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Camaldolese Oblates
A secular oblate is a Christian, man or woman, lay person or cleric, who, living in their own family and social environment, recognizes and accepts God’s gift and his call to serve him, according to the potential and requirements of baptismal consecration and their own state; they offer themselves to God through oblation, inspiring their journey of faith with the values of the Holy Rule and monastic spiritual tradition. The acceptance of this gift from God is made visible and effective through the rite of oblation.
Oblation is the liturgical-spiritual act recognized by the Church, by which the aspirant oblate, after an appropriate period of formation, offers himself or herself to God by binding himself or herself to a specific Benedictine community.
The Camaldolese oblates walk in harmony and collaboration with the Benedictine Oblates.
The Camaldolese nuns’ community, in keeping with a commendable and ancient tradition, is open to welcoming oblates and oblates into its midst. The decision to belong to a monastery must essentially be based on spiritual interest. Oblation requires reciprocal relationships with the monastic community.
Regular Oblates and Consecrated Oblates
In addition to secular oblates, Benedictine oblation can take two other forms: a) That of regular oblates: that is, faithful, celibate or widowed, who live in a monastery with monks, without monastic vows, but with an oblation that commits them to live in chastity, under the obedience of the abbot and with regulated use of their own goods, according to a particular statute approved by the monastic authority. b) That of consecrated oblates. Among the secular oblates there may be some, unmarried or widowed, who, while remaining in the world, feel called to a life of special consecration; they make a private vow of chastity and promises of poverty, obedience, and conversion of life, in the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict.
Statute of Secular Benedictine Oblates
The Statute of Secular Benedictine Oblates of Italy was approved by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on May 8, 2020.