Companions of St. Luke ~ OSB: A Unique Expression of Benedictine Life

On June 13, 1992, a new formulation of Benedictine life came into being. With the permission of the Diocesan of Chicago, Bishop Frank Griswold and the oversight of Bishop John-Charles, FODC, Abbot Michael-John founded the Companions of St. Luke ~ OSB.

Traditional Benedictine life was also something that had previously happened within the confines of a cloister. Abbot Michael-John, while strongly supporting traditional community life, moved beyond tradition and gave the Companions the choice of living in community or apart. The monastery became an ideal, a living organism that no longer was bound by brick and mortar. The Companions of St. Luke have a physical Abbey, which is their spiritual home, but those who, for whatever reason, choose to live apart carry the monastery with them, in their minds and in their hearts.

Formation

There is no time when a Religious is not in the process of “becoming” the vocation he or she has been called to. When the Companions speak of formation, we speak of a lifetime endeavor.

There are sign posts along the way. Postulancy lasts for approximately six months, the novitiate for two years, Simple Vows for three years and Life Profession, as the name implies, for a lifetime. During each of these periods, there are required readings, reflection papers, study, private prayer, contemplation, meditation, sacred reading(lectio divina), the Divine Offices, and, of course, work.

Recognizing that our “work” may be outside of the monastery's walls, the formation program is challenging but sensitive to the demands of a contemporary Religious Life lived outside the cloister.

Benedictine vows

If Benedictine life is known for one thing other than its monasteries, prayer life, monastic work, and schools of higher education, it would be for its three-fold vows.

After preparation, each Benedictine Brother and Sister voluntarily takes the vows of Obedience, Conversion of Life, and Stability. These three vows are the foundation upon which Benedictine Religious life rests. So closely are these vows knit, that one vow without the others would produce something alien to the Benedictine experience.

Obedience

In the fifth chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict, our Holy Father writes: “The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience, which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all. Because of the holy service they have professed, ...they carry out the Superior’s order as promptly as if the command came from God himself. The Lord says of men like this: No sooner did he hear than he obeyed me (Ps. 17[18]:45; again, he tells teachers: Whoever listens to you, listens to me (Luke 10:16).

Benedict tells us that obedience is found in those who cherish, or love, Christ. Therefore, we can accurately say that love lies at the heart of obedience. Because of love, Religious set aside their personal will and opinion, so that they might obtain, through obedience, the union with God that they truly seek.

Our Lord, when calling his disciples, said that they should not look back to the things that would inhibit their discipleship, even if those responsibilities had merit. They were to simply “follow”. Those who could not, could not be his disciples.

Because of their love, Religious no longer desire to control their lives and the lives of those around them. To obtain humility, the Religious will struggle to turn away from self-will, praying only to be filled with the riches that Christ has already obtained for all Christians on the cross.

So, it is for love, because of love, that Religious listen with attentive ears, and respond willingly to the call of Christ and those whom he has placed among them for their spiritual benefit.

Conversion of Life

Christian life has always been about seeking transformation. We want to put off the old self and put on Christ. Christian living is about becoming something more than what we are today.

Having planted the seed of obedience in his first vow, Benedict knew that transformation was critical to salvation. The second of his vows, Conversion of Life, went to the heart of that struggle.

>Medicine tells us if we have a destructive force in our body, certain measures need to be taken, and taken quickly, to offset harmful presence. This is also true of our habits, actions, thoughts and cultural biases. Unlike many diseases which have pronounced symptoms and are easily diagnosed, our intentions, thoughts, and actions can go undiagnosed, while producing such evils as prejudice, hate and bigotry.

Conversion of Life is the antidote to such destructive forces. Religious learn through the application of this second vow, that they are in need of a physician-Christ. Their thoughts, actions, and deeds are no longer theirs, but Christ’s to be transformed.

Stability

To complete the triad, Benedict added stability to round out the Benedictine life.

Having established the parameters of obedience and conversion of life, Benedict knew that stability would help the monastic realize the fruits of the other two vows. For stability was not something that could be found in the wanderings of a luke-warm monastic. Stability could only be produced by the intense co-mingling of the other two vows. This co-mingling produced the recognition that Christ was the only sure foundation upon which to build one's faith and belief system. Like St. Peter’s great proclamation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, all other pretenders to the heart of a monastic must fall away, leaving only Christ. All other actions stem from this creed, and all other fruits of the Spirit come from this Stability.

Obedience, Conversion of Life, and Stability are vows taken by Professed Religious of the Companions of St. Luke ~ OSB. These vows are conceived in the heart of each Brother and Sister upon entering Religious life, and given birth at Profession. Through these vows a Benedictine is bound to their monastery, their spiritual home, for life.

Who can take vows?

The particulars are simple. You must be 21 years of age or older, a member in good standing within the Episcopal Church, and the larger Anglican Communion. You must be in good health, of sound mind, and demonstrate spiritual maturity.

That’s the simple part. The more difficult part is a matter of discernment between you, God, and the Community you wish to be a part of.

If you are not sure that you have a calling to Religious life, ask yourself if any of the following apply to you: