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Index: 1) p1 OblatesHome, Contact; 2) p2 Membership, Ceremonies;
4) p3 Medal;
5) p4 Liturgy of the Hours;
7) p6 Silence;
8) p6 History;
10) p8 Info Links;
11) p9 Rel. Orders Links.
3) p3 Rule;
6) p5 Lectio Divina;
9) p7 Books;
1) OBLATE HOME, CONTACT: Oblates at Assumption and Elsewhere
The novice about to become a monk prays: “Receive me, Lord, as you have promised, and I shall live; do
not disappoint me in my hope.” Rule of Benedict 58:22
What is An Oblate? Benedictine oblates are men and women who have made a formal
affiliation with a particular Benedictine community. Oblates take the Rule of St. Benedict
as a guide to Gospel living and nurture a filial attachment to their particular monastery.
Ideally, occasional visits to the monastery help keep the filial bond strong. Oblates of
Assumption Abbey pray for us monks and we monks pray for our oblates and their needs.
Oblates are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours morning and evening.
Assumption Abbey Oblate Program. We produce a periodic newsletter for our oblates,
and offer two retreat weekends per year for our oblates and others interested in oblation.
Among our own oblate community, we have quite a diverse membership: lay and clergy,
men and women, old and young, Catholics and other Christians. Each person’s story is
unique, but oblation generally has roots in an individual’s quest for a deep walk with God
and an affinity for Assumption Abbey. Our next oblate retreats are scheduled:
April 25-27, 2014 and September 26-28, 2014.
Contact an Oblate Director. Perhaps you were enrolled as an oblate years ago, and wish
to be an active member once again. Perhaps what you have read on this webpage is new
and seems appealing to you. You may contact our Oblate Director, or find an oblate
program nearer to you. (It is our policy not to receive for oblation anyone who has not
gotten to know us face to face.) The North American Association of Benedictine Oblate
Directors (NAABOD) website maintains a LIST of NAABOD member monastic
communities, organized by state, as well as an interactive MAP showing 101 Benedictine
monasteries with oblate programs, to help you find a monastery with an oblate program
near you. See the MORE LINKS page for other Catholic monastic orders with oblates,
non-monastic Catholic orders with oblate-equivalent programs (e.g., tertiaries, seculars,
third order members), as well as Orthodox and Protestant orders with lay affiliate
members.
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2) MEMBERSHIP, CEREMONIES: Becoming an Oblate
Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry…. A senior chosen for his skill in winning souls
should be appointed to look after them with careful attention…(discerning) whether the novice truly seeks
God. Rule of Benedict 58:1,6-7
In a simple ceremony in the midst of the monks gathered for prayer, the candidate
declares his/her desire to be enrolled as an oblate novice, after which the Abbot gives a
St Benedict medal and a copy of the Rule of Benedict, saying: “Receive this medal with
its cross of St Benedict. May it remind you to take up your cross daily and follow Christ.
As this medal has been blessed, so may you be blessed with health of soul and body.
With the help of St Benedict, may you strive to exercise true charity and justice toward
all, so that one day you may share in the heavenly kingdom. // Accept the Holy Rule of St
Benedict, which was written in the spirit of the Gospel. Let it be a special guide for you
in your life as a Christian and an Oblate of St Benedict. May your study of this Rule
inspire you to work zealously in harmony with others where you are, for the good of all
people and the honor and glory of God.”
One year later the oblate novice may make oblation, solemnly reading the following text
before the Abbot and signing it on the altar: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen, I, (name), offer myself to God through Jesus Christ our Lord and our holy patron,
St Benedict, as an oblate of Assumption Abbey, Richardton, North Dakota, and promise
to dedicate myself to the service of God and humanity according to the Rule of St
Benedict, in so far as my state in life permits.” This is followed by the monks giving the
sign of peace to the new oblate.
