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St Benedict 2019 (Letter n°58) “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul.” (Ac 4:32)
This year our Benedictine Community is celebrating the 700th anniversary of the founding of the Archabbey of St Mary of Monte Oliveto, mother house of our monastic family, near Sienna in Italy. To mark this anniversary, on 1st February, on the feast of St Brigid of Kildare, with the agreement of the Definitory, our Abbot General, Dom Diego M. Rosa, raised two communities of our Congregation to the rank of abbey: the Monastery of St Bernard Tolomei in Goesong in South Korea and our Monastery of the Holy Cross in Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. One of the first consequences of this decision for the two communities was to proceed to the election of an Abbot. On 26 February, Dom Giacomo M Ryu was elected Abbot in South Korea. On 8 March, Dom Diego, accompanied by Dom Andrea, Bursar General of our Congregation, arrived in Rostrevor to preside over the election of our Abbot. On 9 March, on the feast of St Frances of Rome, Dom Mark-Ephrem was elected and confirmed as the first Abbot of the Abbey of the Holy Cross. As a motto, Abbot Mark-Ephrem has chosen a quotation from the second Eucharistic Prayer: Ut congregemur in unum. Here is the complete sentence in English: « Humbly we ask you that having shared in the body and the blood of Christ we may be united by the Holy Spirit in a single body ». On 26 March 2019 (the foundation charter of the Archabbey St Mary of Monte Oliveto is dated 26 March 1319) the two new Abbots were blessed by our Abbot General, in the presence of several Abbots, Priors and monks of our Congregation, representing the communities of Italy, France, Israel and of course South Korea. Abbot Mark-Ephrem arrived at Monte Oliveto on 22 March. The rest of the community joined him on 24 March. On Wednesday 27 March, all the community returned to Rostrevor. During our absence the Abbey did not remain empty, as members of the community of the Servants of the Word came to keep an eye on the place.
From 27 January to 1st February and from 1st to 5 July, Abbot Mark-Ephrem took part in meetings of the Definitory at Monte Oliveto. From 14 to 17 January, from 10 to 12 February and on 5 and 6 June, he was in Bec to spend time with the community. From 21 to 23 January and on 16 May, he was in London with Bro. Thierry to deal with matters relating to the currently closed Monastery at Cockfosters. From 1st to 9 April, he was in St David (Arizona) with Dom Andrea, the Bursar General of our Congregation, to take steps leading to the closure of the Holy Trinity Monastery. From 28 May to 1st June, Abbot Mark-Ephrem was at Abu Gosh (Israel) with our Abbot General and Dom Andrea paying a visit to Abbot Charles-Eugène who was in poor health.
We share with you the words of introduction and the homily pronounced by Dom Diego M. Rosa, Abbot General of our monastic family, on the occasion of the Abbatial Blessing of the two new abbots.
Word of Introduction to the Celebration. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 117:24) This is indeed a day that the Lord has made! We make the others but He alone can make such a special day as this. On this anniversary date of the foundation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, an abbey of clear Benedictine identity, which took place on 26th March 1319, we have 700 years to remember and celebrate. The occasion is marked by the fact that two of our confreres D. Giacomo and D. Mark-Ephrem, newly elected Abbots in their respective communities, receive in this place the Abbatial Blessing from their Abbot General. What is signified and deepened by this gesture is that characteristic bond of communion between all the monasteries of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. All our monasteries look to this place, Monte Oliveto Maggiore, as the cradle of their existence. This abbey is at the origin, and, we could say, is the heart of the whole of our monastic family.
The celebration this afternoon has a precedent: on 24th October 1948, on the occasion of the 600 anniversary of the death of St Bernard Tolomei, two Abbots received their Abbatial Blessing here: Dom Paul Gramont, the first abbot of Bec and Dom Augustin Gorce, first abbot of Maylis. There is something that should cause us to reflect deeply. The Korean abbey of Goseong is placed under the patronage of St Bernard Tolomei; the Irish abbey is placed under the patronage of the Holy Cross. Well, if you go to that side-chapel, you will find brought together as in one mystery St Bernard Tolomei and the Holy Cross. St Bernard is depicted clinging to the Holy Cross which spoke to him in this place. The bringing together of our Saintly Founder and the Holy Cross is a blessed coincidence! In the name of the monastic community of Monte Oliveto, I fraternally greet all who are present here today. In particular, I salute Bishop Carlo Ciattini, of the diocese of Massa Marritima and an Irish Bishop, John McAreavey. I greet abbots, priors and brothers who have come from Korea, Italy, France, Israel and elsewhere. I offer a cordial welcome to the Prioress of Grandchamp, the Olivetan nuns from San Nazario (Italy) and the Korean Sisters from Pusan; also the Missionary Sisters of Tutzing, and Sr. Geraldine, an Irish Dominican. A special greeting to the many Korean oblates who have traveled to be here today.
