The great importance of Benedictine community

As a theology major with minors in global health and psychology, and as someone deeply invested in their faith with God, I have learned that community is so important, and that Christianity is a religion that is so difficult to do without community.

The Benedictine tradition has strongly valued community in its practices over the centuries, and it is something that made me feel at home on this campus.

It has changed my life to understand that community is the only way to make relationships, heal and become a better servant of God.

A common fact about humans is that we are inherently social creatures, and we were never designed to live alone.

In the beginning of Genesis, God made Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs, which means we were intended to live in companionship with one another.

Knowing this, community is an essential part of who we are as people. Communities help form interpersonal relationships as well as societal relationships with one another.

I have made nothing but powerful connections with people here, and I can say that a lot of the people I have met I will stay in touch with after graduation and into my career.

Benedictine community is more than just being around people; it is about being deeply connected and intentional with people.

This is something our current world is lacking, especially at a societal level.

We prioritize self-agency and individualism instead of the benefit of the common good for a whole community.

There are so many inequities because there is lack of valuing community and the common good in societies across the globe.

Benedictine community is also a way for people to lean on each other during unprecedented life events.

For example, I was able to really lean on the Benedictine community here at CSB+SJU when I had five losses within a month back in August and September.

I was comforted and prayed for, and it helped me realize how powerful it is to lean on others during difficult times as well as leaning on God, the Almighty Father, who is the head of the Benedictine community and all other communities.

As we continue to face times of uncertainty in our lives, we have to embrace what Benedictine community can provide to us during those times.

Being intentional and living with one another through this short life on earth is the main way to stay rooted within and through God, our Father.

I challenge myself, as well as our world, to go celebrate Benedictine community and be thankful we have the chance to have such relationships with each other, because without community our world would be much harder to live through on our own.

We need to be hospitable towards one another and be there for one another.

Living in a Benedictine community is a way for one to contribute to something, but it also allows us to learn and grow with each other as we work towards following Jesus, who is perfect, in our imperfect world.