Meet Some Assumption Abbey Oblates. Our oblate program and membership may best
be appreciated if I introduce you to a few of our oblates. Rick and Jen, relatively near
neighbors to us in ND, are devoted parents with young children. Rick is a workshop
facilitator. Jen works from home for Lighthouse Catholic Media supplying educational
Catholic CDs to parishes. Rick and Jen are dedicated to serving God in their parish and
local community, and raising their children to follow in their footsteps. They both enjoy
living the Benedictine value of hospitality in their home. Rev. Larry of MN married in
1968, and was ordained to the ministry (Lutheran) a year later. After nearly a quarter
century as a pastor, he now serves as a full time hospice/hospital chaplain. He has been
an oblate since 2004. Into his life-long disciple journey, Larry has incorporated some
characteristically Benedictine values and practices, including: daily Liturgy of the Hours,
valuing quality of life, and the meditative reading of Scripture we call lectio divina.
Larry has found his life enriched by “the Benedictine teaching of living and practicing
the faith in the ordinariness of daily life.”
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3) RULE OF BENEDICT
“Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of you heart. This is
advice from a father who loves you. Welcome it and faithfully put it into practice…. armed with the strong
and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.” Rule of Benedict,
Prologue 1,3
St Benedict lived 480 to 547 in Italy. Finding university life too worldly, he retreated to a
hermit’s life, but eventually gave this up when would-be disciples sought him out. As his
following grew, he crafted rules and customs to guide his disciples and keep proper order
among them. By the time of his death at age 67, St Benedict was certainly a seasoned
guide in the Christian life—with twelve monasteries to his credit—and his Rule was
well-tried in actual use. This Rule is among texts used in university courses on utopian
societies. It is much quoted by Christians active in the cause of ecology, as well as peaceand-justice issues. Every Benedictine monastery today will have its own modern-day set
of customs in written form. Still, St Benedict’s Rule for Monks guides people today as
Christians and as Benedictine religious and oblates. Learn more here.
4) MEDAL OF BENEDICT
Some disciples of Benedict tried to find a means of doing away with him and decided to poison his wine. A
glass pitcher containing this poisoned drink was presented to the man of God during his meal for the
customary blessing. As he made the sign of the Cross over it with his hand, the pitcher was shattered….It
broke at his blessing as if he had struck it with a stone. (Life of Benedict, ch.3)
St Benedict loved the Cross as our sign of redemption, and he used the sign of the cross
in giving blessings. Some miracles were worked when St Benedict prayed, making the
sign of the cross. On the St Benedict medal (shown above), Benedict is pictured holding a
cross and his Rule for Monks. The inscription framing St Benedict is inspired by his
“happy death” at prayer surrounded by his disciple monks: May we be strengthened by
his presence in the hour of our death. The back of the medal features a cross plus
abbreviations rendered: May the holy Cross be my light, the dragon never be my guide.
Begone, Satan. Tempt me not with your vanities. What you offer me is evil. Drink the
poisoned cup yourself. Cross of our holy father Benedict. PAX (peace). The St Benedict
medal in its present form is called the Jubilee Medal of St Benedict because it was first
produced in 1880, marking the 1400th anniversary of Benedict’s birth. However, its
origins go back centuries earlier. A manuscript dated to 1415 is our source to understand
the abbreviations on the medal. Learn more here.
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5) LITURGY OF THE HOURS
From the holy feast of Easter until Pentecost, “alleluia” is always said both with the psalms and the responsories.