Homily “Exalt the Lord with me, let us exult in his name.” (Sir 34:3) Today, dear friends, we praise God for all that he has given us to celebrate and live in this moment: the Abbatial Blessing of Dom James M Ryu and Dom Mark-Ephrem M Nolan: a sacramental event of the Church that confers on them a special grace to enable them to become ‘fathers’ of their respective communities and to act in the place of Christ: "Christi agere vices in monasterio creditur" (RB 2:2: “The abbot is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery”, cfr 63:13). Their monks will show towards them an obedience that is an antidote to subjectivism, and a way of humility. The two new abbots are called to serve their brothers, because service is the first expression of love. The words of Augustine, ‘si amas pasce’ (if you love, feed [my sheep]) echo in my mind. I also recall the words of St Bernard who, in his sermons On the Song of Songs (Serm. 79:1) writes, ‘Amor ubique loquitur (Love speaks everywhere). What magnificent insights! If an abbot wants to understand his monks, if he wants to get to know them, if he wants to act well towards them, he must above all love them and express this love in humble service. In this way will he be a good Shepherd for his community, able to guide them by his word, his example and his prayer, three commitments that are a sort of trinitatis sacramentum (Trinitarian sacrament) of the abbatial ministry. The abbot must exercise a discernment of mercy, so that his monastery can become a community of pardon. A community of pardon, not a community of judgement. I would add, that it must become a community of healing. St Benedict asks the abbot to act like a good doctor, a wise physician (RB 27:2), showing tender love towards the monks who bear all kinds of psychological scars and are marked by spiritual fragility, so that at least their condition may not worsen. Dom James and Dom Mark-Ephrem, in a few moments the Rule will be entrusted to you, so that you can see yourselves in it – as men who look into a mirror – as you guide your community. You will receive a ring to remind you of the need to be faithful in your care of the monastery. A pastoral staff will be put in your left hand, so that you can be the guide of your monastic family. There is no community without problems, without unhappiness, without some fragility. All of this, and more, will inevitably impact upon you as you find yourselves often carrying on your shoulders another cross much heavier than the one you carry on your scapular. At those moments, with an intense prayer, trust in God more than in your own strength. Yes, I repeat it. Turn towards the sun, that is, towards God, and the shadows will fall from your shoulders. You may have wondered about bringing together two abbots from geographically distant areas that are so different to each other. This is true but it is not the whole story. Your homelands have something in common. North Korea and the Republic of Korea; the North of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The names suggest a connection. Both your countries are marked by division. Other than your belonging to the same Benedictine Congregation, you are both familiar with a deep national wound. A particular reason to justify your presence in Korea and in Ireland is the possibility of offering the silent but living witness of your monastic life; through your prayer and hospitality you can contribute to healing your wounded nations in a way that is invisible but real. You are to receive your Abbatial Blessing on the anniversary of an important date (26th March 1319 – 26th March 2019) and this has a great significance: the abbey of Geosong and the abbey of Rostrevor that are already in spiritual and juridical communion with Monte Oliveto are today inserted more deeply into the Archabbey of Monte Oliveto that has given both of you life, one in 1992 and the other in 1998. Insert yourselves like two bricks into the structure of the monastery of Monte Oliveto, one with the colours of the most beautiful green island of St Patrick, St Columban and many other saintly monks, the other with the colours of the land of the martyrs St Andrew and his companions, united, of course, with the new monastery of Monte Oliveto in Korea and with our Olivetan Sisters of Pusan. In the name of all, I express the wish that you may write new pages of history which will mark the arrival of new vocations to your respective Abbeys. Dear Newly blessed Abbots, we confide you to Mary, patron of our Congregation, Queen of Ireland in the shrine of Knock and venerated in Korea in the shrine of Namyang.
