Benedictine Oblates of Worth Abbey
I am pleased to announce the introduction of Benedictine Oblates at Worth Abbey
A new way of expressing an association with the monastic life in this Community and seeking God alongside the monks.
Although oblates are a long established and valued component of most Benedictine abbeys across the world, here at Worth oblation will be a new way for lay men and women to share more intentionally in our monastic mission, and to shape their everyday life by the wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict.
The word oblate comes from oblatus: one who is offered. Benedictine Oblates are not monks, and they do not take monastic vows; they make personal promises to God which they renew annually. They remain fully in their own state of life, at home, at work, in parish and community, yet they choose to be formed by Benedictine spirituality in a steady, practical way. In many Benedictine communities, oblates describe their calling as learning ‘to seek God in ordinary life’ through the formation and support of the monastic tradition: through prayer that is faithful rather than flashy; through listening, patience, and hospitality; through a rhythm of life that holds together ora et labora, prayer and work, so that neither becomes a rival to the other.
Across the Benedictine world, oblate programmes emphasise a few simple anchors. The Rule invites a life rooted in the Scriptures and sustained by lectio divina (holy reading), nourished by the liturgy and the sacraments, deepened by silence and an attentiveness to the presence of God, and bearing fruit in practical work regularly undertaken to support the mission of the monastery. Many oblates also find, with time, that Benedict’s gentle realism is a gift: it teaches balance and moderation, forms habits of stability, and encourages conversion of life not as a dramatic reinvention, but as daily fidelity, returning again and again to what matters most.
At Worth, we want this new oblate community to be local and genuinely connected with the monks and the life of the Abbey. For that reason, we are inviting enquiries from those who live geographically close to Worth Abbey and will be able to be regularly present in person. Oblates will be invited to attend an Oblate Day here at Worth, usually once a month: a day of prayer with the community, teaching and reflection on Scripture and the Rule, time for shared conversation, and the practical details of formation and mutual support.
We also hope that our oblates will share not only in the monastery’s prayer, but in its work. As part of the life of this community, oblates will be invited to offer regular volunteer time alongside the monks in areas where patient, faithful service is itself a school of Benedictine life: for example, in our library and archives, in the grounds and gardens, or in our ministry of hospitality. This is not simply helping out (though it certainly is that!). It is primarily a way of learning the Benedictine virtues in practice: reverence, steadiness, humility, and the quiet joy of doing ordinary things well, for love of God and neighbour.
You can discover more about Benedictine Oblates and the opportunities presented by this form of dedicated life here.
If you feel drawn to explore this path, seeking God alongside the monks of Worth, and allowing the Rule to shape your daily life, we would be glad to hear from you. Further information about the oblate life at Worth Abbey, the pattern of monthly Oblate Days, and the formation process can be obtained by writing to abbot@worth.org.uk.
Abbot Mark
