Order of Saint Benedict

This article is about the Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict.

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See also Benedictine Confederation and Benedictine for other articles.

Related Topics:
Benedictine Confederation - Benedictine

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The Order of Saint Benedict — full Latin name: Ordo Sancti Benedicti , initials: OSB — is a monastic order within the Roman Catholic Church, sometimes referred to as the Benedictine Order, where the Rule of St Benedict is observed, supplemented by later constitutions and modern customaries. It is fundamentally different from other Western religious orders: there is no legal entity within the Church called the "Order of St Benedict", run on similar lines with other Roman Catholic religious orders with their Generalates and Superiors General. Rather, the various autonomous Houses (that is, communities) have formed themselves loosely into Congregations (for example, Cassinese, English, Solesmes, Subiaco, Camaldolese, Sylvestrines) that in turn are represented in the Benedictine Confederation.

Related Topics:
Latin - Monastic - Order - Roman Catholic Church - Rule of St Benedict - Generalate - Superiors General - Autonomous - Benedictine Confederation

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The Order of Saint Benedict does not include Benedictines who are not Roman Catholic.

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Benedictine monks (nowadays also referred to as monastic men) and nuns (monastic women) profess the three Benedictine Vows of Stability (to remain in the monastery), of Conversion of Manners, and of Obedience (to the superior) in accordance with ch. 58.17 of the Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Benedictines who are not members of the Consecrated Life (i.e., Oblates) nevertheless endeavour to embrace the spirit of the Benedictine Vows in their own life in the world.

Related Topics:
Men - Women - Saint - Benedict of Nursia - Oblate

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Within the Order of Saint Benedict, other orders that use the Rule of Saint Benedict and are generally considered to be of the Benedictine tradition are the Cistercians, Bernardines, and Benedictine Sisters of Grace and Compassion, although these are not part of the Benedictine Confederation.

Related Topics:
Cistercian - Bernardines - Benedictine Sisters of Grace and Compassion - Benedictine Confederation

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The Benedictine motto is: pax (Latin: "peace"), traditionally also ora et labora (Latin: "pray and work").

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