'Monks Outside the Walls' Oblates bring monastic spirituality to secular life

Monastic spirituality isn't just for monks anymore.

Just ask one of the Benedictine oblates who meet the second Sunday of each month at St. Bede Abbey in Peru. During the meetings, the members pray together, practice lectio divina or sacred reading of Scripture or spiritual texts and discuss some aspect of monastic spirituality.

After the first year of attending meetings, a candidate makes a public oblation, or offering of oneself, to live the Rule of St. Benedict, the guiding principle behind the St. Bede community, as far as their lives allow it. Oblates reprofess their vows annually and remain committed to one monastery, although they may attend oblate meetings at other monasteries. There are no other requirements made of them.

The interdenominational group boasts a membership of about 100 from across Central Illinois and the Chicago suburbs, with an average of 20 attending the meetings each month. The most recent numbers from the Vatican's website for International Benedictine Oblates from 2008 indicated there were 25,481 oblates in 50 countries, with 42 percent of those in the U.S., and the numbers are growing.

Abbot Philip Davey believes despite the fast pace of today's world, there is a longing deep in every human being to seek out the divine.

"I think ultimately it's what St. Augustine said. 'O Lord, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you,' " Davey told The Times. "I think it's probably simply the sense people have and the expectation what they think is going to provide what they need doesn't do it. I think it's what spawns interest in the iPad 5 and the latest this and the latest that."

Brother Nathaniel Grossmann is beginning his third year as oblate director at the Abbey and said the Rule is a summary of the gospel.

"It's a livable expression of the gospel. It's a guide to living according to the gospel the incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of Christ," Grossmann said. "Laypeople have found a great deal of spiritual wisdom in living the gospel in their own vocation as married people, single people, stay-at-home moms or dads. And so they attach themselves to a monastery of men or women. It's a mutual give and take. They receive from us. We receive from them."

Ken Krogulski, of La Salle, attended St. Bede Academy and has been active in the oblate program for more than 20 years. Though he acknowledges some of the language from The Rule of St. Benedict, written 1,500 years ago, is outdated, he still finds meaning in it for the 21st century.

"Laypeople find it has definite benefits in living a secular life," Krogulski said. "That's why we call ourselves 'monks outside the walls.' It's living the rule. It makes a lot of sense to me. It's a good way to live your life. It's been tried and true for quite a few centuries."