Oratory of the Good Shepherd
The Oratory of the Good Shepherd (OGS) is a dispersed international religious community, within the Anglican Communion. Members of the oratory are bound together by a common rule and discipline, which requires consecrated celibacy, and are strengthened by prayer and fellowship; they do not normally live together in community but meet regularly in chapter and retreat and report to one another on their keeping of the rule.
The spirit of the oratory is expressed in its "Seven Notes", which call the brethren to fellowship, stewardship of gifts and possessions, love, labour of the mind and to a life of joy and thanksgiving.[1]
The Rule of the Oratory requires celibacy, a regular account of spending and direction of life. The rule commits the brethren of OGS to:
- praying for one another by name each day
- daily Eucharist, where possible
- morning and evening prayer
- and to an hour of private prayer
In addition, 'Labour of the Mind' is a characteristic of the oratory, and members are expected to spend time in study – although this takes a variety of forms for different brethren.
The oratory encourages its members in their individual ministries and has among its members bishops, parish priests, lecturers, missionaries, a cathedral verger, and many others.
History
The oratory began in 1913 as a group of University of Cambridge college chaplains who were looking for some form of disciplined life in the comfortable circumstances of the university of those days. The First World War interrupted things, but afterwards they came together again, meeting at the site of the Little Gidding community of the 17th century. The "Notes" were compiled and the way of life devised.
There has been controversy from the beginning, but whether the oratory was inspired by St Philip Neri or the French oratory of Pierre de Bérulle is probably of little importance since OGS is sui generis.
Until 1939, some of the brethren lived in the Oratory House in Cambridge, where they were joined by research students and others. In 1939 the Oratory House was passed on to the Franciscans, since when the oratory has had no permanent base. On occasion two or three brethren have lived together when staffing a parish, but this has been the exception rather than the rule.
Among its members have been Fr Alec Vidler, a noted liberal scholar, and Fr Eric Mascall, a more conservative Thomist, and many have wondered how such diverse people could exist in the same order, but this has been perfectly possible, given the breadth enjoined by the Notes, and the ideal of the Love that makes for Peace. There are still academics in the oratory, but most of ite brethren can be found in parish communities across the world, all finding support and discipline from the oratory in living out their individual vocations.[2]
The Oratory has two published histories: The History of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd by Henry Brandreth, OGS and George Tibbatts, OGS The Oratory of the Good Shepherd: The First Seventy Five Years.
Structure
Members are organised into local "colleges", each of which in turn is a part of one of the four provinces of the oratory; Australia, Europe, North America and South Africa. Brothers may use the post-nominal initials "OGS".
The current officers of the oratory include the superior general, Bishop Lindsay Urwin; the secretary-general, the Venerable Edward Simonton; and the almoner-general, Father Petter Hibbert. The officers are elected for a three-year term at the general chapter of the oratory which meets once every three years. In each of the four provinces the provincial chapters meet more frequently (usually annually) and elect a provincial. The colleges meet regularly throughout the year for brethren to report to one another on their keeping of the Rule.
Each province of the oratory also includes "companions", who are part of the oratory family. Companions, after a period of probation, promise to keep a rule of life based on the rule observed by the professed brethren. They seek to attend the Eucharist on Sundays and some weekdays, to pray regularly, to spend time in retreat and to be regular in alms-giving, confession and praying for the oratory. Companions also read and study the Seven Notes as, although they don not apply in every detail to companions, they reflect the spirit of the oratory life.[3]
Members
The founders of the oratory were Bishop John How, Bishop Edward Wynn and the Very Revd Eric Milner-White.
The brethren have included amongst their number several notable figures, including: the Revd Canon Wilfred Knox, the Revd Canon Alec Vidler, the Revd Canon Eric Mascall, Archbishop Robert Selby Taylor, Bishop George Briggs, Bishop Henry Hill, Bishop John Ruston, Bishop John William Salt, the Revd Fr Henry R.T. Brandreth and Bishop Kenneth Mason.
The current membership includes several bishops: Bishop Lindsay Urwin, Bishop Dominic Walker and Bishop Bruce Myers, the reigning Bishop of Quebec. The Rev’d Dominic Austin Cawdell,[4] the youngest priest ordained in the Church in Wales, is also a professed brother of OGS.
