Slides from first conference on dialogue for Benedictine Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, MN.

1. Benedictine Spirituality
and the Way of Dialogue
Benedictine Oblate Conference
St. Scholastica Monastery
Duluth, Minnesota
September 20, 2015
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2. AGENDA
• Midday Prayer
• Announcements
– "Library Thing" to browse & comment
– Retreat on Nov. 7, 9am to noon. (Free)
– Oblate Retreat: Susan Stabile
– Next month: October 18
• Conference
• Discussion
• Adjourn for snacks by 2:45pm
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3. DIALOGUE
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4. Dialogue: A term and practice we invoke
when we already recognize different
viewpoint and ideas.
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5. Debate vs Dialogue
• Debate presumes winning and losing.
• Debate does not seek understanding,
common ground or compromise.
• Debate is for influencing minds of others.
• Debate is the common model in our culture
for exploring varying viewpoints.
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Photos:MarkJ.Terrill/AP

6. Dialogue
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• The roots of the word dialogue come from the Greek
words dia and logos.
• dia means “through”
• logos translates to “word” or “meaning.”
• In essence, a dialogue is a flow of meaning.
Greynun.org,"ContemplativeDialogue"

7. Dialogue
• The purpose of
dialogue is to create
‘shared meaning’ or
coherence in a group.
• The challenge of
dialogue is to simply
allow multiple points of
view to be.
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Greynun.org,"ContemplativeDialogue"

8. BENEDICT'S ERA
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9. 9
Political Ethos:
Warfare & Conquest

10. Social Ethos: Hierarchy
• Distinct social classes
• Absolute authority by rank and gender
• Slavery a possible outcome of war for
members at any level.
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11. Church Hierarchy
• Rule of obedience
• Moderated by popular
nomination and selection
of bishops
• Local rather than central
power predominated
• Rome (city) was weak
• Tension between local
bishops & nobility
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BartolodiFredi,http://www.artclon.com/OtherFile/Bartolo-di-Fredi-xx-A-Papal-Saint-Saint-
Gregory-the-Great-1380s.jpg

12. DIALOGUE AND ST. BENEDICT
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13. Life of Benedict – St. Gregory
• Told in dialogue
format
• Largest in a
collection of lives of
saints in dialogue.
• Many encounters
with rulers, monks,
in which listening
and humility are
key.
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14. Dialogue with Scholastica
• Famous story of "holy conversation"
• Valued by both Benedict and Scholastica
• Benedict saw rule authoritatively, but his
sister less dogmatically.14

15. DIALOGUE IN THE RULE
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16. 16
Listen
Foundathttp://jfbeddingfield.com/2013/07/11/listening-with-st-benedict/,
unattributed.

17. Listen
• First, for the voice of God
– In Scripture
– In the needs of others
– In the voices of those around
• Those who take the place of Christ
– The Abbot / Prioress
– The pilgrim
– The sick and the aged
• Mutual obedience = mutual listening
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18. Porter: Chapter 66
• Wise person
• "Knows how to take
a message
and to give one."
• Scripted dialogue
opens with:
"Thanks be to God"
or
"Please give your
blessing."
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19. Summoning Monks for Counsel
• Unique to Benedict's Rule
• Listen even to youngest / newest
• "Do everything with counsel and you will
not afterwards repent of it."
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20. Reasonable Requests
• Chapter 36: Care of the sick
– Served as Christ himself
– Sick should not "sadden …
with superfluous demands."
– "Patiently borne"
• Chapter 31: The Cellarer
– Deal with unreasonable
requests
– Distribute what is allocated
– Appropriate hours for requests
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21. Dialogue in Dispute
• Chapter 3
– Not to contend harshly with the
abbot
– Neither inside or outside monastery
• Chapter 68
– Impossible things
– What do we mean by impossible?
– Dialogue assures that both
viewpoints
are known to both parties
– Authority still rests with the superior
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22. CONTEMPLATIVE DIALOGUE
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23. Contemplative Dialogue
• Grew from works of Thomas Merton as
well as contemporary organization theory
• Connects the prayerful and listening
stance of the monastic with the needs of
discussion when views are different.
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24. Awareness of Thoughts
• Assumptions and beliefs
color the way we see
and understand the
actions of others.
• Focus on the "data"
helps get past that.
• Awareness of the
ladder of assumptions
helps circumvent it.
• PRACTICE24
ReflexiveLoop.Foundathttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/47569339784515031/

25. Guidelines for
Contemplative Dialogue - 1
• Speak slowly: Relax, speak and
listen from an inner attitude of quiet
contemplation
• Make eye-contact: Maintain a
shared center; remain fully present
in the group.
• Speak briefly: Speak what matters
from your deepest place (your
contemplative center) then STOP.25

26. Guidelines for
Contemplative Dialogue - 2
• Create shared meaning: Build on
what has already been shared when
you speak
• Listen deeply: Let the words
disappear by pausing and returning
to inner silence.
• Stay curious: ask questions to the
group as a way to explore differences
and limit assumptions
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27. Guidelines for
Contemplative Dialogue - 3
• Remain open: Speak with vulnerability,
not righteousness allowing for different
versions of the same reality
• Be accepting: hold the tension of
someone with an opposing point of
view without reacting to it.
• Hold your own understandings lightly,
tentatively. Relax!
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28. 28
Listen
Foundathttp://jfbeddingfield.com/2013/07/11/listening-with-st-benedict/,
unattributed.

29. Benedictine Spirituality
and the Way of Dialogue
Benedictine Oblate Conference
St. Scholastica Monastery
Duluth, Minnesota
September 20, 2015
29