On 2 December, the first Sunday in Advent, in his role as an ecumenical canon, Bro. Éric preached in the Anglican cathedral of Downpatrick. On Sunday evening, we opened the liturgical year with the Anglican parish of our village. On 13 January, Fr Mark-Ephrem was in the Anglican cathedral of Armagh for the installation of a new canon. On 19 January, we had a day-long visit from the community of the Little Sisters of Jesus in Downpatrick. The community is composed of two French sisters and one from Japan. During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, on 20 January, Rev Katherine Meyer, a Presbyterian minister from Dublin, preached during our Eucharist. On the same day in the evening, Bro. Thierry gave a talk on the theme of forgiveness in Fitzroy Presbyterian church in Belfast. On 24 January, the choir of St Colman’s College in Newry gave a concert in our church. On 25 January, to conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Rev Adrian Dorrian, an Anglican minister from Downpatrick, preached for the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. From 4 to 6 February, we were delighted to welcome Msgr Larry Duffy for a retreat in view of his episcopal ordination as Catholic Bishop of Clogher (Ireland) which took place on 10 February. On 5 February, Fr Mark-Ephrem and Bro. Thierry were with our confreres in Turvey (England) for a meeting of the editorial board of the review One in Christ. On 15 February, we celebrated the 70th birthday of our Bro. Éric. It was an opportunity to watch together a film about his native town of Le Havre. From 15 to 17 February, we welcomed Sr Brigitte Pinot, Prioress of the Cistercian Monastery of Tautra in Norway. On 17 February, Sr Joan O’Donovan, an Irish Dominican friend of the community, was with us to celebrate her 90th birthday with a festive meal. As fit as a fiddle, she was accompanied by another Dominican sister and friend of the community, Sr Geraldine Smyth. From 18 February to 5 March, Bro. Joshua was in Mexico with his family for the wedding of his youngest sister Rode with Carlos. On 21 February, Bro. Éric joined in a meeting of the Chapter of Downpatrick cathedral. In the evening, Fr Mark-Ephrem and Bro. Thierry were in Belfast to celebrate the 80th birthday of our friend Tim Lynch, a former philosophy lecturer at Queen’s University and a great benefactor to our library. On 23 February, the members of the official theological dialogue between the Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church in Ireland met in the Abbey to pursue their theological work. On 24 February, Fr Mark-Ephrem preached in the Anglican Cathedral of Armagh. From 27 February to 24 March, we were delighted to welcome among us Bro. Bruno Maria Giacintov from the Benedictine Archabbey of Brevnov (Prague). On 16 March, Abbot Mark-Ephrem baptized in the Abbey his latest grandniece Eabha (the Gaelic form of the Christian name Eva), the daughter of Mark and Clare Murphy. From 1st to 9 April, Bro. Thierry was in Arizona with Abbot Mark-Ephrem. He continued his work related to the Monastery archives of Holy Trinity, and from 5 to 7 April he preached a retreat to a group of Benedictine oblates. From 6 to 7 April, Bishop Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, was in Rostrevor. On 10 April, we welcomed Bishop Philip Boyce, the Apostolic Administrator of our diocese, and a group of priests for a day of recollection directed by Abbot Mark-Ephrem. On 11 April, we learned of the death of Bro. Gilbert Watson, a monk from the Abbey of Bec. His funeral took place on 16 April. Bro. Gilbert was 89 and had been a professed monk for 69 years. In 1950, he was the first monk to make his profession at Bec after the expulsion of the last monks in 1792. On 20 April, Mother Marie-Agnès, from the community of nuns-oblates of Le Mesnil-Saint-Loup, died in Troyes aged 94. Having made profession at Cormeilles-en-Parisis in 1947, she was one of the two remaining sisters at the foundation of Bec. On 15 April, Monday of Holy Week, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, the new Apostolic Administrator of our diocese. On 18 April, Abbot Mark-Ephrem concelebrated at the Chrismal Mass which took place in Newry Cathedral and which was presided over by our new Apostolic Administrator. On 25 April, Archishop Eamon Martin came to the Abbey for a meeting with Abbot Mark-Ephrem. On 29 April, on the feast of St Catherine of Siena, Moya Gahan from Belfast made her secular oblation. On 18 May, Bishop Philip Boyce, the Apostolic Administrator of our diocese for a year, came to celebrate vespers with the community and to share our evening meal in order to bid us farewell and to return to Donegal (Ireland) for a well-deserved retirement. From 29 to 31 May, Bro. Benoît was with his family to celebrate the 90th birthday of his mother, Mrs Denise Charlet. On 4 June in the evening, our oblate Rev Suzanne Cousins became the new rector of the Anglican parish of Benburb, in the archdiocese of Armagh. Bro. Éric represented the community at the induction service. On 8 and 9 June, for the feast of Pentecost, we had a visit from Bishop Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. On 21 and 22 June, two cameramen and one journalist from Trinity Broadcasting Network (an American Christian-based broadcast television network) were with us to film and interview us for a programme on Northern Ireland. On 25 June, the community was in the Anglican church of Rostrevor for the installation of the new rector of the parishes of Rostrevor and Warrenpoint, Bishop Darren McCartney, retired bishop of the Arctic in the Anglican Church of Canada. On 30 June, our Sunday Eucharist was broadcast live on BBC Northern Ireland.
Love, in transforming the one who loves into that which is loved, causes many to become one. (St Bernard Tolomei)