A Shared Way of Life

by Sister Lynne Smith, OSB, prioress

Benedictines around the world celebrate the Solemnity of Benedict and Scholastica on July 11. This is a good opportunity to reflect on what the Benedictine way of life has to offer our world today. The Rule of Benedict was written in the sixth century. Since that time, the people who follow the Rule have applied Benedictine values in their own context.

When Benedict of Nursia wrote his Rule, the Roman Empire to which he belonged was in decline, and the world around him was experiencing the chaos of that momentous change. The Rule represented a way for Christians to come together to live Gospel values in that uncertain context.

Today, our own world is experiencing wars, large-scale migration, growing poverty and the effects of climate change. Life can feel chaotic and uncertain as we experience so much transition. Our shared Benedictine values at Holy Wisdom Monastery offer us a strong foundation from which to meet the challenges of our time.

Our mission statement highlights some of these values. “Holy Wisdom Monastery, home of Benedictine Women of Madison and a community of ecumenical Benedictine communities, weaves prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life.”

Weaves – Benedictine life integrates head and heart, action and contemplation, spirit, mind, body and soul. The retreats we offer engage people at both the head and the heart level. In the conversations we share, our whole person is welcome.

Prayer – Prayer is at the center of Benedictine life. Communal prayer grounds us in a community of faith and practice. It is woven throughout the day to ground us in who we are and who God is. Prayer shapes how we live and how we serve. Three times a day we gather for the Liturgy of the Hours. Twice a day, we gather for centering prayer. You are invited to participate in person whenever you are able. Midday prayer can be heard on the livestream site Tuesday – Friday, from 11:45-noon. The Sunday ecumenical liturgy is open to all. The liturgy is livestreamed and archived so you can participate in it at any time through the link on our website.

Hospitality – The Rule of Benedict teaches us to welcome each person as Christ. From this flows our ecumenism, our open Eucharistic table, our retreat and spiritual guidance ministry, our conversations at table with friends and guests. Hospitality guides our openness to the future that always comes to us as a stranger in our midst.

Justice – In biblical terms and for Benedict, justice means to be in right relationship. That includes right relationship with God, with other human beings and with all creation. The Rule of Benedict calls us to receive all people as Christ. This means all people are holy and are to be treated with respect. Through the years, the sisters have welcomed many guests to live with us including refugees and immigrants from Guatemala, Vietnam, India and China. The monastery is a member of MOSES, a faith-based community organizing group “working to transform public policies in Wisconsin which deny social justice to the poor, people of color, and the mentally ill, starting with mass incarceration.” Many members of the communities at the monastery are involved in justice work seeking to better the living conditions of individuals and to bring about systemic change.

Care for the Earth – The sisters are committed to living in a mutual and sustainable relationship with all of creation. This is an important aspect of our justice work. The prairie and oak savanna restoration, restoration of Lost Lake, the green monastery building and now our net-zero initiative are some of the ways we express our care for the earth. The monastery is an example and inspiration to many people who also have a desire to live sustainably on the earth.

A shared way of life – Along with prayer, community is one of the central pillars of Benedictine life. At Holy Wisdom Monastery, we are intentional about creating community through hospitality, dialogue, prayer, conversation, working together and sharing meals and social time. In our individualistic society, participating in some form of community supports and challenges us as we seek meaning and values by which to live. The monastery’s communities of sisters, coworkers, Sunday Assembly members, oblates, Friends of Wisdom Prairie and Center for Clergy Renewal pastors are places where people find meaning and support for what is important to them.

I invite you to explore how these values speak to you and how you might want to participate in this shared way of life at the monastery. May you find community, values and practices through the monastery to support you as you meet the challenges of living in these turbulent times.