Why is a Rule of Life important?

Some have asked me as a oblate of Saint Benedict why I find it necessary to keep a form of his Rule.  The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of normative actions based in the Christian ideal written by St. Benedict of Nursia for professed Religious (that is Monks) living in a cloister or community under the authority of an abbot or prior. Since the 7th century this Rule has been adopted by and used in cloisters or communities of women living as professed Religious. During the 1500 years of since St. Benedict submitted the Rule as a method of living more fully into the Christian life, it has become the leading guide in Western Christianity for professed Religious who live in community.

The heart and sould of St. Benedict's rule isn't something only to be lived by professed Religious, but rather the life of study, prayer and work can become the normative actions of all Christians.  As an oblate of Saint Benedict, I would argue that it should be just that -- a Christian expression whereby we center ourselves on prayer and work while seeking peace among each other and with others whether Christian or not -- and therefore our practices of prayer become the center of our daily life and our professions or vocations become an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ.

This is particularly poignant to me as an Anglo Catholic insofar as the Rule provides a middle way between individual faith and cultic institutionalism.  It expresses the same middle way -- or Via Media -- that is present in the Anglo Catholic tradition as expressed by Elizabeth I of England.  Living the oblate life according to the Rule provides structure and order to an individual's expression of faith, and more importantly establishes in a regular, structured manner the important place of prayer as the center of our lives.  Prayer is so very important because in prayer we encounter our Triune God.  In this, we find ourselves lifted from this world into a deeper place surrounded by the love of Christ Jesus.  The community of oblates is like that of the cloister for the professed Religious; that is, a community of faith centered on study, prayer and service.

For many Christians, understanding how to live their faith on a daily basis is elusive.  Adopting a form of Rule may well help them establish a greater sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and offer opportunity to intimately encounter our Triune God.