Rule of Benedict 15:1
The Psalms were prayed much by Jesus himself. It was from the Psalms he prayed upon the cross: My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me (Ps 22:1). Through the centuries, Christians have developed a tradition of praying
from the Psalms at set times of the day, calling this form of prayer “Liturgy of the Hours.” Here at Assumption
Abbey, in addition to daily Eucharist (Mass) we pray Liturgy of the Hours morning, noon and evening. This prayer
practice keeps us mindful of God and “sanctifies” our day in God’s service. The Invitatory: Morning Prayer begins
with a call to prayer, an “Invitatory.” A common Invitatory used at Assumption Abbey is Psalm 95: “Come, ring
out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before God giving thanks; with songs let us hail
the Lord….Come in, let us bow and bend low, let us kneel before the God who made us; for this is our God, and
we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand.” Although the Psalms pre-date the birth
of our Lord, they serve well in Christian prayer. Jesus himself prayed the Psalms. In making the Psalms their own,
Christians (with the eyes of faith) find Christ in many of the Psalms. Further, we pray New Testament verses
alongside Psalms in our Liturgy of the Hours. Near the end of Morning Prayer, and again near the end of Evening
Prayer we pray texts recalling the coming of Christ to redeem humankind. Selected verses of these texts follow
below.
At Morning Prayer (called Lauds in some monasteries), we sing the Song of Zechariah, rejoicing at the nearness
of the savior, for John the forerunner of Jesus already lives in Elizabeth’s womb. This song is called the
Benedictus, from its first word, in Latin. With Zechariah we sing daily at our Morning Prayer: “Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited and redeemed his people, raising up for us a mighty savior from the house
of David, God’s servant….From the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us, and shine
on those in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.” The full text can be found
in Luke 1:68-79.
At Evening Prayer (also called Vespers), we sing Mary’s Canticle, rejoicing that the Messiah, now in Mary’s
womb, will raise up the lowly. This song is called the Magnificat, from its first word, in Latin. With Mary, we sing
daily at our Evening Prayer: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, who has looked
with favor on the lowliness of his servant….God’s mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear the
Lord….the mercy promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his heirs for ever.” The full text can be found in
Luke 1:46-55. Blessed be the Lord! Much of our monastic prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, is as old as the Psalms,
predating the birth of Christ, yet it is very much Christian prayer, ever mindful of God’s gift to us in Christ. The
Liturgy of the Hours helps us to live gratefully in God’s service, and share the good news of redemption in Christ
with others.
Liturgy of the Hours is becoming better known among the Christian faithful in our time. Various publishers now
offer this form of prayer in book or periodical format. The Benedictine Handbook (Liturgical Press, 2003) An allin one handbook, complete with topical essays and a two week cycle of morning and evening prayer (liturgy of the
hours). A handsome book to keep you praying, reading and learning. Work of God: Benedictine Prayer
(Liturgical Press, 1997) An earlier offering by the same publisher as The Benedictine Handbook (above). A
smaller, more portable book, with a two week cycle of morning and evening prayer (liturgy of the hours), plus
topical essays. Liturgy of the Hours for Benedictine Oblates (St Meinrad Archabbey, 2009) A four-week cycle for
morning and evening prayer; a single set of texts for noon prayer and likewise for compline. For the musically
talented, St Meinrad psalm tones included. Leather-like binding, gold-edge, a beautiful volume. Magnificat is a
popular at-home missal, with complete Scriptures for daily Mass, a brief morning prayer, evening prayer and
night prayer (Liturgy of the Hours), plus essays and memorials of saints. Subscription (periodical). Magnificat,
P.O. Box 91, Spencerville, MD 20868-9978; Phone 1-800-317-6689; www.magnificat.net.
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6) LECTIO DIVINA
During the days of Lent, they should be free in the morning to read until the third hour, after which they will work at their
assigned tasks. Rule of Benedict 48:14
We monks of Assumption Abbey (and our oblates) practice a prayerful use of Scripture called Lectio
Divina (Sacred Reading). In a fast paced, sound bite world, it requires real discipline, a concerted effort,
to slow down. It is said that “familiarity breeds contempt” and this can be true even in our relationship to
the Holy Scriptures. We grow familiar with them to the extent that they may fail to fascinate us, jar us,
shake us up, as they might a first-time reader. Thus we must slow down. We must read them again, as if
for the first time. We must set aside our assumed competence and read again. The ancients crafted a
practice described in four steps, which might be rendered in English as Reading, Pondering, Praying and
Contemplating. Any person may discover fresh love for the Scriptures with this method called Lectio
Divina. Open your Bible to any page of the Gospels, and let us try the steps of Lectio Divina, Sacred
Reading.
