Oblate

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In Christianity (specifically the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist traditions), an oblate is a person associated with a Benedictine monastery or convent who is specifically dedicated to God and service.

Oblates are individuals, either laity or clergy, normally living in general society, who, while not professed monks or nuns, have individually joined themselves to a Benedictine monastic community associated with a certain Christian denomination, such as the Catholic Church or Lutheran Church.^[1] Individuals become oblates by undergoing an investiture in which they resolve to follow the Rule of Saint Benedict in their private lives. The Divine Office (canonical hours) is a focus of Benedictines and oblates strive to pray these individually or with others, including with monastics throughout the day in person, or live-streamed; this is normatively prayed seven times a day (cf. Psalm 119:164).^[2] They additionally seek to daily read the Bible through the monastic method of Lectio Divina.^[3] Benedictine oblates have used the postnominals Obl. O.S.B. or Obl. SB. after their names, usually in private correspondence.^[4]

Oblates are comparable to the tertiaries associated with the various mendicant orders. The term "oblate" is also used in the official title of some religious institutes as an indication of their sense of dedication, but are not Benedictine Oblates. (cf. oblation). Oblation may lead to monastic life for some, such as Br. Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B.^[5]