Writer: Br. Gene Sederstrom, OSBCn, Community of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, Victoria, BC
From Feb. 18-20, 2017 Christ Church Cathedral hosted the second International Conference of Anglican Benedictine Canons (OSBCn). Attendees included members of the Benedictine canon communities from Canada and the United States. On Saturday, about 30 people participated in the 12-hour experience, Be a Benedictine for a Day.
Meeting in the Chapel of the New Jerusalem, Fr. Martin Brokenleg, OSBCn (prior, Community of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, Victoria, BC) led participants in chanting the Benedictine daily cycle of prayer: Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. Interspersed throughout these periods of prayer were Eucharist, meals, and five conferences which addressed relevant issues for living one’s life according to the Rule of St. Benedict in a non-cloistral community.
Fr. Chad Sundin, OSBCn (prior, Community of St. Mary of the Annunciation, Tempe, Ariz.) led Conference 1, “The Prologue to St. Benedict’s Rule: A Spiritual Vision of Benedictine Formation.” He discussed the shared vows and practices of Benedictines, as well as the hard work necessary to acclimate oneself to a monastic alternative to the dominant culture of our times.
Conference 2 was “Dressing as a Benedictine: Does the Habit Speak For or Against Us?” In this talk, Fr. Warren Shoberg, OSBCn (prior, Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, Sioux Falls, S.D.) presented an historical perspective regarding the traditional Benedictine habit, noting both the pros and cons involved for those who opt to wear it in today’s world.
Fr. Chad gave Conference 3, “Mens Concordat Vocii: Seeking Harmony between Mind and Voice.” He focused on Chapter 19 of the Rule of St. Benedict to remind those present that, as the psalms are sung, our minds must be in harmony with our voices—that every part of our lives must be taken to prayer and that we “sing praise wisely.”
Fr. Warren presented Conference 4, “Authority in a Non-Cloistral Community” in which he discussed the hierarchical structure of community life, as well as how dispersed communities of the OSBCn order function collegially.
Conference 5, “Living by a Vow in a Disposable Culture,” was given by Fr. Martin, and he asked attendees to consider the meaning and relevance of vows in today’s culture in which people so easily walk away from everything.
St. Benedict, a 5th century monk, wrote his Rule for communal monastic living more than 1500 years ago and is known as the Father of Western Monasticism. Much of Anglicanism is influenced by a Benedictine form of prayer and includes the principle of unity in diversity within a community. Anglican Benedictine canon communities trace their heritage to a recovery of the English tradition of similar communities that flourished before the English Reformation and strive to live according to the Rule of St. Benedict adapted for non-cloistral life.
An Anglican OSB canon is one who formally professes the vows of stability, obedience, and conversion of life within the context of Benedictine spirituality while striving to live a balanced life of work, study and prayer. Other members of canon communities include oblates—who do not take vows, but do strive to live a life of prayer as well as use the Rule as a guide—and friends who attend meetings to learn more about Benedictine principles.
Victoria’s Community of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne meets for Eucharist each Tuesday at 12:15pm and every third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Chapter Room of Victoria’s Christ Church Cathedral.
For more information on the Anglican OSB canon communities, please visit them online or email them.
Photo: Front row (l-r): Penelope Edwards, OblSB, Br. Gene Sederstrom, OSBCn, Sr. Marcia McMenamie, OSBCn, Sr. Jeannie Lynne Fontaine, OSBCnN, Bp. Logan McMenamie, OSBCn; back row (l-r): Sr. Pat Gerrand, OSBCnN, Br. Philip McKindley, OSBCn, Prior Fr. Martin Brokenleg, OSBCn, Prior Fr. Warren Shoberg, OSBCn, Br. Connor Massey, OSBCnN, Fr. Jack Rose, OSBCn, Prior Fr. Chad Sundin, OSBCn Photo by Ed Lewis