Reading (Latin, lectio): Read a paragraph or two, slowly. Read it again. Read it a third time. You might
read from a less familiar translation, even a non-English translation if you are multi-lingual. Take time to
let the words soak in. See the people, their garb, their actions. Ask God to open your eyes to this bit of
Scripture in new ways. What does the text say?
Pondering (Latin, meditatio): Close your eyes and ponder what you just saw and heard. Do you
sympathize with any particular character? Have you been in their shoes? Do you have faith (or doubts) as
they do? How do you encounter Jesus in the text? Is he reassuring you? Chiding you? What does the text
say to you?
Praying (Latin, oratio): Respond to Jesus in prayer. Let yourself be moved to greater faith, to greater
trust, greater detachment. Is your habitual form of prayer weighted on the side of petitioning? Perhaps this
praying with Scripture, called Lectio Divina, may help you balance your petitioning prayers with prayers
of repentance, of gratitude, of praise. What do you say to God? [At this point it should be noted the steps
of Lectio Divina are not strictly linear. One need not always spend the first couple of minutes Reading,
the next minutes Pondering, then some minutes Praying. The steps have a logical order. They are a good
guide. But the Spirit blows where it wills.]
Contemplating (Latin, contemplatio): According to centuries-old monastic tradition, humans practice the
first three steps (above) with the help of God’s grace. This fourth step, say the spiritual masters, occurs as
God quite takes over. This step, as the culmination of Lectio Divina, is beyond us, but may be given as
gift by God, when God so moves. The most we can do is be well disposed to let God so move. This kind
of contemplation is termed “infused contemplation,” to distinguish it from the kind of meditating we did
in step two above. We should not get the impression, however, that such contemplation need be rare, a
grace experienced by only a few. Have you ever seen a dawn or dusk beautiful beyond words? What did
you do? You gave it time, steeped in it, soaked it in. Be open to such “soaking” as you approach the close
of your prayer time with the Scriptures. What does God will to do in you?
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7) SILENCE
Monks should diligently cultivate silence at all times, but especially at night. Rule of Benedict 42:1 Some
forty years ago,
we at Assumption Abbey promoted our place with the slogan, “Listen to the quiet.” Although our locale is
not untouched by the North Dakota oil boom, what was said forty years ago still holds true: Visitors to
our monastery may readily appreciate that invitation, “Listen to the quiet.” We are just outside the “city”
limits of Richardton. The hum of highway traffic passing by, or of lawn mowers or snow blowers, will
sometimes compete with the song of the doves, the nighttime serenade of coyotes and the sigh of our
prairie winds. Monastic silence was made the theme of the movie, Into Great Silence (2005), filmed in a
Carthusian monastery in the French Alps. But the silence of interest here is more the inner silence of a
listening heart. We at Assumption Abbey keep the traditional monastic “great silence” (though not so
strictly as portrayed popularly in movies). From the conclusion of Evening Prayer around 7:30 p.m. until
work begins at 8:00 a.m. we cultivate silence in the house. The first half-hour of this silence after Evening
Prayer and the last half-hour of our silence before morning work are times recommended for prayerful
reading of Scripture (Lectio Divina).
Most monks can tell you silence is not easy. It is not easy to find, probably because it is not easy to keep.
