How to choose a Monastery for Oblation?
Choosing a monastery for oblation is no easy task. The process of discernment can be long
or short and there is no quick solution. It is very important for individuals to visit several
monasteries to get a feel for the place and to spend time joining in the Divine Office. It may
require several visits before one knows whether they feel ‘at home’ with a particular
monastery, but with careful preparation and prayer, one eventually finds what is right for
them.
A list of Benedictine monasteries can be located on our Monasteries page, or it might be
useful to obtain a copy of the Benedictine Yearbook which is published annually by
Ampleforth Abbey (see Bibliography on the Resources Page). This will give you an idea of
where the monasteries are geographically. People often think that they must affiliate
themselves to the nearest monastery to where there live, but they will find that many oblates
belong to monasteries far away from their homes.
The important thing is to let the Holy Spirit be your guide in directing you to your ‘spiritual
home’. Be open to new places and make time to visit or stay in several monasteries before
you decide. Ask to meet the oblate master or mistress and try to attend a few oblate
meetings if that’s possible.
Each monastery is different, there is no set standard for oblates across all the monasteries.
Some monasteries may take ladies only, or just men. Some of the Catholic monasteries
accept Christians of all denominations and some of the Anglican ones do so too, others do
not. All accept lay people whether single, married or clergy.
So remember the words of Our Lord:
“And so I say to you, ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks receives, and the one who
searches finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened’ “. Luke Ch11 vv9-11
May your journey be a joyful and blessed one.
Peace
Zina Neagle
Oblate of Douai Abbey
September 2009