Sr. Lydia and Br. Peter Taking Monastic Vows: Click to Enlarge (Photo: Laurita Liles)The Benedictine Companions are a monastic community beating at the heart of Saint Paul’s Parish. The draft Consitution and Usages of the community set out its intent to become a witness to God’s love—“In the heart of the city, in the Heart of God.”

 

This process started during Lent 2009, when the parish studied the Rule of the Communities of Jerusalem. Soon thereafter, the discernment group was formed to explore the possibility of having a community at Saint Paul’s similar to the monastic community of Saint Gervais in Paris: a truly monastic, contemplative, and explicit life of following the Evangelical Councils. In 2010 two persons were accepted as novices of the new community.

Sr. Lydia and Br. Peter with Fr. Sloane: Click to Enlarge (Photo: Laurita Liles)Jesus manifests his call to ‘Go sell, come, follow,’ in many ways and for many Christians it is lived in the context of married life. Nonetheless, God has and does continue to call some women and men to a radical and simple life of conversion of life, obedience, and stability. What do those three words mean to those who feel this call, in this parish, at this time?

Jesus calls us all to conversion of life. We are called to turn around from our self centered life, to a life centered on Him and the Gospels. In Benedict’s rule this is called conversatio mori – conversion of manner of life. Monastic life is a very forthright or obvious living of this conversion: selling all one possesses, giving up the pleasures and comforts of single or married life, following a Rule of Life, and living under obedience to that Rule, as it is interpreted by one’s Superior and one’s Community. Saint Paul’s already has a ‘monastic’ rhythm: daily morning and evening prayer, Night Prayer – Compline – chanted on Monday nights, Mass, and various Parish activities which build up the unity of our church. A monastic community of women and men would continue to live this daily parish life, but in an explicit, simple, contemplative, and silent manner. In short: daily giving up ‘my will’ for ‘Thy Will.’

This nascent community submitted a ‘Charter’ or ‘Statement of Intention’ to the Rector, who then met with and presented it to our Bishop of Washington, Bishop Chane. The Bishop gave his strong endorsement to this endeavor. The group also is blessed and privileged to have the support of Bishops Michael Marshall and Mark Dyer.

Admission of the Benedictine Companions: Click to Enlarge (Photo: Laurita Liles)On February 13, 2011, The first Lay Companions of the Benedictine Companions of St. Paul were admitted.  This is a group of lay people who support our nascent monastic community in these ways among others: Lay Companions promise to pray daily for the community and for vocations to the community.  They promise to set aside regular time for silent prayer, and promise whenever possible to give concrete support to the monastic community. 

Contributions to the Community are gratefully received.  Please make checks payable to Saint Paul’s Parish, and include in the memo line:  “Benedictine Community”, “Benedictine Companions of St. Paul”, or “BCSP.”

A Proposed Statement of Intent for St. Paul’s Parish to Form a Monastic Community

UNITY
   We live in solidarity with the people of DC.
   We live in communion with our Parish and Diocese.
   Our whole life consists in the totality of our undivided love for God.

Blessing of the Monastery: Click to Enlarge (Photo: Laurita Liles)THIS PLACE
   We want to provide an oasis, in the heart of the city;
   A place of silent prayer and living liturgy;
   A spirit of hospitality, welcome, and sharing;
   A place where life is recognized as more than talk, activity, or power;
   A place of peace where all people, whatever social, economic, age, or outlook are invited to come and share in a common search for God;
   A place where Christ is truly present to everyone’s “here and now.”

THE FOUNDATION
   An explicit and radical living of the Gospels, as expressed in The Rules of the Communities of Jerusalem and of Saint Benedict.
   “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

PUBLIC PRAYER
   A love for the Church's Liturgy and our rich Anglo- Catholic Heritage.
   We offer a witness to a divided world and church that our unity is grounded in our common worship of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by Whom, and with Whom, and in Whom, we are given the grace to live in communion.

SILENT CONTEMPLATION
   Publicly - in Liturgy & Adoration;
   Privately - in the silence of our hearts;
   “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

WORK
   We show our solidarity with the urban world and its workers;
   Working as the Master did, by the labor of His Hands.

HOSPITALITY
   God became man, so that in man you might discover God. When you welcome others you meet God. Let all Guests be received as Christ.
   “Whatever you did to the least of these you did to Me.”

SEEKING GOD ALONE
   Having Put on Christ, loving, untiringly, undividedly, and without murmur,
   The Kingdom of God will be built up: A place of love, peace, unity, and respect.
   “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

LOVE
   Opening our whole being to the Love of God with which God first loved us.
   Our whole life is to be invaded by God's love and to proclaim that Love by our lives;
   For by the way we have loved will we be judged.
   “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”