In silence we face ourselves and the many “voices” jabbering in our heads. In silence we sit down and
face our Maker, who waits for us. In silence we sit prayerfully with the Scriptures, and let them examine
us. A good Christian practice, a good Benedictine practice—for monks/nuns and oblates alike—is to be
discerning about the place of sound and the place of silence in our lives. How much day-time silence do
we have? Are we silence-starved, living in a noisy world? How can we cultivate some oases of silence in
our homes, in our schedules, for our wellbeing and that of our loved ones? Here is a link interpreting the
familiar scripture verse Ps 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”
8) HISTORY
Monks who in a week’s time say less than the full psalter with the customary canticles betray extreme indolence and lack of
devotion in their service. We read, after all, that our holy Fathers (desert ascetics), energetic as they were, did all this in a
single day. Rule of Benedict 18:24-25
History of Oblates: Rome. St. Benedict lived about 480-547 AD, and founded more than a dozen
monasteries during his lifetime. In the seventh century, in diverse places and various ways, lay people
worked closely with monks in and around their monasteries. In the ninth century, forms of lay
consecration to God developed. Henry II (973-1024) ruled the Roman Empire for the last decade of his
life. Though he desired to live as a monk, he instead became an oblate, and served God conscientiously as
emperor, with his wife Cunegunde, fostering a healthy monastic presence throughout Italy and in
German-speaking lands. His feast is July 15. St Frances of Rome (1384-1440) led other noblewomen of
her time—under the care if Olivetan Benedictines—to pursue a fervent Christian life in their homes, and
to meet the needs of the poor in the city. Eventually a communal form of oblate life developed, which
continues to this day in Rome, claiming St Frances of Rome as its founder. Her feast is March 9. St Henry
the Pious and St Frances of Rome are the principal patrons of Benedictine oblates. Other patrons of
oblates include St. Maurus (510-584) and St. Elena Piscopia (1646-1684). History of Oblates:
Richardton. Assumption Abbey dates back to 1893, and its oblate program to 1907 or a bit earlier. We
have had oblates affiliated with us for more than a century. Enrollments at Assumption Abbey were
sporadic in 1907 and following, then more regular from 1938 through 1967. Now and then, entire
parishes served by our monk-pastors and entire classes of Abbey school students were enrolled as oblates.
Some of these are still active oblates today. In 1981 our oblate program was revived from a period of
inactivity, and has been continuously active and growing since then.
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9) BOOKS: Authors & Books During this time of Lent each one is to receive a book from the library,
and is to read the whole of it straight through. These books are to be distributed at the beginning of Lent.
[Rule of Benedict 48:15-16] St Benedict and his Rule are popular today, and books abound, by lay and
clergy, by Catholic and other authors. Search “St Benedict” or “Rule of Benedict” or “lectio divina” and
you will find much to read. Below we feature titles by our own noted authors on Benedictine spirituality.
For other authors, scroll down.
Books by Terrence G. Kardong, OSB
Conversations with Saint Benedict (2012) Pillars of Community: Four Rules of Pre-Benedictine Monastic Life (2010)
The Life of St. Benedict by Gregory the Great: Translation and Commentary (2009) Day By Day With Saint Benedict (2005)
Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary (1996) Monkhouse: The chronicle of Assumption Abbey 1977-1995 (1996)
Benedictines (Religious Order Series) (1992)
Asking Benedict: A Study Program on the Rule of St. Benedict… (1992)
Together Unto Life Everlasting: An Introduction to the Rule of Benedict (1986) Commentaries on Benedict's Rule (1986)
Books by Benet Tvedten, OSB
How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job:
A Guide for Benedictine Oblates and Other Christians Who Follow the Monastic Way (2013)
formerly subtitled: An Invitation to Oblate Life (2006)
The Motley Crew: Monastic Lives (2007)
The View from a Monastery: The Vowed Life and its Cast of Many Characters (1999; 2006)
A Share in the Kingdom: A Commentary of the Rule of St Benedict for Oblates (1989)
All Manner of Monks – Minnesota Voices Project (1986)
Books by Kathleen Norris
Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life (2008)
Journey: New And Selected Poems 1969-1999 (2001)
Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith (1998)
Work" (1998)
The Cloister Walk (1996)
Little Girls In Church (poetry, 1995)
The Middle of the World (poetry, 1981)
The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica (2001)
Meditations on Mary (1999)
The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's
The Psalms: The Book of Praises (1997)
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography (1993)
Additional Authors:
Michael Casey, OCSO. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina (1996), 151p. A very good guide to prayerful use
of scripture as taught by St. Benedict.
