What is the Benedictine Priory of St. Mary?
The Benedictine Priory of St. Mary is a dispersed Episcopal religious community. We are women, lay and ordained, single or married, who have come together to seek union with God in our lives through living under the Rule of St. Benedict.
I didn’t know that there were Episcopal religious communities.
You aren’t alone! Many Episcopalians are surprised by the fact that there are many Episcopal religious communities. There are Episcopal Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and many others. Some communities are Orders; that is, members live together and make vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Some are dispersed Christian Communities, whose members don’t generally live together and who don’t make a vow of celibacy.
Look up the National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities (https://www.naecc.net/) and the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas (https://www.caroa.net/) if you would like to know more about Episcopal religious communities.
Where is the Priory located?
The Priory of St. Mary does not have a physical monastery. We are a dispersed community, meaning that we do not live together. Our ‘enclosure’ is carried inwardly wherever we go.
The Priory has been established in the Episcopal Church in Minnesota and is incorporated as a nonprofit in the State of Minnesota.
Why a women’s community?
The Rule of Benedict was written in the sixth century for groups of men. According to the tradition, women from the beginning have also lived according to the Rule. We believe that the witness of a dispersed women’s Benedictine community in the Episcopal Church, with a more woman-focused interpretation of the Rule is an important addition to Religious Life in the Church.
What is the Rule of St. Benedict?
The Rule of St. Benedict is a guide to a particular way of Christian life. It was written more than 1,500 years ago by Benedict of Nursia as directions for the groups of monks that came to the monasteries he founded in Italy. Thousands of monastics and lay people use the Rule as guidance for their lives today.
How can I become part of the Priory of St. Mary?
There are two ways to belong to the Priory of St. Mary: as a Sister or an Oblate.
What is a Sister?
Sisters are members of the Episcopal Church (or another church in communion with the See of Canterbury) who make a lifetime commitment in monastic community; that is, we promise to live the rest of our lives as members of the Priory of St. Mary under the traditional three-fold Benedictine vow of stability, obedience, and fidelity to monastic life.
What is an Oblate?
Oblates are Christians who are attracted to Benedictine life and want to be associated with a Community. Oblates promise to live in conformity with Benedictine values according to their life circumstances.
How do I know if I have a call to Benedictine life?
A call to religious life is often a subtle thing. You might feel that there must be “something more” for your life. You might have an attraction to prayer or to the Benedictine way of life. Perhaps you have felt a stirring in your heart to give yourself to God more fully.
None of these experiences on their own means there is a call to Benedictine life, but they are a sign that you might want to do more discernment of the possibility. Discernment is a prayerful way of considering how God might be calling you. We can’t really do discernment alone; we discern in community with others.
What is the process for becoming a Sister?
The first step is to get to know the Community and for the Community to get to know you. This usually takes some time. The Sisters might suggest some reading about Benedictine life to help you understand what it is about. There would be visits, in person or using technology, and conversation about what you are seeking. You would probably join the Sisters in prayer online from time to time.
There is an application and interview process that includes a background check. Once you are accepted, there is a formation process. Sisters profess the three-fold Benedictine vow of obedience, stability, and fidelity to monastic life. They are expected to participate fully in the annual gathering and in Chapter, the official meeting to transact business and make decisions about the life and direction of the Priory.
What is the process for becoming an Oblate?
Again, the first step is taking time getting to know the Community, having conversations, and perhaps doing some reading about the Oblate way of Benedictine life. There is an application process that includes interviews and a background check. Once you are accepted as a Candidate, there is a formation process. Oblates make a promise to live out Benedictine spirituality in the context of their individual circumstances and prior commitments. These promises are renewed annually.
Oblates are generally active in the prayer and mission of the Priory. They are very welcome, but not obligated to come to the annual gathering and do not participate in Chapter meetings.
What are the Benedictine vows?
In community we profess the traditional three-fold Benedictine commitment of stabilitas, obœdentia and conversatio morum suorum.
- Fidelity to monastic life (conversatio morum suorum) involves the commitment to prayer, community life, study, and hospitality.
- Stability (stabilitas) means that we cast our lot with this particular group of people for life. We belong to each other through our common commitment and vision.
- Obedience (obœdentia) calls us to deep listening to the movement of God’s Spirit in ourselves, each other, and the Community as a whole. We discern the shape of our lives, ministry, and commitment together, not as individuals but as members of one body.
Benedictine Priory of St. Mary 