Editorial

Benedictine spirit blesses the Church in central and southern Indiana

The publication date for this issue of The Criterion is July 11, 2025, the memorial of St. Benedict.

Catholics in central and southern Indiana have many reasons to celebrate this great saint. The women and men who follow the Benedictine Rule in our archdiocese have strongly influenced this local Church. Their prayer and work richly bless our past, our present and our future as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.

Many religious orders, including the Franciscans, the Sisters of Providence, the Jesuits, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, and others have graced this archdiocese with their ministries. We thank God for them, and we pray that their particular charisms will continue to enrich our lives here in central and southern Indiana.

But the monastic witness provided by Benedictines is deserving of special mention today as the universal Church recalls Benedict of Nursia, whose holiness, wisdom and sense of moderation continue to inspire us more than 1,500 years after his death.

There are many dimensions of Benedictine spirituality that have been interwoven into the life of this archdiocese. Here are just a few highlights:

—Ministry formation. The majority of priests and deacons who serve in this archdiocese experienced some, if not all, of their formation through Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad. Many of our lay ministers received all or part of their formation there. This means that most of our pastoral leaders were exposed to the Benedictine way of living the Gospel, celebrating the liturgy, and serving the pastoral needs of God’s people. These dedicated women and men share their experience of Benedictine spirituality with everyone they serve.

—Prayer and work. Ora et labora (“prayer and work”) is a phrase that speaks to the wholistic life of prayer, work and holy reading that the Rule of Benedict outlines. But Ora et labora is much more than a motto. It is the defining characteristic of the followers of St. Benedict, the heart of who they are—even more than what they do—as men and women who seek God in community. This eminently practical form of daily Christian living permeates our parishes, schools and archdiocesan ministries. We are a local Church deeply rooted in prayer and in the work of building up God’s kingdom here in central and southern Indiana.

—Peace. Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that the risen Lord’s first words to his disciples were “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19). The peace of Christ is vastly different from the imperfect peace that is experienced in today’s world. Benedictine life is a profound witness to the peace of Christ. Stability, reverence for the things of God and the commitment to live in harmony with one another and all creation are hallmarks of the Benedictine understanding of Christian peace. While no one would claim that this vision of peace has been anything more than imperfectly realized here, there is a commitment to live in harmony with all our sisters and brothers that has been strongly influenced by the Benedictine spirit of peace, hospitality and community life.

—Humility. Benedictine Sister Mary Margaret Funk, a member of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, has written a powerful book titled, Humility Matters. In it, she says, “Humility is for a disciple of Jesus Christ what enlightenment is for a Buddhist, realization for a Hindu, surrender for a Muslim, and righteousness for a Jew. It is the unmistakable character of one who has accepted the vocation to undertake the spiritual journey. It is at the core of our experience of life in Christ.”

Benedictines do not have a monopoly on the spiritual practice of Christian humility. Many other religious orders and diocesan spiritualities also emphasize this fundamental aspect of what it means to be holy. But the Rule of Benedict gives “the 12 steps of humility” a unique prominence. “When the heart is humble,” St. Benedict teaches, “God raises it up to heaven” (RB 7.5).

As former Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B., wrote in his memoir, Surprised by Grace: “Isn’t it a tremendous witness that [Benedictines] are so convinced of God’s love that they will commit their lives to pray day in and day out as their primary work [the Work of God, as St. Benedict calls it]? Nothing else takes precedence. Is there a more powerful witness that we human persons need God?”

Let us give thanks today for the witness of the Benedictines in our archdiocese. May they prefer nothing to the love of Christ.

—Daniel Conway