Benedictine men and women look to the sixth century guide to monastic living written by Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-540), Patriarch of Western Monasticism. His twin sister, Saint Scholastica, is the patron of many women's communities.
Monastic institutions allied to the Order of Saint Benedict are highly autonomous, but most are grouped today into loose congregations to form the Benedictine Confederation of Congregations. Independent communities of both Anglican and Lutheran Benedictines exist.
Information on the Web about general monastic topics and the international Order of Saint Benedict is provided from Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN 56321-2015 USA.
"Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ. And may He bring us all together to everlasting life!"
-- Rule of Benedict, ch. 72. |
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| setting |
legal structure: not-for-profit corporation
surroundings
land ownership
neighbors: neighbors are friendly
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| population |
total number of people
ideal or planned maximum number of people
adults (20-60)
seniors (61 and older)
females
males
people with disabilities
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| housing |
number of buildings
roommates: one room per adult
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| sharing |
income sharing: 100% income sharing
communal meals: all meals are communal
communal food: most food is communal
tools and machinery: most tools and machines are shared
motor vehicles: most vehicles are shared
bicycles: a few bicycles are public
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| ethnicity |
ethnic diversity: very diverse
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| spirituality |
spiritual diversity: strongly secular or intentionally not diverse
meditation: some people meditate regularly
roman catholic: major theme / required
christian: major theme / required
jewish
native american
orthodoxy (greek, russian, etc.)
ecumenical (includes "all religions")
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| government |
common political theme: democratic
selecting leaders or centrals: elections
decision making: elected leaders decide
rules: come from a religious or spiritual belief
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| activism |
party politics: a few people
protests and demonstrations: a few people
non-violent direct action: a few people
cyber-activism: a few people
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| sustainability |
self-grown food: 20%
self-produced energy: 10%
energy from renewable sources: 10%
building material which is salvaged
sewage which is treated ecologically
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| income and money |
income generated within: 60%
personal expenses: reasonable amount of pocket money
savings: turned over to common till - no returns
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| diet preferences |
common diet: some diet restrictions apply to all
vegetarian (plant based and non-flesh animal products): 5%
whole foods: no restrictions - burgers and fries taste great!
coffee and caffeine: no restrictions
sugar: no restrictions
salt: no restrictions
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| love and sexuality |
polyamory / open relationships: not welcome
polyfidelity (group marriage): not welcome
bisexuality: not welcome
homesexuality (male)
lesbianism
heterosexuality
monogamy: not welcome
celibacy: major theme / required
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| seeking people |
seeking people: yes
elderly people
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| drugs / stimulants |
wine
beer and cider
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| dress / tidiness |
tidiness: reasonably tidy
cleanliness: very clean
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| visitors |
visitors without intention to join: welcome
paying visitors: welcome
prearrangements: contact a month or more in advance
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| languages |
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italian, english, french, german, dutch, hungarian, catalan, irish, luxembourgish, czech, polish, basque, walloon, portuguese, slovak, chinese, japanese, korean, vietnamese, indonesian, malayalam, tagalog, hausa, swahili, zulu. |
| partaking users |
roliver, current member
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last updated 2004/01/19
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