The Benedictine Character of the School
Ampleforth is a
Benedictine school under the guidance and care of the monks of
Ampleforth. The Rule of St Benedict, written in the Sixth century, has
provided a wise and enduring framework, both spiritual and practical, to
guide religious communities ever since. It gives us, in the 21st
century, an excellent guide for running a school in “the Lord’s
service”. St Benedict shows how, through prayer and work, the individual
can grow closer to God through living in a community. The Benedictine
tradition appeals not only to Catholics but also to other Christians,
who recognise the benefits of its balanced approach.
In our
community we encourage the young people in our care to develop their
talents and we celebrate these talents. However, we also ask them to
recognise their weaknesses and learn to work with them and help each
other along their journey towards self knowledge and trust in God. In a
secular age we ask them to look beyond material goals, to examine
critically the culture of instant gratification and to discover, through
thought and prayer, their deepest desires. We challenge them to ask
themselves difficult questions and to learn to distinguish between
transient appetites and real fulfilment. Every young person in the
school is invited to make this spiritual journey. It will not be a
solitary journey but a pilgrimage undertaken with the help of wise
adults and also supported by the other boys and girls here. We have a
shared aim based on St Benedict’s vision of nurturing a community where
all have the opportunity to flourish and grow in the love of God.
The
regular prayer life of the school, the work of house chaplains, the
central chaplaincy and our Christian Living programme are in place to
support and develop the spiritual growth of our young people. The bells
of the Abbey church, calling monks to prayer in the midst of our busy
lives, serve as a daily reminder of the importance of prayer and of
lives lived differently.