OFFICIAL DUTIES
The
official duty designated by St. Benedict is the Divine Office, which his religious
recite daily, in seven divisions. If the Secular Oblates cannot do this, they are
urged to join in spirit seven times a day with the religious in choir. In
addition to the devotions usually practiced by the faithful, such as morning and evening prayers, those
before and after meals, etc., the Oblates perform also the following:
1. Each day they say the "Short Office of Oblates"
seven times, or the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, etc., seven times. They
make the morning offering according to St. Gertrude for the intention of the Sacred Heart.
(the morning offering of the League of the Sacred Heart may be substituted.)
2. Each week they set Tuesday apart for the special veneration of St. Benedict, and
if possible, assist at Holy Mass, or at least perform some act of devotion in his
honor. They wear the Cross or Medal of St. Benedict, pray for his Order, and aid in
its spread.
3. Oblates are encouraged to spend one hour or two half hours once a month, in
adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and to receive Holy Communion in reparation for
the insults, etc., offered this Most Holy Sacrament. The time spent in assisting at
Mass may supply for the hour of adoration when it cannot be done conveniently otherwise.
Those who live on the vicinity of an Abbey or an Oblate Chapter, are urged to
attend the meetings of the Oblates.
4. Every year, on the feast
of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, November 21st., which is the principal
feast of the Oblates, they renew their Act of Oblation. The Oblates are usually
reminded of this duty by their respective Abbeys through a circular which is sent to them
about two weeks preceding the feast.
5. Oblates celebrate the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Feb. 2nd.,
which was made holy by the oblation of our Savior in the Temple; also the following
feasts: St. Benedict, Mar. 21st.; Solemnity of St. Benedict, July 11th.; St.
Scholastica, Feb. 10th.; St. Gertrude, Nov. 17th.; St. Henry, July 15th. and St. Frances
of Rome on March 9th. (The latter two are venerated as their special patrons.)
PARTICULAR DUTIES
1. Daily - Morning Offering, Short Office, or seven Our Fathers, etc., or Rosary; night prayer and examination of conscience.
2. Weekly - Honor our holy Father Benedict on Tuesday.
3. Monthly - Frequent Holy Communion and an hour of Adoration are recommended.
4. Yearly - Nov. 21st., renewal of the Act of Oblation.
(Excerpted from Daily Companion for Secular Oblates of St. Benedict, 2nd. Edition, February 1948)
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