The Ten Hallmarks of Benedictine Education

Abstract

Benedictine educational institutions all have their own particular character and culture. Yet, because of the universality of the Benedictine way of life, Benedictine colleges and universities also have a strong sense of connectedness with each other. In early 2005, this unique Benedictine quality of diversity within unity inspired the Association of Benedictine Colleges and Universities (ABCU) to articulate educational values that arose from Benedictine life— values that were ingrained in each institution’s educational mission even though each educational community had a different origin and path of development. The ten hallmarks of Benedictine education serve as a basis for general understanding among Benedictine institutions and as a resource for new presidents, monastic superiors, faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This article explores the way in which the ABCU formalized the ten hallmarks document as a means to draw together the insights of the fourteen member colleges and their sponsoring monasteries.