St. Benedict’s Abbey and Benedictine College are hosting the American Benedictine Academy meeting this year here at the college. The meeting will begin on Thursday, August 5 and end on Sunday, August 8. Oblates are invited to attend one or any of the listed talked to be held in O’Malley-McAlister Auditorium in the Student Union.

Benedictines and Evangelization

Thursday, 7:00 p.m. Lecture – Father Ezekiel Lotz, O.S.B.
“The Benedictine Mission to Post-modern Culture”

Friday, 9:00 a.m. Lecture – Sister Ephrem Hollermann, O.S.B.,
“Where There Was Need: American Benedictines and Evangelization”

Friday, 2:00 p.m. Lecture –Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, O.S.B.
“Benedictines in Modern Times”

Friday, 7:30 p.m. St. Benedict’s Abbey Church
Music by Abbot Notker Wolf, Dr. Ruth Krusemark, Father Blaine Schultz and Sister Janelle Maes

I hope some of you can make to one or several lectures or the fine musical presentation in the evening.  If you have volunteered to assist with the meeting please contact Father Meinrad and let him know. E-mail or 360-7867 as soon as possible.

Monastic Institute – Listening with the Ear of Your Heart

On July 15 a monastic institute for oblates was held at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery. Oblates Patty Wolvington, Anne Eggers and Oblate Director Brother John Peto attended the four day institute. The speaker, Father Dan Ward, is a monk of St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota. He is a civil attorney as well as a canon lawyer, and he brought a well formed, consistent theme to the talks. The hinges of Father Dan’s talks were the parable of the Prodigal Son and the unconditional love that God has for each of us. During the sessions, Father Dan would bring our attention back to the parable again and again, allowing us to discover how closely God’s affection for us is mirrored in the father’s love for his wayward son. The joy that the father in the parable feels when he sees his son walking toward home in the distance is tied to the love that God feels for us as we draw closer to Him.

A film, “Babette’s Feast” , was shown as used as a meditation on another aspect of unconditional love. An interesting discussion in small groups followed.

"The institute was richly rewarding in many ways. Father Dan’s gentle manner and thoughtful presentations were well received. The hospitality of the Benedictine Sisters at the Mount has no equal and the presence of oblates from all over the country made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience." -  Patty Wolvington

At the July meetings Anne Eggers and I presented some information about the Oblate Patrons: St. Frances of Rome and St. Henry the Emperor. After listening to the lives of these two saints we can clearly see them as persons who were able to live outside the walls of a monastery and bring Benedictine spirituality to all those they met in daily lives.


August meetings:

Saturday, August 14 at 9:30 a.m. Crypt Elevator Area

Wednesday, August 18 at 2:00 p.m. Lower Lounge of the Abbey Guest House (College using crypt area that day)