My Vocation as Oblate by Polly Schofield, Canadian Oblate Coordinator, Archivist to the WCCM
The day I made my promises to Father John in front of our young Montreal community remains one of the happiest of my life.
I was one of the first Canadian Oblates in Dom John Main’s monastery. At my oblation Father John did an extraordinary thing; he took the cross he wore from around his neck (the silver ‘Crux Potens’ Father Laurence inherited) and put it around mine. I wore it all that day…… People often ask me what makes oblates different from other meditators. One is not better than the other – we all meditate. The only difference is that oblates chose to embrace the monastic ideal – promising to live by the rule of Saint Benedict. We are, as oblates, the heart of the World Community of Christian Meditators – ours is a monastic life in the world – our monastery is without walls.
‘It takes one good man or woman to change the world – one candle to disperse the darkness.’ Father John had such faith – such joy! He constantly reminded us of our infinite potential and of our direct access to God. ‘The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in your heart and mine’. It is difficult to put into words the joy, the positive energy and the radiating goodness that fueled our lives in those early years of the Montreal Priory. We all felt it. We all knew it. It was enough to have lived it only once – even if it did not last. Having experienced it, one knows that it is always possible. The knowledge of this experience is engraved in my heart, giving me strength and balance to go out and be leaven in my own small way.
Benedictine Oblate Newsletter No. 23, October 2017
Father John was never concerned with numbers. Community already exists simply by meditating together. It is never about numbers – it is about one’s fidelity. ‘If a thousand people come to your meditation group, Polly, don’t take any credit. It has nothing to do with you. If no one comes, don’t take any blame – AS LONG AS YOU ARE THERE’. How often I have thought of his words, while meditating in Palliative Care – with patients, staff and families, or some times with only a dead body in the room. ‘Just be faithful to your daily meditation, and people will be drawn to you – they will come’. One does not need to proselytize – Father John never did. He spoke of meditation when called upon to teach – otherwise we meditated. ‘It’s caught, not taught’.
His main concern was that the simplicity of the teaching would be eroded, and it would be complicated – losing its austere simplicity. ‘Do not complicate the teaching – keep it absolutely simple’. The ‘naked intent’ is what he really cared about. This is the true monastic prayer that he lived – that he taught. In his teaching of meditation he said this over and over again. Do not talk about your own experience. He never did. Do not read books about meditation for the first 20 years or so, but meditate. Read the New Testament and the Rule. The few texts he recommended were The Cloud of Unknowing, Cassian, and Julian of Norwich. ‘If you’re strapped for time, just meditate’. God dwells in the heart of all beings – ‘thy God dwells in thy heart’ – and we all have direct access. All we need is to learn to be silent, and the discipline of the mantra is the way into that silence – that opens into infinite love.
Father John never prayed for anything, but kept all in his heart – as I do you.
Upcoming Event
ANNUAL UK OBLATE WEEKEND
Sat 11th Nov & Sun 12th 10am for 10.30 finishing around 4pm
led by
Monastery of Christ our Saviour
IT IS NECESSARY TO BOOK AS PLACES ARE LIMITED, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT REQUIRE ACCOMMODATION.
Jack's Lane Turvey. Beds. MK43 8DH
Cockfoster's Cell — Saturday Fr. Laurence Freeman — Sunday The week-end is open to all. Suggested donation of £15 per person per day or £25 per person for the week-end. A £10 non-refundable deposit is requested to confirm your booking. Contact Angela Gregson either by text message with "Oblate Weekend" to 07792 083 942 or by email to rydal 2814@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 01706 563 024 —8—