Monastic Futures - Contemporary Culture II

by E Bogue on Jun 15, 2011

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Second of two presentations for the Benedictine Renewal Program in Crookston, Minnesota. Focus on the application of St. Benedict's ancient Rule to 21st century realities.

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Second of two presentations for the Benedictine Renewal Program in Crookston, Minnesota. Focus on the application of St. Benedict's ancient Rule to 21st century realities.

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Monastic Futures - Contemporary Culture II — Presentation Transcript

Culture Shift:The Shape of Monastic Life in the Future
Sister Edith Bogue
Benedictine Renewal Program
Mount St. Benedict Monastery
Crookston, Minnesota
16 June 2011

Given the bleak picture of the future, can we be confident that monastic life has a future?

Yes.
The archetype of a monastic – an ascetic who seeks beyond the boundaries of society – is ever present in society.
Religions produce a group of athletes or specialists or they die out.
The evolutionary psychologists show us, more and more, that our brains are hardwired for contemplation.

It will certainly be different and diverse
Membership may be time-limited, not permanent.
Residential monastic communities may include both men and women and families
There are already web-sites that call themselves a “virtual monastery”
The focus is unlikely to be institutional (hospitals, schools)
Life-long monastics are likely to be fewer in number,but important for the mentoring of others.

Formed by our place & our history

Transition & change is hard

Three elements that will be focal for monastic life in the future
Meeting Christ in other people
Living outside the ways of the world
Building bridges across chasms asa path to peace.

Meeting Christ
8

"Try to be the first to show respect to the other"… "as if they were Christ in person"

The spirit and culture of the age will come into the monastery.Patterns are wired in our brains early in life.It is present all around.It seems invisible.

Meeting Christ in the sick and elderly — and in all who are vulnerable

Preserving & transmitting the skills of commitment, stability, fidelity.

Ponder for a moment:What, in our current way of life, will provide a foundation? A challenge?How can we nurture this new life?

(Break)
14

Living outside the “Ways of the world”
15

"Your way of acting should be different from the world's way."

A focus on praxis, on living the monastic way of life, on practices that can be learned, taught, and passed on.

Enclosure: A form of simplicity — guard of the heart — limits the accumulation of stuff and freneticactivity and connection

Ponder for a moment:What, in our current life, can we nurture? What should we leave behind?What different models of monastic life can we imagine?

Building Bridges of Peace
20

"That nobody may be disturbed or grieved in the house of God"

Building bridges

Listening, learning, and conversing with the diversity of monastic communities.

The common goodHow can we cultivate it?

"Convinced that the good which is in them … must be from the Lord"

"What can be sweeter to us, dear ones, than this voice of the Lord inviting us?"

"Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep"

"Prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together into everlasting life"

Culture Shift:The Shape of Monastic Life in the Future
Sister Edith Bogue
Benedictine Renewal Program
Mount St. Benedict Monastery
Crookston, Minnesota
16 June 2011

Monastic Futures - Contemporary Culture II

by E Bogue on Jun 15, 2011

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Monastic Futures - Contemporary Culture II — Presentation Transcript