Archabbot Egbert Donovan, O.S.B.

Archabbot Egbert was born on January 15, 1913 and later entered the Order of Saint Benedict on July 2, 1934. After his ordination to the priesthood on June 16, 1941, he served in the Saint Vincent Prep School for many years, as Dean in the College, and four years in our campus ministry apostolate at Penn State. He then served as Prior of the monastery and principal at our Priory in Savannah before being blessed with the Office of Archabbot. He was a decisive and warm archabbot who had a firm but gentle leadership. None can forget his malapropisms that kept us smiling. Because of poor health, Archabbot Egbert resigned his office. He continued to live with the community for almost twenty years until his death on September 17, 1998. In his later years, Archabbot Egbert tried to develop some computer skills which is so characteristic of our dear Father in Christ. He was always ready for a new adventure; indeed he fulfilled his own motto, “We Must Act Now.”

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

Today, September 17th, is the feast of Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard was born in 1098, in the Rhineland of Germany. She became a Benedictine nun and served as Abbess of her community. Hildegard was a mystic who received visions from

God. Her major work, Sci Vias Domine, Know the Way of the Lord, details her many visions. Hildegard was also a gifted musician, artist, poet, cook, a "proto-pharmacist", gardener, brilliant author, master of humility, and dedicated Benedictine nun, who was on fire with the love of God. She died on September 17, 1179, at the Abbey of Bingen, near the Rhine river in Germany. She was canonized by popular acclaim not long after her death. For a thousand years, she has been honored by the Benedictines nuns and monks for her model of openness to God. Pope Benedict XVI recently made her canonization official and on October 7, 2012, will proclaim Hildegard of Bingen,the 35th Doctor of the Church, for the tremendous contribution that she made to Christianity and the importance of her message in today's world. Saint Hildegard, pray for us! Happy Feast of Saint Hildegard to all!

Feast of the Veneration of the Most Holy Cross

Veneration of the Cross. This feast began in the 4th century after the miraculous discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem by St. Helen. A traditional prayer for this is, "We adore you Jesus Christ and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world." 

In the seventh century, the Church in Rome adopted the practice of Adoration of the Cross from the Church in Jerusalem, where a fragment of wood believed to be the Lord's cross had been venerated every year on Good Friday since the fourth century. According to tradition, a part of the Holy Cross was discovered by the mother of the emperor Constantine, St. Helen, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326. A fifth century account describes this service in Jerusalem. A coffer of gold-plated silver containing the wood of the cross was brought forward. The bishop placed the relic on the a table in the chapel of the Crucifixion and the faithful approached it, touching brow and eyes and lips to the wood as the priest said (as every priest has done ever since): 'Behold, the Wood of the Cross.'

Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ's cross does not mean that we actually adore the material image, of course, but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honor to our Lord's cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice, in reverencing His Cross we, in effect, adore Christ. Thus we affirm: 'We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has Redeemed the World.

The Most Holy Name of Mary

The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary was suppressed after the liturgical revisions following Vatican II, but restored as an optional memorial to September 12th in the revised Missal.

After the most holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious or more powerful than the name of Mary. At the mention of this name, the Angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation of this name, sinners obtain grace and pardon. --St. Peter Canisius

As wax melts before fire, so do the devils lose their power against those souls who remember the name of Mary and devoutly invoke it. --St. BonaventureHer Son esteems Her prayers so greatly, and is so desirous to satisfy Her, that when She prays it seems as if She rather commanded than prayed, and was rather a queen than a handmaid." --St. Peter Damian



Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica has a chapel dedicated to the names or titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary, Gate of Heaven

 Mary, Ark of the Covenant

Mary, Health of the Sick

Mary, Seat of Wisdom

Mary, Vessel of Honor

Mary, Vessel of Devotion 

Prayer for 9/11

Throughout the course of history, the Benedictine Order has had a beneficial influence on the peace and harmony of society.  Just as St. Benedict help transform the ignorance and turmoil of a collapsing civilization, his sons today continue to bring the truth and charity of the Gospel to a world terrorized by hate.  For all of those affected by the events of 9/11, let our prayer today be the prayer of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict. 

picture from gracesgraphics.com

O God of love, compassion, and healing,

look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,

who gather today at this site,

the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodness

to give eternal light and peace

to all who died here--

the heroic first-responders:

our fire fighters, police officers,

emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,

along with all the innocent men and women

who were victims of this tragedy

simply because their work or service

brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion

to bring healing to those

who, because of their presence here that day,

suffer from injuries and illness.

Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families

and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well

of those who suffered death, injury, and loss

on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Our hearts are one with theirs

as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:

peace in the hearts of all men and women

and peace among the nations of the earth.

Turn to your way of love

those whose hearts and minds

are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,

overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,

we seek your light and guidance

as we confront such terrible events.

Grant that those whose lives were spared

may live so that the lives lost here

may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,

strengthen us in hope,

and give us the wisdom and courage

to work tirelessly for a world

where true peace and love reign

among nations and in the hearts of all.