They who labor as they pray lift their hearts to God with their hands.

Seal of Saint Benedict of Nursia engraved with exorcism prayers

Protestant Oblates of Saint Benedict

  • Benedict of Nursia

    Benedict of Nursia, popularly known as Saint Benedict, is considered one of the most important monks of the Church. He established monasteries around Rome and was abbot of Mount Cassino in present-day central Italy. He established The Rule, which has been used by religious orders in both the Catholic and Protestant branches of the faith. He is twin brother to Scholastica—founder of the Benedictine nuns.

  • Oblates

    Oblates are lay people who have consecrated their lives to God and choose to follow the traditions of a religious order. Oblates of Saint Benedict are either affiliated with a Benedictine monastery or have personally adopted The Rule as a model for Christian life. They live and work in the world outside a monastery—and sometimes use the pronouns brother or sister. They live the motto, “Ora et labora” which means “Pray and work.”

  • Gerry the Oblate

    Gerry began his journey in Benedictine life in 2023. He is one of a handful of Protestant Oblates of Saint Benedict in Illinois. He is also one of the few who is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He shares his Benedictine experiences with Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran Benedictines in the Chicago area. He is currently helping to grow the Benedictine tradition among other mainline Protestants.

  • Deliverance and Exorcism

    Benedict of Nursia has long been associated with the battle against evil. The 1880 Jubilee Medal, engraved with Latin prayers, has been used in what Protestants call rites of deliverance—or what Catholics call the rite of exorcism. Considered a dangerous delicate rite, it is not done without the permission of a bishop or other ranking leader of Church hierarchy.

  • The Protestant Oblates of Saint Benedict is not a subject of the Benedictine Confederation

The Rule

Those who don’t use it as part of a monastery consider the book, The Rule, a guidebook for Christian discipleship and a source of wisdom for all people who desire to live a good life.

One of the main themes of The Rule is the balance of prayer, work, study, and leisure.

Benedict emphasizes that work is a valued and integral part of the human experience, and that manual work is a form of holy prayer.

In a monastery, each person is given work assignments according to their abilities and talents—making the monastery as independent and self-supporting as possible. Work is crucial because it contributes to the common good of the monastery—or the larger community and society.

The Rule can be relevant to working people today in many ways.

First, it can help us find meaning and purpose in our work, and to see it as a way of serving God and others.

Second, it can inspire us to seek excellence and quality in our work, and to use our gifts and talents for the glory of God.

Third, it can teach us to balance our work with other aspects of our life, such as prayer, study, and leisure, and to avoid overwork or idleness.

Fourth, it can encourage us to cultivate a spirit of humility, obedience, and charity in our relationships, and to respect the dignity and rights of our co-workers, employers, and customers—or our family members, friends, and acquaintances.

The Rule is not only a rule for monks, but also a rule for life. It offers practical advice on how to live a balanced, harmonious, and fruitful life in any situation or occupation.

By following The Rule, working people today can experience the peace and joy that come from living according to God’s will.

Gerry, and others in the Protestant Oblates of Saint Benedict community of Chicago, actively help each other understand what the text of The Rule might mean to them as individuals. They also help non-oblates go through the text for their own personal enrichment.

Laborare est orare: What do the Protestant Oblates of Saint Benedict in Chicago do?

  • Read the Bible—preferably the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or New International Version (NIV)

  • Read the Daily Office from the Benedictine Daily Prayer—A Short Breviary Second Edition by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn.

  • Read, and encourage others to read, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence—a Carmelite oblate who lived from 1614 to 1691

  • Go to liturgical services regularly in any Catholic or mainline Protestant church

  • Partake in the Eucharist as often as possible

  • Preach the Gospel by the Word and by example

  • Seek to do things in daily life with moderation

  • Encourage prayer to help alleviate the anxieties of life—and pray for others

  • Reach out to fellow Benedictines as a support network—spiritually, socially, and professionally

  • Continue working in the occupations God has called each to do in the spirit of laborare est orare or that to work is to pray