The Church shares in the mystery of Christ her head, which is a mystery of death and resurrection. Sealed by the Spirit, “the pledge of our inheritance”, the Church longs for the fulfillment of God’s kingdom as she awaits “Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1,4/Titus 2,13). Monks and oblates humbly welcome the word that has taken root in them, with its power to save, and they strive to be continually converted by that word and to be doers of the word and not merely listeners. All Christians strive to follow the poor, chaste and obedient Christ according to the particular circumstances of their lives. This means lives that are marked by simplicity, sharing, chaste loving and continual surrender to God’s desire for them and the world. Oblates seek to undertake those ascetic disciplines necessary for their life in the world as extended members of the New Camaldoli and Incarnation Monastery. The daily dying to selfishness, to control, to possessiveness, to activism, to addictions and anything else that hinders the oblate’s transformation in Christ is the basic asceticism. A life of moderation, integration, focus, wholeness, and depth must be sought through whatever practices help in this regard (i.e. fasting, retreats, good spiritual reading, spiritual direction). Moderating the use of television, media, alcohol, etc., would also be helpful forms of asceticism.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).