Novice Oblate of St. Benedict

 Until now, I still find it amazing that I am part of the Benedictine family. For many years, I searched for a religious order where I truly belonged. I explored different paths and even received referrals from several priests, yet for various reasons, I did not pursue or remain in those communities.

My journey toward religious life has not been without wounds. Some past experiences caused me pain, but little by little, I am learning to let go and trust that God meets us where we are. Our Oblates director, who is also my spiritual director, once told me that the struggles I faced before my investiture were meant to strengthen my commitment as a Novice Oblate.

One of the things I love about the Rule of St. Benedict is its spirit of moderation and balance. It teaches a path of holiness that harmonizes prayer, work, and daily life.

For a long time, I thought I was meant to become a Carmelite, and I tried very hard to follow that path. I did not expect that the order I longed for would bring me so much pain. I just wanted to belong to a community of understanding, like-minded individuals who could guide me in living faithfully in the secular world. I wanted to grow in prayer, dwell in God’s Word, and learn more about Him and His saints. God is witness to the tears I have shed. I admit that, in part, there was a selfish reason I considered returning to the Carmelites, yet God had a different plan. Though I did not become a Carmelite, He gently led me to another beautiful monastic contemplative community—the Benedictine way of life.

Looking back, I see God’s hand guiding me through every step. He truly knows what is best for His children.

That in all things, God may be glorified. 

About Third Order and Oblates

When I was invested as a Benedictine Oblate Novice in our parish, some parishioners asked me what it meant and what happened during the investiture. One church server even thought I was a new convert to the Catholic Church.

To explain it simply. In the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the First Order is for priests and friars. The Second Order is for religious sisters and nuns who also take vows like the first order. Lastly, the Third Order is for lay people. They live out the charism or spirituality of a religious order while living in the world. Examples are the Third Order Carmelites and Benedictine Oblates.

Some well-known Third Orders are the Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, and Servites. I myself once became an aspirant in the secular branch of the Order of Discalced Carmelites and Third Order Carmelites. 

Members of these groups usually make promises to live according to the spirituality of the order. Oblates, on the other hand, are people who are spiritually attached to a specific Benedictine monastery. Like yours truly. The purpose of the Third Order or becoming an oblate is to deepen one’s faith and live the charism of the order while remaining in the secular world.

Each order has a different charism. For example, those drawn to prayer and contemplation may be attracted to the Carmelite spirituality. Because of this, there is usually an observation or formation period to help a person discern if that path is truly for them.

Let me quote: (From online source:)

"Third Orders are usually connected to mendicant orders like the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Carmelites. Oblates are connected to monastic communities such as the Benedictines.

Third Order members often gather in local groups or chapters. Oblates are usually connected directly to one monastery. Third Order members often take part in apostolic or charitable works related to their order. Oblates follow the Benedictine spirit of prayer and work, living it in their daily life at home. Members of Third Orders are sometimes called tertiaries. Members connected to a monastery are called oblates, which comes from a Latin word meaning “to offer oneself.”

In the end, there are many ways to grow closer to God and deepen our faith. These spiritual families are gifts that help us live a more Christ-centered life. 

Movie Review: Therese (2004)

           I have wanted to see this movie eversince I saw a preview of it on YouTube, more than a decade ago. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and of the Holy Face, also known as St. Therese of Lisieux, was very influential to me. When I first read her story, in a book (Lives of Saints) given to me by my late aunt, she made an impression on me. At a young age, she already knew her vocation, and that was to become a Carmelite, a religious cloistered nun. So, I too had a desire to be a nun someday. Yes, I tried contacting religious orders, and I became a Carmelite not a religious but a lay Carmelite. More than a decade ago I was a former aspirant, was able to profess promises (not vows) in a Carmelite convent within the city where I live. 

Why do people feel drawn, and many love St. Therese. There are no miraculous events that took place when she was still alive, yet many people pray to her and ask for her intercession. Why? Because of her simplicity, and humility. After her death, there were many numerous reports of miracles and healings, and up to now still many miracles are attributed to her. Like her promise, she said, "When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens,I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth."

Her autobiography is a classic, and still a bestseller. If you have not read her diary, entitled in English, "The Story of a Soul," you should!

I really love this movie. The film director Leonardo Defilippis has done a great job with this film. St. Luke productions, their company, continues to make good, relevant and inspiring movies of Saints. He starred in this movie along with his wife, as the parents of St. Therese. The music used in the movie was also good. I was able to watch the whole movie yesterday. I'm thankful to the one who uploaded it on Facebook. This is another addition to my favorite religious movies. Let us not forget to love, for God is love. Like what St. Therese said, her vocation is love. 

Journey to Carmel

  No, I have not been to Carmel, and I have not traveled to the place where Elijah has trod upon. I am referring to my journey to Carmel as a Carmelite aspirant, more than a decade ago. When I was a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a nun. As a teenager and a young adult I have visited a long of Contemplative orders in my country, namely, The Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (more popularly known as the Pink Sisters), Poor Clares, Dominicans, and of course I have seen cloistered Carmelite Nuns when I professed our promises in a local Carmelite Convent. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, was influential in my religious desire. I have her autobiography, and for those of you who didn't know she entered the Carmelite convent at such a young age, she's 15 years old. It is not usual for religious order to accept younger women, but she was an exception. Her zealous desire to be a religious at such a young age, even telling the Pope, of her desire to enter the convent.

Third Order Secular are lay people who belong to a religious order. They profess "promises", similar to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Why I chose the Carmel way of life. First, I am attracted to a contemplative life. A prayerful life, and religious studies. Also because, I look up to Carmelites saints! St. Teresa and St. John of Avila. I have read the book written by St. Teresa before, The Interior Castle. Below are a lists of what Carmel life is about.

• *listening to the Word of God and responding in silent prayer for at least half an hour each day,
• *participating in the Church’s liturgy – daily Mass where possible, Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church, and, if possible, also Night Prayer,
• *taking Mary our Mother as our model of prayer and service as she pondered the Word of God in her heart and lived in obedience to that Word,
• *studying and meditating on the inspired teachings of the Carmelite saints, especially Saints Teresa and John of the Cross,
• *studying and meditating on the beliefs of our Christian faith and our Catholic tradition,
• *supporting one another through regular Community meetings, contact and service.

I am glad that I'm back now. I was baptized and confirmed as a Roman Catholic and I am so relieved to know that whatever I do it cannot be taken away from me. Of course, I know my mistake of joining a Protestant church. Being baptized as a Roman Catholic it cannot be taken back. It is already imprinted in me, marked on my soul, as stated in Canon 845.1. 

What I want to say is my life is a testimony of God's love, grace and mercy. I am absolutely a sinner, not perfect, but I still want to follow our Lord Jesus. In our lifetime, there will come a time when we feel as if we are like traveling in a dry desert. But it is one way of God communicating with us. Like what Thomas Merton said. 

"Wilderness had been created supremely valuable in the eyes of God precisely because it had no value to men. The wasteland was the land that could never be wasted by men because it offered them nothing. There was nothing to attract them. There was nothing to exploit. The desert was the region in which the Chosen People had wandered for forty years, cared for by God alone. They could have reached the Promised Land in a few months if they had traveled directly to it. God's plan was that they should learn to love Him in the wilderness and that they should always look back on the time in the desert as the idyllic time of their life with Him alone. The desert was created simply to be itself, not to be transformed by men into something else."

Let our prayers be, that we may see and feel God no matter what state of life we are in. That He is always near us, and know that He will never ever leave us.