Conception Abbey

Special note: The oblate retreat that was scheduled for April 13-15, 2012, has been changed to April 27-29, 2012 and will be given by Abbot Gregory on the "Revised Grail Psalms." Please mark the dates on your calendar. The fall retreat this year will be on the dates already published – October 7-9, 2011 and will be given by Fr. Kenneth.

How do oblates follow the vow that we monks take called "stability?" What is the meaning of this vow in our day? In his rule St. Benedict in chapter 58 talks about the reception of new members into the community. In this chapter he says: "When he is to be received, he comes before the whole community in the oratory and promises stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience." These are still the vows we make today in the monastic life at Conception Abbey. In other words poverty and chastity, or celibacy, are not mentioned but are included in the three vows that are taken.

The oblates do not use these same words in your act of final oblation but you do promise to be faithful to the rule of St. Benedict in so far as you can in your state in life. So what does stability mean for the oblate?

Obviously stability does not mean we never move or go anyplace. I see stability first of all as saying to me that I am to be faithful to the promises I make. In other words I don’t take these vows and then in five or ten years or more decide this is not for me. And I would see the same as applying to an oblate. You do not of course take vows, but you do make promises. Since I have been oblate director I have tried to emphasize that these promises should be taken seriously. So when, as oblates, you read the rule of St. Benedict and come across this word stability, to me that means you are going to try to be faithful to your commitment.

A person who is forever changing his/her life work or spiritual life, eventually you begin to wonder what the person is looking for. Sometimes I think we are looking for heaven on earth but we know very well that nothing will ever completely satisfy us, except God. Sometimes a change has to be made. But, think of the people who you know who have perhaps changed their work time after time or changed their church time after time. Stability I think means we are going to center our life on God and be faithful to the commitment we have made.

My commitment was and is to Conception Abbey. You as oblates have also made a commitment to Conception Abbey. Of course you can get out of that. Of course it is not a sin to change that in your life. But still it seems to me that St. Benedict wants stability in his monks and I would look for the same in oblates who are affiliated with Conception Abbey.

The purpose of the oblate novitiate is to decide whether or not you want to follow this life. And for a person to tell me he or she no longer wants to be an oblate at this stage is fine. It does not bother me at all. But, it does bother me to have oblates tell me later on that they no longer want to be an oblate. Of course I will do it at their request but it still bothers and I want to pray for them. Now sometimes because of an oblate moving to another locality they want to change their affiliation to a monastery closer to them. I certainly understand that.

So let us continue to pray for one another. As you know I send out many requests from oblates asking for prayers and I want to continue that. At the same time we here at Conception also want you to know that you are prayed for everyday in our prayers, at the celebration of the Eucharist and in our own private prayers. We hope you always do the same for us. That is what it means to be a part of the family of Conception Abbey.

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