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The Order of Saint BenedictJanuary, February and March 2012Rev. 31 January 2012 |
January 2012
World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted 2 February as a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. In the US the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the closest Sunday in order to enable as much participation as possible.
Olivetan Monks to Leave Christ the King, London
The Olivetan Benedictines are planning to leave Cockfosters Parish of Christ the King, in north London, it was announced on Sunday, 29 January 2012.
Bishop John Arnold visited the parish to break the news. He said in a statement: "the Abbot General of the Olivetans, Don Diego M. Rosa OSB, with his Council, has determined that, regrettably, there are no additional monks available to send to Cockfosters to assist in the parish. They further determined that Cockfosters does not at this time form a viable monastic community, being only two resident monks. Don Diego has therefore decided that the parish here at Cockfosters must be placed under the direct care of the Diocese [of Westminster], and the monks withdrawn" (ICN). Althought no date is set, the monks will probably depart in summer 2012.
The Olivetans are a monastic order formally recognised in 1344. The Olivetan Congregation affiliated with the Benedictine Confederation in 1960.
New Camaldoli Hermitage Elects New Prior
The monks of New Camaldoli Hermitage, Big Sur, California, elected Father Robert Hale OSB Cam., 20 January 2012. Prior General Alessandro Barban OSB Cam. will bless the new prior at the hermitage, 25 January 2012, 11 a.m. Prior Robert had served as prior from 1988 to 2000. He succeeds Father Raniero Hoffman OSB Cam. who was prior for 12 years and elected not to stand for re-election.
Prior Robert professed solemn vows as a Camaldolese monk in 1965. He was ordained a priest in 1966. He earned a masters degree at the School of Theology, Saint John's University, Minnesota, and a doctorate in Spiritual Theology at Fordham University. Before his election, Prior Robert served as Director of Oblates. Ad multos annos.
Hildegard of Bingen to Become Saint and Doctor
Several sources report that in October 2012 the Holy Father will canonize Abbess Hildegard of Bingen OSB (1098-1179) and proclaim her a Doctor of the Church (Vatican Insider). "Hildegard's story attests to the cultural vitality of female monasteries at that time and helps to undo certain prejudices about the Middle Ages. She was a nun, theologian, cosmologist, botanist, musician -- she is considered the first woman composer of Christian history." Of the Church's 33 doctors, only three are women: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Sienna, and Therese of Lisieux; the first two proclaimed by Pope Paul VI in 1970, the last by John Paul II in 1997.
National Vocation Week
Monday, 9 January, launched National Vocation Awareness Week in the US. The USCCB vocation website was reconfigured last year.
Nový Dvur Becomes an Abbey
On 8 December 2011, following the decision of the General Chapter of the Trappists in September 2011, the monastery of Our Lady of Nový Dvur, Czech Republic, was raised to the status of abbey. The monks elected Prior Samuel Lauras OCSO to be the first abbot; Abbot Samuel received the abbatial blessing, 12 December 2011. The abbey lies about 20 km south of Karlsbad.
The New Hungarian Constitution Affects Religious Orders
"With the new year, as the new constitution goes into effect, all petitions to the [Constitutional] Court lapse and it becomes much harder for anyone to challenge this law -- or any other.
"But it is worth lingering on the newly re-enacted law on the status of churches because it is one of the places where we can clearly see the effects of the new constitutional order on the protection of constitutional rights. What does the law on churches do? It creates 14 state-recognized religions, and decertifies the rest. On January 1, over 300 denominations lose their official status in Hungary -- including their tax exemptions and their abilities to run state-funded schools. While most of the denominations are tiny, many are not. Among the religions that will no longer be able to operate with state approval are all versions of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Baha'i, as well as many smaller Catholic orders including the Benedictines, Marists, Carmelites, and Opus Dei, and a number of major Protestant denominations including Episcopalians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Methodists, and all but one of the evangelical churches. One each of the orthodox, conservative, and liberal Jewish synagogues are recognized; but all other Jewish congregations are not" (The Unconstitutional Constitution).
A Benedictine from Hungary writes that "religious orders are still part of the Catholic Church in my country and being as such they will maintain their legal status -- all other problematic constitutional points nothwithstanding."
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