Monastic spirituality can be a guide for life and following Christ not just for monks, but also for Christians living in the world. This is the second of four lectures on monastic spirituality in the winter/spring 2024 Christian in the World lecture series. In this second lecture from February 10, 2024, Abbot Peter Eberle, OSB, a monk of Mount Angel Abbey, explains how monastic community life is structured, its purpose, and how learning about the spirituality of community life can help lay people live out their Christian vocation.

He bases his presentation, in part, on chapter 72 from the Rule of St. Benedict:

“… This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Romans 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks, they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.”

The Christian in the World lecture series, sponsored by the Mount Angel Institute, is an integrated program of study, prayer, and discussion for Catholics who want to live their faith more deeply. The program seeks to help participants gain a more profound understanding of the Scriptures and the Church, and to support lay people in exploring how to live their baptismal vocation in everyday life.

For more information about Christian in the World, visit https://www.mountangelabbey.org/join-us/christian-in-the-world/