Archbishop Michael Ramsey was the visitor of the oratory for many years. The current episcopal visitor is Bishop Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury.
See also
- Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (Roman Catholic)
- Nicholas Ferrar (Patron of OGS)
- Anglican Communion
- Religious Life
- Theologisk Oratorium (Lutheran)
References
- ^ "The Seven Notes of the Oratory", OGS Europe website.
- ^ "A Brief History of the Oratory". OGS | The Province of Europe. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
- ^ "Companions & Associates". OGS | The Province of Europe. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
- ^ St Asaph, Diocese of. "Bishop of St Asaph to ordain youngest ever deacon". The Church in Wales. The Church in Wales. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
External links
- Official website
- European province website
- Secretary-general's website
- A History of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd by Henry R. T. Brandreth at Project Canterbury
- Sisters of the Good Shepherd official website
- v
- t
- e
men
- Alton Abbey
- Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ
- Brotherhood of Saint Gregory
- Community of the Resurrection
- Company of Mission Priests
- Ewell Monastery
- Franciscan orders
- Korean Franciscan Brotherhood
- Little Brothers of Francis
- Melanesian Brotherhood
- Oratory of the Good Shepherd
- Benedictine orders
- Order of the Holy Cross
- Order of the Teachers of the Children of God
- Salisbury Priory
- St Gregory's Abbey
- Society of the Holy Cross
- Society of St. Francis
- Society of St John the Evangelist
- Society of St. Paul
women
- Augustinian orders
- Benedictine Sisters of Bethany
- Chama Cha Mariamu Mtakatifu
- Chita che Zita Rinoyera
- Chita che Zvipo Zve Moto
- Christa Sevika Sangha
- Community of All Hallows
- Community of Christ the King
- Community of Jesus' Compassion
- Community of Nazareth
- Community of St. Andrew
- Community of St. Clare
- Community of St. Denys
- Community of St. Francis
- Community of St. John Baptist
- Community of St. John the Divine
- Community of St. John the Evangelist
- Community of St. Laurence
- Community of St. Mary
- Community of St. Mary at the Cross
- Community of St. Mary the Virgin
- Community of St. Mary of Nazareth and Calvary
- Community of St. Michael & All Angels
- Community of St. Paul
- Community of St. Peter
- Community of St. Peter, Horbury
- Community of the Blessed Lady Mary
- Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd
- Community of the Good Shepherd
- Community of the Holy Cross
- Community of the Holy Family
- Community of the Holy Name (Europe & Africa)
- Community of the Holy Name (Australia)
- Community of the Holy Spirit
- Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord
- Community of the Sacred Name
- Community of the Sacred Passion
- Community of the Servants of the Cross
- Community of the Sisters of Melanesia
- Community of the Sisters of the Church
- Community of the Sisters of the Love of God
- Community of the Transfiguration
- Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation of Our Lady
- Daughters of St. Francis
- Fikambanan'ny Mpanompovavin l Jesoa Kristy
- Franciscan orders
- Malling Abbey
- Order of St. Anne
- Order of St. Anne at Bethany
- Order of St. Benedict
- Order of St. Helena
- Order of the Holy Paraclete
- Order of Julian of Norwich
- Order of Women (South India)
- Sisterhood of St. John the Divine
- Sisterhood of St. Mary, Bangladesh
- Sisterhood of the Epiphany
- Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity
- Sisters of Charity
- Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- Sisters of the Incarnation
- Sisters of Jesus Way
- Sisters of St Francis (Korea)
- Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor
- Society of Our Lady of the Isles
- Society of Our Lady St. Mary
- Society of St. John the Divine
- Society of St. Margaret
- Society of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus & Mary
- Society of the Holy Cross
- Society of the Holy Trinity
- Society of the Precious Blood
- Society of the Sacred Advent
- Society of the Sacred Cross
- Society of the Sisters of Bethany
- Anglican Order of Preachers (Dominican)
- Community of the Glorious Ascension
- Community of the Holy Transfiguration
- Community of the Servants of the Will of God
- Companions of Saint Luke (OSB)
- Franciscan orders
- Mucknell Abbey
- Order of Christ the Saviour (OCS Dominicans)
- Benedictine orders
- Society of the Sacred Mission
- St Mark's Abbey
articles