Guidelines for the Oblates of St. Benedict (Download)

1. Oblates strive to be loyal and active members of Christ and the Church.
2. Oblates strive for their continued Christian renewal and improvement.
3. Oblates strive to be women and men of practical spirituality.
4. Oblates strive to be women and men of prayer.
5. Oblates strive to be women and men of Christian virtue.
6. Oblates foster a spirit of community.
7. Oblates are women and men of peace.

Suggested Prayer to Open a Meeting (Download)

O Loving God,
we ask your blessing this evening
on all the Oblates of Saint Benedict
throughout the world, especially
those of our community.
Help us to become people
of prayer and peace.
Through scattered far and wide,
help us to be together
in the spirit of your love.
Give us hearts wide enough
to embrace each other
as well as those
whose lives we touch.
Enable us to listen and to learn
from each other
and those around us each day.
May we be models
in our homes, neighborhoods,
and communities
of wise stewardship,
dignified human labor,
sacred leisure,
and reverence for all living things
Above all, O God , may our
presence among others
be a constant witness of justice,
compassion and hope to all
Amen

Suggested Prayer for Closing a Meeting (Download)

As we conclude our time together, we give thanks for your presence among us, O God, and for the openness of our sharing for the good of our sister and brother Oblates in this Benedictine Community. 

Leader: Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord you that by night stand in the house of the Lord. 

All: Amen. 
All: Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the Lord. 

Leader: The Lord who made heaven and earth give you blessing out of Zion. 

All: Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning and is now and shall be forever. Amen. 

Leader: Visit this place, O Lord, we pray, and drive far from it the snares of the enemy; may your holy angels dwell with us and guard us in peace, and may your blessing always be upon us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

All: Amen. 

Leader: in peace we will soon lie down and sleep; 
All: For you alone Lord, make us dwell in safety. 

Leader: abide with us, Lord Jesus, 
All: for the night is at hand and the day is now past. 

Leader: As the night watch looks for the morning, 
All: So, do we look for you, O Christ. 

Leader: The Lord bless us and watch over us; the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us; the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace. 
All: Amen. 

Used by the Oblate Community of St. Scholastica Chicago

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