Oblate

Oblate?  What is that?  That was the question I asked my friend Tracey when she said she was in the process of becoming an oblate.  She mentioned it briefly on a late summer afternoon as we walked from the Abbey to our hotel on the island of Iona, Scotland after evening prayers.  

I didn't think much about it anymore until we got home and the word oblate kept coming to me in various ways.  Studying about prayer, emails, letters, facebook posts, etc.  When something returns to you time and time again, some folks call that a "sacred echo".  God is trying to tell you something.  He did this with me about several things.  "Be Still", "Listen", "Silence".  Yep,  hammered me about those wee topics. 

I've been visiting the monastery at Sacred Heart in Cullman for several years.  One day after a doctor's appointment in Birmingham, I was weary, confused and drained.  I ended up stopped at Sacred Heart to pray.  I really didn't even know I was headed toward the monastery.  Just kind of ended up there. 

The first time there, I felt kind of awkward.  I mean seriously....born and raised CoC girl hanging out in a monastery.   Weirdo.  No member of the community had invited me.  I had just felt the tug from God to go visit. 

I didn't go inside on that first, second or even third visit if I'm remembering correctly.  I just walked the grounds and prayed.  Just me and God. God seemed very near in that "thin place" type atmosphere.  One sweet sister passed me on the walkway to the sister's cemetery on my third visit.  "I've seen you here on the grounds before.  May I help you with something?"  

I told her my story about how I found the place.  I told her I was in a confusing place physically and spiritually.  I didn't know what God was doing in my life.  I felt so bad physically due to my illness and it was hindering my spiritual life.  She invited me in and said "Just walk around.  Breath in the peace.  We've been praying here for over 100 years."     
 And that's how my little monastic adventure began.

After slurping up the ancient monastic atmosphere on Iona, I was caught, as they say, hook, line and sinker.  I feel the breath of God sweep over me in that atmosphere.  I adore being in places where God has dwelt with His people so closely for many, many years.  On Iona over a thousand years and at Sacred Heart over a 100 years. Mind. blown.

So after being at the monastery time and time again, I did a little more digging into that word that Tracey shared with me.  

Oblate.  Strange word with a beautiful meaning.  Oblate means offering.  Through oblation we offer ourselves to God by living the wisdom of Christ as interpreted by St. Benedict.  

Long, long ago, St. Benedict wrote a set of guidelines based on scripture for his monastery to live together prayerfully and in harmony with one another focusing on prayer and work "Ora et Labora". This set of guidelines has become known as "The Rule".  It's a beautiful, Godly document that seeks to live "the word" through prayer and daily work.  Simple huh?  Not really.  

As in all things, our human nature tries to rear it's ugly  head and take away our offering to God by making us full of pride by putting ourselves above others and never seeking to communicate with God.  "The Rule" is an effort to draw you back to the word, think of others over yourself and seek much time in prayer to God.  MUCH prayer.

Oblates do not make vows like nuns and monks.  Instead, oblates make commitments to live as closely to Christ as they can in our communities, the work place and in our homes.  Oblates do not live at the monastery, but instead worship, learn and work with the monastery in order to spread "Ora et Labora" in their own churches, families and workplaces.  Though they remain laypeople, they share a beautiful, prayerful, spiritual union with their monastic community.  

Oblates commit to prayer with and for the monastic community.  And the monastic community commits to prayers for and with the oblates.  Official prayer partners so to speak.  

As an oblate, one strives to pray the Litury of Hours every day (Morning and Evening Prayers)  and also pray with scriptures in the practice of Lectio Divinia (divine reading).  

So I'm announcing to the world, I'm going through the oblation process.  I started officially last fall.  I go through an "inquiry" year of learning and praying.  Then I will go through a novice year of additional learning and praying.  Finally, I offer myself to the monastic community as a prayer warrior.  They are serious about preparing you for prayer journey.  

I haven't told a lot of people before because well.....it's a very personal decision that I realize some people will think is odd.  It's private.  I'm not doing it for anyone except for God.  I want to do as much as I can to learn to serve and communicate with Him more deeply.   I am so thirsty for time with God.  And I figure if I'm going to hang out down there so much, I might as well be a domestic nun :)  (That's my words, not theirs!)

Here is a poem written by the Oblate Director at Sacred Heart.  Her name is Sister Priscilla Cohen. 

The Gift of a Monastic Heart

O God,
I know you have blessed me with a monastic heart, 
a heart that thirsts
for your generous love and deeper relationship.

A  heart that truly wants to sing
your Mystery in prayer and action

A heart that wants to reflect your
generous spirit to all

A heart that wants to see your face 
in all those I meet

A heart that MUST believe
that you show me the way
to the narrow road I believe in,
the road I know I MUST stay on
with you and my community day after day after day
NO MATTER WHAT!

I do not,  in any way, want you to assume that I believe everyone should do this.  I don't.  It's a very personal calling of the heart.  I also don't want you to assume that I am becoming a Catholic.  I am not.  But I am learning from them, as I hope they are learning from me too.  Don't assume I agree with them on everything they practice and teach.  I don't.  I am a grown woman (old by some standards) who has the ability to discern for myself after much study and prayer.  But also don't assume I agree with everything the churches of Christ teach, the Methodist, the Baptist, the Episcopals, the Presbyterians.....you get my drift.  I believe in the Holy Word of God and I'm thankful  God gave me a brain that can read and think and make decisions on my own based on where the Spirit of God leads me after soaking up as much of His word as I can absorb.  Am I right on everything?  No.  But God knows my heart and He alone is to judge me. 

I think one of the most marvelous things about being in my late 40s is that I really have lost my ability to "spin cycles" over people who don't agree with me.  I'm old enough to say, "Well ok.  God bless you in your journey."  

I am an unashamed Christian, a seeker, a follower of my sweet Jesus.   Nothing more. Nothing less. I am a child of the God of this universe.  And He loves me more than I love Him. He loves me more than Angie loved ice cream.  :)  And that says a lot. 

Sooooo.....you are welcome to come with me on my little monastic adventure via my blog.  Feel free to ask me questions if you are interested.  Honestly I may not know the answers, but you can be sure I'll do my best to find answers.