The course Benedictine Spirituality for Today is designed to introduce people to the life and teachings of St Benedict of Norcia (480 – 547), Patriarch of Western Monastics, and Patron of Europe. St Benedict is well-known for his Rule, in which he carefully integrates prayer, manual labor, and study into a well-rounded daily routine.
His Rule for Monasteries is steeped in Sacred Scripture and is presented as a small guide for beginners. This course shows the Rule of St Benedict as a handbook whose teachings can be readily applied to twenty-first century Christians willing to live their Christian lives in a parish, school, hospital community, or any other community, which for them would be a school of the Lord’s Service’. The ultimate aim is holiness and beholding the face of God.
Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]
have a basic knowledge of the life of St Benedict of Norcia as described in the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great;
be conversant with the major themes in the Rule of St Benedict;
be able to describe Benedictine Spirituality as a way of receiving and giving Blessings within the context of a School of the Lord’s Service;
have read at least the most important parts of the Rule of St Benedict;
be able to identify some major Benedictine geographic landmarks today;
have come across some of the commentators on the Rule of St Benedict;
have been introduced in general terms to Basil and Cassian, as indicated by St Benedict himself;
have been introduced in general terms to the life and writings of Bernard of Clairvaux.
attempt to work out a spirituality based on Benedict’s teachings for the workplace, the family, leisure time, and the digital world of social media
confidently discuss the values and virtues that St Benedict promotes in his Rule;
have had time to reflect on how to apply Benedictine values in their daily lives.
Those who are in search of God in their daily lives.
Beginners in the spiritual life who would like to explore ‘a small rule for beginners’ as they journey towards God.
People are interested in Saint Benedict as a master and guide of the spiritual life.
People who would like to explore what Saint Benedict may have to offer for their spiritual journey.
Target Audience Age: 18+
Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]
Lecture 1: Introduction
Benedictine Places and things: Via Benedicti, Pax inter Spinas, Pax, the Benedictine Medal, and St Benedict from the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great Book 2 Reading St Benedict 1 – Introduction on preparing a personalized list of Benedict’s maxims
Prologue, Chapter 73, texts on the Abbot
Lecture 2:
Texts on Meekness and Obedience
Texts on Prayer and Liturgy
Lecture 3:
A school of the Lord’s Service
Texts on Synodality
Lecture 1:
The Three Benedictine Vows – Obedience, Stability, and Conversion of Manners
The Three Components of the Benedictine Day – Ora et Labora et Lege
Lecture 2:
The Ten Benedictine Values – I: The Three Ls – Listening, Lectio Divina, Liturgy
The Ten Benedictine Values – II: The Three Hs – Humility, Humanity and Hospitality
Lecture 3:
The Ten Benedictine Values – III: The Four Ss – Spiritual Fatherhood, Stability, seeking God, and Silences
The seventy-two instruments of good works
Lecture 1:
Towards a Benedictine Spirituality of the workplace for managers and others
Towards a Benedictine Spirituality of Parish Life
Lecture 2:
Hints from Benedict that may be applied to the digital world of social media
Spiritual Direction in the Rule of St Benedict
Lecture 3:
Reading Basil and Cassian – selected texts
Bernard of Clairvaux – the purification of Benedict
The course is delivered over 27 contact hours over 9 weeks. The 3-hour sessions are held weekly on Mondays between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
Venue: Ta` Mlit, Mosta
Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]
Part 1 : Reading the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great and The Rule of St Benedict
Lecture 1
Monday 17th October 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 2
Monday 24th October 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 3
Monday 31st October 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Part 2: Benedictine Spirituality in Numbers – The Major Themes of The Rule of St Benedict
Lecture 1
Monday 7th November 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 2
Monday 14th November 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 3
Monday 21st November 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Part 3: Applying Benedict
Lecture 1
Monday 28th November 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 2
Monday 5th December 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lecture 3
Monday 12th December 2022
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Certification:
This course has three exit certificate options:
Certificate of Attendance
To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend at least 80% of the course’s contact hours.
2. Certificate of Participation
To obtain a Certificate of Participation, students need to meet the attendance criteria and successfully conclude the three-course multiple-choice online exams.
3. Certificate of Achievement
To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:
attend at least 80% of the course`s contact hours;
pass the three short multiple-choice online exams;
and successfully complete a short essay of at least 500 words;
Teaching and Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute
Qualifications: Every application will be considered on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of qualifications, and we always try to judge applications on the basis of academic potential. We do consider a very wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.
Language: Applicants are required to have an end-of-primary school level of understanding of Maltese and English
Digital: Applicants are required to be digitally literate, including knowing how to access the internet and use a word processor
