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