“To live till we die— being willing to go on learning all the way to the end— takes a great deal of emotional balance. To be amenable, to continue working through all the dimensions of life till we see their value for us is the essence of spiritual maturity.”

A brilliant quote by Joan Chittister, OSB. She strikes the heart as we all find ways to grow in our spiritual lives. The Benedictine value of stability gives insight on spiritual maturation.

Stability is not a static or outdated form of life. The idea of stability is that a professed Benedictine monk stays in one place for life. Such permanence allows their hearts to be rooted through the daily sacrifices and prayers offered in the community. Stability is a commitment to honestly live life together in pursuit of Christ, a permanence that exudes constructive and charitable accompaniment.

How does monastic stability work for me and those who live outside the monastery?

As disciples, we accept the invitation to stay committed to God, prayer, and life in every season, storm, and triumph. We stay until the lesson is learned. There is an inner energy that guides us through the valleys and hills of life. Everyone will experience the emptying of life when we loose friends and family in death, when we transition in jobs, when we experience inner collapse and need that still strength within to see us through. When we are emotionally balanced and open to lifelong learning, we can bear life in its multifaceted dimensions. We find peace in the recognition that Christ is in it all. This is stability. It is fitting to consider this Benedictine value with my young Benedictine heart on this particular day.

An Anniversary

June 16 is the anniversary of my baptism. My parents claimed me for Christ and I was washed in the baptismal font that still stands at Saint Patrick’s Church in San Francisco.

It is also the third anniversary of becoming an oblate of Mount Angel Abbey. Here is the video clip when I made my oblation before Abbot Jeremy in 2023.

What is a Benedictine Oblate?

To make oblation is to offer your total life as a gift to God. Oblation strengthens baptismal commitment and grafts you to a particular benedictine monastery, embracing its long standing benedictine values of work and prayer. An oblate makes a formal and permanent commitment to a monastery with a life centered on lectio, work, and liturgy, remembering the monks of Mount Angel in so far as our state in life permits. These values are lived out in our parishes, families, and work place.

Becoming an oblate at Mount Angel is a year-long process, a journey of spiritual growth and self-discovery. After meeting with the Director of Oblates, I underwent a novice year. Within this year, there are monthly gatherings in-person/online where monks offer talks on the life of Benedict, Liturgy, and the Rule, guiding many of us on the path to spiritual maturity.

After a year of discernment, a period of thoughtful reflection and prayer, I made a retreat to decide if I was called to embrace Mount Angel Abbey as my permanent spiritual home. This discernment period is crucial, allowing one to make a decision that is deeply rooted in faith and response to God’s invitation.

I feel deeply grateful that I have found a spiritual center, a place I can call home after such a long, well-lived journey.