1. What is a Monastic Vocation Like? Benedictine Monks In the Nation's Capital SAINT ANSELM'S ABBEY Washington, D.C. English Congregation 2. KEYS TO BENEDICTINE LIFE A RULE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF VICES AND THE PRESERVATION OF CHARITY. AN ABBOT AS A SPIRITUAL FATHER. A SCHOOL IN THE LORD'S SERVICE. THE WORK OF GOD (OPUS DEI) HAS FIRST PLACE IN COMMUNITY LIFE. SPIRITUAL READING (LECTIO DIVINA) HAS COMPARABLE TIME WITH WORK. STABILITY IN THE MONASTIC WAY. 3. PRAYER - ORA NOTHING IS TO BE PREFERRED TO THE WORK OF GOD (Opus Dei). Rule of Benedict Chap 43 4. WORK - LABORA IDLENESS IS THE ENEMY OF THE SOUL. Therefore the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 48 5. Fr. Peter planting annuals 6. Fr. Christopher repairing shed roof 7. Fr. Philip cooking stirfry 8. Fr. Boniface and Br. Ignacio arrange altar flowers 9. Raking leaves in graveyard 10. It had to come down. Br. Isaiah 11. On Sunday... if anyone is so remiss and indolent that he is unwilling or unable to study or to read, he is to be given some work in order that he may not be idle. Brothers who are sick or weak should be given a type of work or craft that will keep them busy without overwhelming them or driving them away. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 48 The bane of idleness 12. SPIRITUAL READING LECTIO DIVINA IDLENESS IS THE ENEMY OF THE SOUL. Therefore the brothers should have specified periods for prayerful reading. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 48 13. Fr. James in the front circle 14. Abbot Aidan in the cloister garth 15. Lectio in the monks' choir 16. HOSPITALITY All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ. Great care and concern are to be shown in receiving poor people and pilgrims, because in them more particularly Christ is received; our very awe of the rich guarantees them respect. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 54 17. Christmas dinner with guests 18. Visiting Abbot at Informal Lunch with the Monks 19. St. Louis monks & students for Right to Life March 20. must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ. Let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. Still, sick brothers must be patiently borne with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 36 CARE OF THE SICK 21. Fr. John and Br. Dunstan 22. Abbot Aidan and Rowena 23. Fr. Joseph recovering 24. Fr. Hilary and Aide Stephen 25. FRATERNAL CHARITY Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness so there is a good zeal which leads to God and life everlasting. They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom. 12), supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior. Rule of St. Benedict Chap. 72 26. Fr. Christopher & Br. Ignacio relaxing 27. Coffee & dessert Sunday 28. Enjoying picnic by the sea 29. Recreation after supper 30. MINISTRIES TEACHING university & secondary school levels CHAPLAINCIES sisters' convents & lay groups. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION CONFESSIONS ASSISTING IN PARISH WORK RETREATS for parishes, priests, religious and lay groups. 31. Br. Ignacio in Spanish class 32. Oblates on Profession Day 33. Fr. Christopher & Friday night prayer group 34. EXTENDED VISIT one month or more POSTULANCY - up to one year NOVITIATE - one year SIMPLE VOWS - three years SOLEMN VOWS - for a lifetime STAGES IN BECOMING A MONK 35. Postulants on an outing 36. Clothing of Brothers as Novices 37. Simple profession (Vows) 38. Solemn Profession 39. As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with inexpressible delight of love. PERSEVERANCE 40. Monks at Semp Memorial 5K Run