Ongoing Formation
Throughout the year the abbey will have visiting scholars present on a variety of theological topics as a way of providing ongoing formation for the monastic community. Below are recent presenters:
Dr. Aage Poulsen
Dr. Aage Poulsen (first name pronounced Owee), a professor who heads the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Greenland, taught a course to our junior monks on the influence of Saint Augustine's thought in the early Cistercian Fathers. He is also a Lutheran pastor and is orginally from Denmark. Dr. Aage is especially noted as a scholar on the early Cistercians especially William of St. Thierry, Saint Bernard of Clairavux and Saint Aelred.
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Br. Michael Meister, FSC
Br. Michael Meister is a professor of Theology and Literature at Saint Mary's College of California. From January 17 to January 21, 2011 he taught a course to the Juniors on Dante's Inferno, the first part of the Dante's Divine Comedy. He also gave three conferences to the community on each of the three parts of the Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
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Fr. Mark Scott, OCSO
Fr. Mark Scott, a monk of New Clairvaux, is currently residing at the Abbey of Gethsemani as editor of the journal, Cistercian Studies Quarterly. From June 5 to July 5, 2010 Fr. Mark Scott returned New Clairvaux to lead a series of scriptural lectures on the Song of Songs.
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Fr. Olivier-Thomas Venard, O.P
Fr. Olivier-Thomas Venard O.P, secretary of studies at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem, visited the Abbey from July 11 to July 25, 2010 for a series of classes on scripture.
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Excerpts from the Ratio Institutionis (Guidelines on Formation) on Ongoing Formation:
§47
Fidelity to the demands of monastic conversion requires some form of ongoing formation that will last during the whole monastic life, and that can be adapted to each one's needs and potentials.
§48
A program of ongoing formation available to everyone is to be developed in each community. In that way especially, a monastic culture will be built that will enable all to be united in a common understanding of their vocation. A specific wisdom is gradually developed in a community when its members supplement their lectio divina with serious reading and study. The goal of such ongoing education is a deeper penetration of the mystery of Christ and of the Church. A good assimilation of the patrimony of the Order, a real familiarity with the contemporary teaching of the Church, and a better understanding of the world of human experience as a whole will contribute greatly to the development of a solid and objective basis for faith and practice.
§49
In order to ensure the ongoing formation of its members, the community will avail of all the means compatible with Cistercian life: courses, conferences given by monks or by persons from outside the monastery, correspondence courses, modern means of communication and an adequate supply of books and periodicals. In particular, the various periodicals of the Order may offer an accesible means for strengthening and renewing a personal interest in monastic history and spirituality. Isolated monasteries and those lacking a sufficient number of persons qualified to teach will seek among the means listed here those best suited to their situation in order to sustain a lively desire for constant prayer. It should be borne in mind that a wholesome and balanced life is nurtured by an environment of harmony and beauty.
§50
There should be good coordination between the general programs mentioned above and the courses given in the various stages of initial formation. It may be helpful, especially in larger communities, that someone be appointed to supervise the study programs in collaboration with the novice director and the junior director. This person could arrange for the ongoing education of the community and maintain contact with juniors and others doing studies outside the monastery, and could also be the contact person for collaborative projects with other monasteries and other religious houses.
§51
After solemn profession, monks and nuns are to be be encouraged to engage in the personal study of a particular interest, or to engage in some technical specialization in the area of manual work or in some form of artistic creation.
§52
Study contributes most to organic growth in monastic virtues when it interacts with work and prayer, with solitude and community living. Prolonged involvement in personal study while pursuing particular fields of attraction should be at the service of the community or the Order, or at least carefully discerned as a particular element in an individual's vocation.
§47
Fidelity to the demands of monastic conversion requires some form of ongoing formation that will last during the whole monastic life, and that can be adapted to each one's needs and potentials.
§48
A program of ongoing formation available to everyone is to be developed in each community. In that way especially, a monastic culture will be built that will enable all to be united in a common understanding of their vocation. A specific wisdom is gradually developed in a community when its members supplement their lectio divina with serious reading and study. The goal of such ongoing education is a deeper penetration of the mystery of Christ and of the Church. A good assimilation of the patrimony of the Order, a real familiarity with the contemporary teaching of the Church, and a better understanding of the world of human experience as a whole will contribute greatly to the development of a solid and objective basis for faith and practice.
§49
In order to ensure the ongoing formation of its members, the community will avail of all the means compatible with Cistercian life: courses, conferences given by monks or by persons from outside the monastery, correspondence courses, modern means of communication and an adequate supply of books and periodicals. In particular, the various periodicals of the Order may offer an accesible means for strengthening and renewing a personal interest in monastic history and spirituality. Isolated monasteries and those lacking a sufficient number of persons qualified to teach will seek among the means listed here those best suited to their situation in order to sustain a lively desire for constant prayer. It should be borne in mind that a wholesome and balanced life is nurtured by an environment of harmony and beauty.
§50
There should be good coordination between the general programs mentioned above and the courses given in the various stages of initial formation. It may be helpful, especially in larger communities, that someone be appointed to supervise the study programs in collaboration with the novice director and the junior director. This person could arrange for the ongoing education of the community and maintain contact with juniors and others doing studies outside the monastery, and could also be the contact person for collaborative projects with other monasteries and other religious houses.
§51
After solemn profession, monks and nuns are to be be encouraged to engage in the personal study of a particular interest, or to engage in some technical specialization in the area of manual work or in some form of artistic creation.
§52
Study contributes most to organic growth in monastic virtues when it interacts with work and prayer, with solitude and community living. Prolonged involvement in personal study while pursuing particular fields of attraction should be at the service of the community or the Order, or at least carefully discerned as a particular element in an individual's vocation.
