By Amy Carr
Benedictine Oblates treasure a commitment to community, even as the form community takes for us varies a great deal, depending on our circumstances. In the past months I’ve become aware of my own vision for an ideal community for theologians. It’s an ideal that will never become a reality, but it settles me out to have recognized what I would like, even if it does not exist. Continue Reading
By Amy Carr
Stability of place: this is a Benedictine value that’s always seemed so against the immigrant American sensibility, and a wider North American value of moving for the sake of educational opportunity, greater financial success, urban excitement (or suburban amenities), escape from misfortune, or the desire to see and do more. Continue Reading
Make plans to attend this year’s Oblate retreat featuring a presentation by Sister Edith Bogue, OSB, St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, Minn. Continue Reading
These unexpectedly cooler July days, here in western Illinois, are reminding me not only of a typical summer day along Lake Superior (with highs in the ‘70’s), but also of a Vacation Bible School I experienced when I was about five, living then in a town (L’Anse, Michigan) alongside Lake Superior. Continue Reading
After going on (as many psalms of divine enthronement also do) about the grandeur of creation from sky to sea to animals large and small and weather of every sort, and about God as the active agent making possible all the wonders of creation, Sirach says:
“Worship YHWH as well as you are able, knowing that YHWH is above all praise. Gather your strength to glorify YHWH; let your praise be unceasing, though God is beyond all your power to praise” (43:30). Continue Reading
Here’s an open-ended question. How have you thought about or wrestled with the ways of God as a Divine Warrior, and as one who sometimes punishes fiercely?
Saul loses his kingship because he doesn’t destroy all the livestock and kill every last person — man, woman, and child — of the Amalekites.
Moses has 3000 random Israelites killed by sword after the Golden Calf was made. He also made the people drink that Calf, ground into powder and sprinkled in water — a kind of perverse eucharist.
As one of my students in a college Bible course put it: “Why is God so mean?” Continue Reading
Here’s one alternative to more violence. It may be too little. It may be too late, at least for Syria. Still, it’s a positive, non-violent proposal. I’m not seeing many of those outside Pope Francis’ call for a day of prayer and fasting. Thank God for Pope Francis and his willingness to be alone voice in a screaming world.
Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress: Continue Reading
She stood in a corner, alabaster white,. How did I know who she was? Was she holding her baby? I can’t remember. I do remember her face, and a very certain attraction.
Benedictine Oblates tend not to be computer people. We are not particularly excited by the possibilities of our technological age. We generally prefer books in print. Prayer in quiet times and places is preferable in the main to surfing the internet. A walk, in almost any weather, is preferable to sitting at a computer, which too many of us find necessary to our livelihoods. Still, the internet does exercise some allure for the average oblate, however cantankerous and averse to technology. Continue Reading
We’re hearing an awful lot about Catholic teaching these days: social teaching, moral teaching, teaching on sexuality, teaching about the poor, who’s speaking out about particular teaching and who’s not vocal enough, etc… Continue Reading
Benedictine Oblate Musings 