Oblate

For the geometrical concept, see Oblate spheroid. For edible films made of starch, see Oblaat.

In Christianity (specifically the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist faiths), an oblate is a person associated with a Benedictine Monastery who is specifically dedicated to God and to God's service. Oblation may lead to monastic life for some, such as Br. Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B.

Oblates are individuals, either laypersons or clergy, normally living in general society, who, while not professed monks or nuns, have individually associated themselves with a Benedictine monastic community of their choice. Oblation is a "deliberate resolve of the will made before God and man and confirmed by a sacred rite," (Statute of Benedictine Oblates 2 )(annually renewable or for life, depending on the monastery with which they are affiliated) to follow the Rule of the Order in their private lives as closely as their individual circumstances and prior commitments permit. "The Statute of the Oblates of St. Benedict ... define the purpose of the Oblates, lay down the conditions for membership, and recommend the specific good works Oblates are expected to perform. The Statutes and the Holy Rule [of Saint Benedict] together form what might be called the Rule for Oblates." Such oblates are considered an extended part of the monastic community. The Divine Office is a focus of Benedictines and can be prayed with monks throughout the day in person, or live-streamed, such as with the monks of Worth Abbey who gather six times a day to celebrate the sacred liturgy at https://worthabbey.net/join-us-via-livestream/, provides a timetable and describes the six times of prayer including Mass, and reprints the changing Orders of Service so one can also participate in Hymns, Psalmody, Scripture Reading, Benedictus, Intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer and Collect.

Oblates are comparable to the tertiaries associated with the various mendicant orders. The term "oblate" is also used in the official title of some religious institutes as an indication of their sense of dedication, but are not Benedictine Oblates. (cf. oblation).

Origins and history

The word oblate (from the Latin oblatus – someone who has been offered) has had various particular uses at different periods in the history of the Christian church.

The children vowed and given by their parents to the monastic life, in houses under the Rule of St. Benedict, were commonly known by this term during the century and a half after its writing, when the custom was in vogue, and the councils of the Church treated them as monks. This practice continued until the Tenth Council of Toledo in 656 forbade their acceptance before the age of ten and granted them free permission to leave the monastery, if they wished, when they reached the age of puberty. The term puer oblatus (used after that Council) labels an oblate who had not yet reached puberty and thus had a future opportunity to leave the monastery, though puer oblatus can also refer to someone entering an abbey. At a later date the term "oblate" designated such lay men or women as were pensioned off by royal and other patrons upon monasteries or benefices, where they lived as in an almshouse or homes.

In the 11th century, Abbot William of Hirschau or Hirsau (died 1091), in the old diocese of Spires, introduced two kinds of lay brethren into the monastery:

1. the fratres barbati or conversi, who took vows but were not claustral or enclosed monks
2. the oblati, workmen or servants who voluntarily subjected themselves, while in the service of the monastery, to religious obedience and observance.

Afterwards, the different status of the lay brother in the several orders of monks, and the ever-varying regulations concerning him introduced by the many reforms, destroyed the distinction between the conversus and the oblatus.

The Cassinese Benedictines, for instance, at first carefully differentiated between conversi, commissi and oblati; the nature of the vows and the forms of the habits were in each case specifically distinct. The conversus, the lay brother properly so called, made solemn vows like the choir monks, and wore the scapular; the commissus made simple vows, and was dressed like a monk, but without the scapular; the oblatus made a vow of obedience to the abbot, gave himself and his goods to the monastery, and wore a sober secular dress.

In records from 1625, the conversus is reduced below the status of the commissus, inasmuch as he could make only simple vows for a year at a time; he was in fact indistinguishable, except by his dress, from the oblatus of a former century. Then, in the later Middle Ages, oblatus, confrater, and donatus became interchangeable titles, given to any one who, for his generosity or special service to the monastery, received the privilege of lay membership, with a share in the prayers and good works of the brethren.

Canonically, only two distinctions ever had any consequence:

1. that between those who entered religion "per modum professionis" and "per modum simplicis conversionis" the former being monachi and the latter oblati
2. that between the oblate who was "mortuus mundo" ("dead to the world," that is, who had given himself and his goods to religion without reservation), and the oblate who retained some control over his person and his possessions – the former only (plene oblatus) was accounted a persona ecclesiastica, with enjoyment of ecclesiastical privileges and immunity (Benedict XIV, "De Synodo Dioce.", VI).

Modern practices

Roman Catholic Benedictine Oblates

During a revival of monasticism, on June 17, 1898, Pope Leo XIII by decree conferred Canonical status and organized the modern Catholic Benedictine Oblates Secular, known popularly as Oblates, that still exist today. On July 23, 1904, the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars approved the Statutes and Rules for Oblates, and in response to queries, with a few slight alterations and additions, were again approved by a Rescript on March 24, 1927.

Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law 303 and 677 §2 creates and approves associations such as the Benedictine Oblates and Third Orders which are of equal standing, and both take precedence over Confraternities and Pious Unions. Canon Laws of 2013 that apply or guide Oblate formation include Canons 684, 487-681, 685, 686.1-3, 692, 693.1, 705, 693.2-3, 693.1, 696, 700, 703, 704, 705, 682. (Please use a cross-table of Canon Law to update to visitor's year when reading.) In 1927, the Vatican Congregation for the Religious, currently known as the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, promulgated the Statutes for Benedictine Oblates, ("Obl. O.S.B Statute" or "Statute" ) which governs all aspects of Catholic Oblates. "The relation between Oblates and the Benedictine Order is somewhat similar to the relationship between the Tertiaries and their respective First Order." Statute 11. The Oblate mottoes are: “UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICENTUR DEUS – That in all things, God may be glorified” and the simple word “PAX – Peace.” Statute 41.

Special Roman Catholic Benedictine Oblate Days

Every Tuesday is "Oblate Tuesday" consecrated to the holy Father Benedict by assisting at Mass or some other good work. The principal feast of Oblates is the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (November 21), when Oblates renew their Act of Oblation. Oblates especially celebrate the feasts of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin (February 2), the holy Father Benedict (March 21), St. Henry, Emperor (July 15), and St. Frances of Rome, Widow (March 9). Statute 32, 36, 37.

Activities of Roman Catholic Benedictine Oblates

Oblates "read and ponder over the Rule of our holy Father Benedict," "devote themselves to the practice of penance and prayer," "highly esteem those religious practices which are incumbent upon all the faithful, such as morning and evening prayers, devout assistance at Mass and other sacred functions on Sundays and holy days, prayers before and after meals," "zealously cultivate a special love for the sacred liturgy," assist "at the Divine Office chanted by the monks in choir, even on week days, or if this is not possible, they will at least unite with them in spirit,” "pray either the Divine Office or the Little Office of Our Lady," "worship of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and to the adoration of His most Sacred Heart," "cultivate a tender devotion to the Immaculate Mother of God, and pay all due honor to the Angels and Saints, in particular to St. Joseph and to our glorious Father Benedict, and to all the Saints of the Benedictine Order," "pray the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary [and] make the Way of the Cross," "pray earnestly for the triumph of holy Mother Church, for the spread of religion, for the extirpation of heresies and schisms, for the conversion of infidels, for the repentance of sinners, for the perseverance of the righteous, and for the relief of the souls in purgatory," "pray the Little Office of the Oblates, or five decades of the Rosary," "each morning, offer their actions of the day to God in honor of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, in imitation of the example of St. Gertrude the Great,” each month, meditate for a half hour before the Blessed Sacrament, or at least during one Mass," and "receive holy Communion frequently, even daily, upon the advice of their confessor." Statute 18,13, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, 34. There are other activities in the Statute of Benedictine Oblates.

Secular oblates

Many Benedictine communities still retain secular oblates. These are either clergy or laypeople affiliated in prayer with an individual monastery of their choice, who have made a formal private promise (annually renewable or for life) to follow the Rule of St. Benedict in their private life at home and at work as closely as their individual circumstances and prior commitments permit. Non-Lutherans may be oblates at Lutheran monasteries, such as Saint Augustine's House in Oxford, Michigan. Similarly in Methodist monasteries, non-Methodist Christians can be received as oblates. The same is the case with many Anglican monasteries, which accept non-Anglican Christians as oblates. Similarly, Episcopal churches also have non-Oblate Benedictine communities that are not associated with a monastery.

Conventual oblates

There is a number of conventual or claustral oblates, who live in a monastic community. If the person has not done so previously, after a year's probation they make a simple commitment of their lives to the monastery, which is received by the superior in the presence of the whole community. At the end of the canonical novitiate year, they make their oblation and promise obedience to the abbot, their willingness to share in monastic life and to place their own strengths at the disposal of the monastery and its mission. While the monks or nuns renounce all their own possessions with the solemn vows, a contract is concluded with the conventual oblates that regulates the mutual obligations. It also determines whether it is an oblation for a specific period of time or forever. The promise of an oblate can be dissolved by the oblate himself or by the abbot for a just reason.

Religious congregations that use "oblate" in their name

There are several religious orders (i.e., living the consecrated life according to church law) that use the word "oblate" in their name, or in an extended version of their common name. These are not oblates like the oblates (secular) and (regular), and should not be confused with them.

Examples include the:

• Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
• Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
• Oblates of the Virgin Mary
• Oblates of St Frances of Rome (founded 1433 in Italy, as a community of professed oblates living in common)
• Oblate Sisters of Providence
• Oblates of St. Joseph
• Oblates of Saints Ambrose and Charles

Notable oblates

• Saint Boniface
• Bede
• St. Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
• St. Hildegard of Bingen
• St. Frances of Rome
• Servant of God Dorothy Day
• Kathleen Norris
• Walker Percy
• Gottschalk of Orbais
• Cardinal Francis Eugene George, O.M.I.
• Saint Bishop Eugene de Mazenod, O.M.I.
• Cardinal Jean-Marie Rodrigue Villeneuve, O.M.I.
• Servant of God Romano Guardini
• Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska

See also

• Third order

External links

• Congregation of the Servants of Christ at St. Augustine’s House
• Oblates of Saint Brigid of Kildare Monastery
• Oblates of St. Frances of Rome
• International Benedictine Oblates
• Community of Jesus Oblates
• The Monastery of Our Lady and Saint Laurence, Orthodox