Benedictine Spirituality and the Way of Dialogue

transcript

Benedictine Spiritualityand the Way of Dialogue

Benedictine Oblate ConferenceSt. Scholastica Monastery

Duluth, MinnesotaSeptember 20, 2015

AGENDA• Midday Prayer• Announcements

– "Library Thing" to browse & comment– Retreat on Nov. 7, 9am to noon. (Free)– Oblate Retreat: Susan Stabile– Next month: October 18

• Conference• Discussion• Adjourn for snacks by 2:45pm

DIALOGUE

Dialogue: A term and practice we invoke when we already recognize different viewpoint and ideas.

Debate vs Dialogue• Debate presumes winning and losing.• Debate does not seek understanding,

common ground or compromise.• Debate is for influencing minds of others.• Debate is the common model in our culture

for exploring varying viewpoints.

Dialogue

• The roots of the word dialogue come from the Greek words dia and logos.

• dia means “through”• logos translates to “word” or “meaning.”

• In essence, a dialogue is a flow of meaning.Grey

Dialogue • The purpose of

dialogue is to create ‘shared meaning’ or coherence in a group.

• The challenge of dialogue is to simply allow multiple points of view to be.

BENEDICT'S ERA

Political Ethos: Warfare & Conquest

Social Ethos: Hierarchy

• Distinct social classes• Absolute authority by rank and gender• Slavery a possible outcome of war for

members at any level.

Church Hierarchy• Rule of obedience • Moderated by popular

nomination and selectionof bishops

• Local rather than centralpower predominated

• Rome (city) was weak• Tension between local

bishops & nobility

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DIALOGUE AND ST. BENEDICT

Life of Benedict – St. Gregory

• Told in dialogue format

• Largest in a collection of lives of saints in dialogue.

• Many encounters with rulers, monks, in which listening and humility are key.

Dialogue with Scholastica

• Famous story of "holy conversation"• Valued by both Benedict and Scholastica• Benedict saw rule authoritatively, but his

sister less dogmatically.

DIALOGUE IN THE RULE

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Listen• First, for the voice of God

– In Scripture– In the needs of others– In the voices of those around

• Those who take the place of Christ– The Abbot / Prioress– The pilgrim– The sick and the aged

• Mutual obedience = mutual listening

Porter: Chapter 66• Wise person• "Knows how to take

a message and to give one."

• Scripted dialogue opens with:"Thanks be to God" or"Please give your blessing."

Summoning Monks for Counsel

• Unique to Benedict's Rule• Listen even to youngest / newest• "Do everything with counsel and you will

not afterwards repent of it."

Reasonable Requests• Chapter 36: Care of the sick

– Served as Christ himself– Sick should not "sadden …

with superfluous demands."– "Patiently borne"

• Chapter 31: The Cellarer– Deal with unreasonable

requests– Distribute what is allocated – Appropriate hours for requests

Dialogue in Dispute• Chapter 3

– Not to contend harshly with the abbot

– Neither inside or outside monastery• Chapter 68

– Impossible things– What do we mean by impossible? – Dialogue assures that both

viewpoints are known to both parties

– Authority still rests with the superior

CONTEMPLATIVE DIALOGUE

Contemplative Dialogue• Grew from works of Thomas Merton as

well as contemporary organization theory• Connects the prayerful and listening

stance of the monastic with the needs of discussion when views are different.

Awareness of Thoughts• Assumptions and beliefs

color the way we seeand understand theactions of others.

• Focus on the "data"helps get past that.

• Awareness of theladder of assumptionshelps circumvent it.

• PRACTICERefle

Guidelines for Contemplative Dialogue - 1

• Speak slowly: Relax, speak and listen from an inner attitude of quiet contemplation

• Make eye-contact: Maintain a shared center; remain fully present in the group.

• Speak briefly: Speak what matters from your deepest place (your contemplative center) then STOP.

• Create shared meaning: Build on what has already been shared when you speak

• Listen deeply: Let the words disappear by pausing and returning to inner silence.

• Stay curious: ask questions to the group as a way to explore differences and limit assumptions

• Remain open: Speak with vulnerability, not righteousness allowing for different versions of the same reality

• Be accepting: hold the tension of someone with an opposing point of view without reacting to it.

• Hold your own understandings lightly, tentatively. Relax!