Joan D. Chittister, OSB. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily (1990), 216p. A popular application of the Rule to the
contemporary world for people in all walks of life.
Esther de Wahl. A Life-Giving Way. (1995), 208p. This book, emanating from “the lived experience of a housewife and
mother,” details the spirit of St. Benedict for every man and woman in his or her own circumstances.
Eric Dean. Saint Benedict for the Laity (1989), 104p. The author is a husband, parent, Presbyterian minister, professor and
oblate who elucidates how the Rule “can speak to us of values which, even apart from the daily structures of monastic life, are
relevant to our own lives in 'the outside world.”
Linda Kulzer, OSB, and Roberta Bondi, editors. Benedict in the World: Portraits of Monastic Oblates, 211p. Covers Henry II,
Dorothy Day and many more Benedictine oblates.
Essential Monastic Wisdom: Writings on the Contemplative Life, Harper Collins, 1999, 218p. A selection of short texts from
Christian monastic authors arranged by topic and prefaced by introductory essays.
Mary Margaret Funk, OSB. Thoughts Matter: The Practice of Spiritual Life, (1998), 144p. This book plumbs the desert
monastic tradition to help us live a Christian life today. Based on the teaching of John Cassian's renunciation of mindless
thoughts, this Benedictine author gives insight and direction to modern Christian practice.
Andre Louf, OCSO. Teach Us to Pray. (1974), 112p. A modern classic. As Louf says, “The purpose of this short book is to do
just a little to appease the hunger for prayer.”
Cyprian Smith, OSB. The Path of Life: Benedictine Spirituality for Monks and Lay People (1995), 181p. Dom Cyprian has
adapted some of his conferences to novices at Ampleforth Abbey in Great Britain—wisdom for a fragmented world.
Columba Stewart, OSB. Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition (1998), 136 p. An examination of how monastic
communities have interpreted and lived the Rule of Benedict over the centuries; also highlights how the Rule is applicable to
all Christian life.
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10) INFO LINKS
We have written this Rule, that by observing it…we can show…some degree of virtue and the beginnings of the monastic life.
But for anyone hastening on to the perfection of monastic life, there are the teachings of the holy Fathers, the observance of
which will lead him to the very heights of perfection. Rule of Benedict 73:1-3
We have kept our oblate webpage concise and to the point. Most topics we have covered may be explored
at length with the help of these selected “Oblate Links”:
Oblate Spring a all-in-one recommended website. http://oblatespring.com/oblatespring0400Introduction.htm
Oblates homepage by St Johns Abbey for the Benedictine world. http://www.osb.org/obl/
Introduction (brochure, osb.org website). http://www.osb.org/obl/intro.html
Guidelines (brochure, osb.org website). http://www.osb.org/obl/guidelns.html
Ceremonies (brochure, osb.org website). http://www.osb.org/obl/ceremon.html
St Benedict biography by Jerome Theisen, OSB. http://www.osb.org/gen/benedict.html
Rule intro by Jerome Theisen, OSB. http://www.osb.org/gen/rule.html
Rule of St Benedict (text, by chapter titles). http://www.osb.org/rb/text/toc.html#toc
Medal of St Benedict explained by Fr. Bernardine Patterson, OSB. http://www.osb.org/gen/patterson/
History of Benedictine Oblates (from St. John’s Abbey website). http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/oblates/history.html
Publications Liturgical Press. http://www.litpress.org/Subjects.aspx?ID=50
Resources (osb.org website). http://www.osb.org/obl/resources.html
Oblate Directors Website NAABOD. http://www.naabod.org/
