The Oblation Journal

Orthodox monasticism is frequently referred to as the Angelic Life since it is an attempt to transcend the bodily passions in order to free the soul thus allowing it to make its way to God. Not everyone is able to enter a monastery in order to live one’s Orthodox Faith in this intensity. Yet throughout the history of Christian monasticism the faithful have made their pilgrimages to various monasteries. Not so few Orthodox Christian laity have taken up residence in some geographic proximity to monasteries wherever they may be found. In the ancient Orthodox West, this need for an affinity to and spiritual guidance of monks was recognized as early as the ninth century. Prior to this, both in the Rule of St. Benedict (Art. 59) and in the writings of St. Gregory the Great we find the practice of noble families dedicating one of their sons to God by allowing him to be raised and educated in the monastery. Such is the term “oblation”, to offer unto God. We hear this in word used in the Eastern Liturgy regarding the Holy Eucharist, “We offer this oblation of peace”. Eventually, in Western monasticism there developed “Intern oblates” who were layman who lived and worked in the monastery as monks except that these had not taken vows. Then there were the “Extern Oblates”, those who had attached themselves by affinity and guidance of a monastery but lived their Christian life in-the-world.

It is possible today, though rarely, to find Intern Oblates of some form thereof in Orthodox monasteries. By far the common and easiest connection the average Orthodox layman can make with the monastic life is as an Extern Oblate.

This website, Oblation, is dedicated to and created for Orthodox Christians who are or wish to become Oblates of our father among the saints Benedict of Nursia.