Primer on Benedictine Spirituality & SBCA Overview

SBCA Identity

• Vision: Become a leading Catholic-Christian institution forming holistic persons guided by PRAYER, WORK, PEACE.
• Mission: Deliver excellent, responsive programs; foster a learning, caring, praying community inspired by St. Benedict & St. Bede.
• Philosophy of Education: Education that is CATHOLIC-Christian in principle, BENEDICTINE in orientation, FILIPINO in character; goal is union with Christ through $\text{ORA ET LABORA}$.
• Core Values: Prayer · Work · Peace · Community · Service · Excellence.

Patron Saints

• Our Lady of Montserrat ("La Moreneta"): Patroness of Catalonia; Benedictine devotion since $11^{\text{th}}$ cent.; feast $\text{Apr }27$ (Spain) / $\text{Sep }12$ (PH). Mother house in Mendiola, Manila (Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat).
• St. Benedict of Nursia ($\sim480$–$\sim547$): Father of Western monasticism; authored Rule emphasizing balance of prayer, work, community, obedience, humility; maxim “Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.”
• St. Bede the Venerable ($\sim672$–$\sim735$): English monk-scholar; Doctor of the Church ($1899$); model of learning & holiness.

Benedictine Spirituality Essentials

• Motto: $\text{ORA ET LABORA}$ (Prayer & Work) → harmonize contemplation with action.
• Virtues: Listening “with the ear of the heart,” obedience, humility, silence, balance.
• Rule of St. Benedict key lines:
  • “Listen carefully, my son…” (Prol.)
  • “Prefer nothing, absolutely nothing, to the love of Christ.”
  • Good deeds precede words; silence valued (Rb $6{:}2$).
• St. Benedict Medal: sacramental of protection; inscriptions invoke Christ’s cross & reject evil (e.g., $VRSNSMV$ “Begone Satan,” $SMQLIVB$ “Drink the poison yourself”); word $PAX$ atop symbolizes peace.

Benedictines in the Philippines & SBCA History

• $1895$: First Subiaco-Cassinese monks from Montserrat arrive; mission & agriculture.
• $1901$ $\text{Jun }17$: Found Colegio de San Beda, Manila.
• Spanish Civil War martyrs: Bl. Eugenio Aramburu, Bl. Domingo Bru, Bl. Santiago Lopez.
• $1972$: Benedictine Abbey School opens in Alabang with $78$ preschoolers.
• Additions: High School ($1977$), College ($1995$ – St. Benedict College).
• $2004$: Renamed San Beda College Alabang under Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB.
• Present: Subiaco-Cassinese institution offering holistic faith-based education in S. Metro Manila.

Key Prayers & Invocations

• Collect to Our Lady of Montserrat: asks her intercession for God’s merciful favor.
• Prayer with St. Benedict: seek attentive minds, fervent hearts, willing hands for peaceful living.
• Prayer with St. Bede: find Christ in Scripture & prayer, shape life to His likeness.