• Link to Facebook
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
Careers
Saint Benedict's Monastery
  • Home
  • Community
    • Our History
    • Vocations
    • Jubilarians
    • Obituaries
    • News
    • Feature Stories
    • Events
  • Ministry
    • 3G Camp
      • 3G Registration
    • Art & Heritage Place
    • Live-In Experience
    • Prayer
    • Spirituality Center
    • Studium
  • Spirituality
    • Worship
    • Request Prayers
    • Retreats & Programs
    • Daily Meditations
    • Blog
  • Partnership
    • Oblates
    • Volunteers
    • Careers
    • Donate
    • Mission Advancement
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Oblates

Mission Statement

The Benedictine oblates engage in regular practices of Benedictine spirituality based on the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict while uniting with the professed monastics in ongoing formation and participating with the work of the monastery.

  • What is an Oblate?
  • Why Become an Oblate?
  • Process of Formation
  • FAQs
  • Oblate Internal Page

What Is An Oblate?

Benedictine oblates are women and men who seek God in association with Saint Benedict’s Monastery in order to enrich their Christian way of life. With the Rule of Benedict as their guide, oblates engage in practices that are part of the very fabric of Christian spirituality, such as daily prayer and reflection and offering hospitality where they live and work. Christians of all faith denominations may become oblates and may be married or single.

Oblates’ lives are shaped by living the wisdom of Christ as interpreted by Saint Benedict. The word “oblate” means “offering,” and they offer themselves to God in the service of others. Through prayer, service and community, oblates bear witness to the teachings of Jesus as seen through the lens of St. Benedict.

One of the gifts of being an oblate is the opportunity to extend a Benedictine presence from Saint Benedict’s Monastery to parishes, churches, civic organizations, family, neighbors, and workplaces. Ongoing formation is also important, and oblates form community and stay connected through Oblate Sundays, an annual Oblate Renewal Day, retreats, small-group meetings, newsletters, and a private Facebook group.

Oblate candidates

For more information on becoming an oblate, contact:

Mary Stommes, OblSB
Director of Oblates
(320) 363-7053
oblatessbm@csbsju.edu

Why Become An Oblate?

By becoming an oblate of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, the opportunities to deepen your spirituality increase by:

  • having a spiritual home at Saint Benedict’s Monastery
  • receiving support and encouragement from other oblates and sisters
  • gathering with others to enrich and revive your spiritual life, including an annual Oblate Renewal Day and quarterly Oblate Sundays
  • visiting the monastic community at Saint Benedict’s Monastery for prayer and events
  • seeking God in the way of life offered by St. Benedict through prayer, offering hospitality to others, and nurturing relationships
Oblate gathering

Process Of Formation

There are three stages for the seeker:

  1. Contact the director of oblates to become familiar with the monastic community and learn what it means to live the oblate way of life.
  2. Be received as an oblate inquirer for a year, then become an oblate candidate. A candidate is received in a Rite of Reception and is presented with a copy of the Rule of Benedict and a Benedictine medal.

    After being received as an oblate candidate, the next year is spent in study under the direction of the director of oblates. During this time, the Rule of Benedict is reviewed, the life of St. Benedict is explored, and practices integral to Benedictine spirituality are learned. A candidate may be mentored by another oblate or sister, and the candidacy can extend up to five years, if necessary.

  3. When a candidate has discerned her/his readiness to make perpetual oblation, the candidate writes a letter to the prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery asking to make her/his perpetual oblation. She/he makes perpetual oblation by reading the Document of Oblation which is signed on the altar by the candidate and the prioress. This is ordinarily done at the annual Oblate Renewal Day.

FAQs

Can I be married/have children and still be an oblate?

Yes, Benedictine oblates can be married and have children.

What goes on during the one-to-five year formation period?

During this time, you are called an “oblate inquirer” and then an “oblate candidate.” For the first year, you may be mentored by another oblate. Together, you study the Rule of Benedict and learn about Benedictine spirituality.

Can I be an oblate if I am a baptized member of another Christian faith denomination other than Roman Catholic?

Yes, you can. There are Benedictine oblates who are from other Christian faith traditions.

Are there male oblates at your monastery?

Yes, there are. Men are received as candidates and make perpetual oblation.

Do oblates make vows?

No, oblates do not make vows as they are not professed members of a monastic community. However, at their perpetual oblation, they do promise to dedicate themselves to the service of God and all people according to the Rule of Benedict.

Connect With Us

  • Read Our Magazines
  • Join Our Email List

Contact Us

104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, MN 56374

(320) 363-7100

sisters@csbsju.edu

Contact Us

Internal Links

  • Internal Work Request Form
  • Oblate Internal Page
  • Employee Internal Page
© Copyright 2023 - Saint Benedict's Monastery | Website Design by Cohlab Digital Marketing
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
Cleantalk Pixel

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Accept settingsHide notification only