Oblate Formation Booklet (St Vincent’s Archabbey 95pp. PDF). http://www.svaoblates.org/files/OblateFormation.pdf
Monastics & Oblates: Mutual Blessing essay by Norvene Vest, OblSB. http://www.osb.org/obl/nvest9907.html
VIDEOS
Oblations Class of 2012, St Scholastica Monastery (Boerne, TX) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3iKFwAs934
Into Great Silence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgNj2Sf_mgo
St. Meinrad Archabbey oblate video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdc4ZFKVIg
Mt. Angel Abbey oblate video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ5OXXHtL0g
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11) LINKS: RELIGIOUS ORDERS WITH OBLATES
SOME OTHER CATHOLIC BENEDICTINE MONASTERIES WITH OBLATES
Monasteries of men—oblate websites
St John’s Abbey (Collegeville, MN) http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/monastic-life/oblates/
St Martin’s Abbey (Lacey, WA) https://www.stmartin.edu/abbey/Oblates/
St Meinrad Archabbey (St Meinrad, IN) http://www.saintmeinrad.edu/oblates/
St Procopius Abbey (Lisle, IL) http://procopius.webs.com/oblates
St Vincent’s Archabbey (Latrobe, PA) www.svaoblates.org
Subiaco Abbey (Subiaco, AR) http://www.countrymonks.us/our-oblates-2/oblate-director/
Monasteries of women—oblate websites
Annunciation Monastery (Bismarck, ND) http://www.annunciationmonastery.org/get-involved/
Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (Clyde, MO) http://www.benedictineoblates.com/index.php
Sacred Heart Monastery (Yankton, SD) http://www.yanktonbenedictines.org/oblatesLinkOne.html
St Benedict Monastery (Bristow, VA) http://www.osbva.org/html/Oblates.html
St Mary Monastery (Rock Island, IL) http://www.smmsisters.org/blog2/wordpress/?page_id=2
St Scholastica Monastery (Duluth, MN) http://duluthbenedictines.org/join-us/as-an-oblate/
OTHER CATHOLIC MONASTIC ORDERS WITH OBLATES
CAMALDOLESE CA (Berkeley & Big Sur) http://www.camaldolese.com/
CARMELITE (OCarm) IL - Most Pure Heart of Mary Province http://carmelnet.org/
NY - St Elias Province http://carmelitani.wordpress.com/carmelites/st-elias/
CARMELITE (OCD) USA map of provinces: http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/stjoseph/usocds.pdf
CAL-AZ http://ocdwest.org/ocds.html
OK http://thereseocds.org/Links.html
WA(DC) http://ocdswashprov.org/StatesServed.htm
CARTHUSIAN http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IFSB/
CISTERCIAN (O Cist) Irving, TX http://www.nunocist.org/oblates.html
International Association of Lay Cistercian Communities (lists O Cist & OCSO):
http://cistercianfamily.org/communities.asp?language=english&order=group
TRAPPIST (OCSO) Gethsemani KY http://www.laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/
Genesee NY http://www.geneseeabbey.org/who-we-are/genesee-lay-contemplatives
NON-MONASTIC CATHOLIC ORDERS WITH LAY BRANCHES (seculars, tertieries)
DOMINICAN Eastern US http://www.3op.org/findachapter.php
Western US http://www.laydominicanswest.org/chapters.html
Central US http://www.laydominicancentral.org/communityfinder.htm
Southern US http://www.southerndominicanlaity.org/Where%20We%20Are.htm
FRANCISCAN National Fraternity – USA http://www.nafra-sfo.org/
Province of the Americas http://www.tssf.org/index.shtml
OUR LADY OF MERCY
http://orderofmercy.org/collaborators/third-order/
ORTHODOX & PROTESTANT ORDERS WITH LAY BRANCHES
ORTHODOX BENEDICTINE oblates http://www.orthodox.org/stbenedict/oblates.html
ANGLICAN DOMINICAN oblates http://www.anglicanop.org/third.htm
EPISCOPAL CARMELITE oblates http://www.ecst.ang-md.org/oblate.html
LUTHERAN FRANCISCAN third order http://mcsletstalk.org/Vol2No25.htm
ECUMENICAL BENEDICTINE oblates http://www.sbabbey.com/vocations.html