Solemn Vows Pictures 2008-09

This past weekend, 2 of our brothers (Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. and Br. Elijah Joseph, O.S.B.) professed Solemn Vows before Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B. and the monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey.  It was a beautiful and graced filled day and a glorious celebration of the Holy Eucharist as our brothers gave their lives to Christ and His Church for life.  Please pray for all our Brotehrs in formationa dn for all young men considering our way of life.  Saint Benedict and Mary Mother of Monks...pray for us!!!

 

Father Jean-Luc, O.S.B. served ascantor for the Solemn Vows Mass

  

Procession into the Church (our 4 new Novices)

Br. Elijah Joseph, O.S.B. (front) and Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. process into the Church with their Solemn Vow formula's 

 

Father Archabbot makes his way to the altar

 

Father Archabbot incenses the altar with the assistance of the Rev. Br. Bonaventure, O.S.B.

Br. John Paul, O.S.B. beautifully read the readings

Rev. Br. Bonaventure, O.S.B. proclaims the Holy Gospel 

  

Br. Elijah Joseph, O.S.B. and Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. stand before the Archabbot

 

The Brothers prostrate during the Litany of the Saints asking all holy Men and Women to intercede for us to our Lord in Heaven

 Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. professes his vows 

 

Br. Elijah Joseph, O.S.B. professes his vows

The Brothers kneel with their arms making the Sign of the Cross during the chanting of the Suscipe ("Sustain me Lord as you have promised that I may live, and dissapoint me not in my hope")

Fater Archabbot prays over the Brothers that the Lord may sustain them in their commitment to the Monastic way of life

Father Archabbot extends the traditional Bemedictine Pax (the sign of peace) to the newly professed Brothers

The conferes congratulate the Brothers

Father Archabbot thanks the families of Br. Nathanael and Br. Elijah Joseph for the gift of their sons

The newly professed Brothers are all smiles after the Holy Mass with Father Archabbot

From: The Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Angela Englbrecht was among the delegation that visited St. Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, as well as his first American mission in Cambria County and toured Pittsburgh.

More than 150 years after St. Vincent Archabbot Boniface Wimmer settled in Pennsylvania, a contingent of visitors from his German hometown were inspired by their native son's legacy.

As part of a yearlong celebration marking the bicentennial of Wimmer's birth on Jan. 14, 1809, the Thalmassing delegation has spent the last week visiting the St. Vincent Archabbey and Seminary near Latrobe, as well as his first American mission in Cambria County and touring Pittsburgh.

Among the visitors are Anton Schober, pastor of St. Nikolaus at Thalmassing, Burgermeister (Mayor) Alfons Kiendl, and Richard Heindl, archivist of the Kolping family and Wimmer's great-great-great-nephew.

With Heindl translating, Schober said Tuesday his visit already had made "several very deep impressions."

In his homily Sunday, St. Vincent Archabbot Douglas Nowicki reflected on Wimmer's life and work, Schober said.

"We got a guided tour of a lot of the buildings of St. Vincent," Schober said, "so we can imagine how powerful that monastery is."

"For the first time, I realized completely the dimensions of Boniface Wimmer, his person and his work," Kiendl said.

Heindl said he discovered 12 years ago that his family was related to Wimmer.

"By chance I saw the parents' (names) of Father Boniface," he said. "I discovered I had the same persons in (my family). Since I know the relation, I was interested in each detail I could get."

Heindl said he read a biography of Wimmer and a collection of his letters.

"I never believed I could one day be (at) that place," he said, referring to the archabbey, college and seminary.

Wimmer established the Order of St. Benedict in North America, coming to the United States in 1846 to evangelize immigrants from Germany and other European countries and train them for the priesthood.

Wimmer led 18 novices to the United States, with plans to build their community in Carrolltown in Cambria County.

The land was not suitable for farming, Nowicki said, and Wimmer accepted an offer from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to use the St. Vincent Parish for the mission.

St. Vincent Archabbey, which Wimmer founded in 1846, is the largest Benedictine monastery in the world.

"His motivation was to establish a seminary to train priests to serve the German population," Nowicki said.

Area farmers asked Wimmer to help educate their children.

"That was the beginning of the prep school and college," Nowicki said.

Wimmer saw education as an answer to the bigotry many of the immigrants experienced, Nowicki said, and a way for them to enter mainstream American society.

"In a relatively short period of time, in his own lifetime, he was able to make a difference" Nowicki said.

Before his death in 1887, Wimmer established seven abbeys, 150 parishes and 75 schools throughout the United States. He also established 11 abbeys and priories that operated dozens of schools.

Heindl said the hills of western Pennsylvania are "very similar to home."

"Father Boniface could feel at home, just from his view of the landscape," he said.

Several of the visitors noted that in Germany, the bicentennial year is making more Bavarians aware of Wimmer's contributions.

"It is good that Boniface Wimmer gets more known now," Schober said.

School children learn little about Wimmer other than that he was born in Thalmassing, became a monk and went to the United States, the visitors said.

"I think it's important for the young people of Thalmassing to know one of their sons had such an impact, not only in the church but throughout the country," Nowicki said.

One person who was well-acquainted with Wimmer's accomplishments is Pope Benedict XVI. Nowicki presented him with a copy of "Boniface Wimmer: Letters of an American Abbot," during a trip to Rome.

"He said, 'Oh, our most famous Bavarian,'" Nowicki said. "He was very well familiar with Boniface Wimmer."

The Thalmassing visitors planned to return to St. Vincent a final time today, then travel to Washington, D.C., for their flight home.

Investiture 2009

Tomorrow our 4 new Novices will be invested in the holy habit, receive the monastic tonsure, a new name, the Rule of our Holy Father Saint Benedict and begin their year long novitiate under the guidance of the Novice Master.  Please remember these 4 new brothers in your prayers as they discern the call to monastic life here at Saint Vincent Archabbey.

Year of the Priest Website

 

  

Click here for the website

Prayer of Saint Benedict of Nursia

O Lord, I place myself in your hands and dedicate myself to you. I pledge myself to do your will in all things: To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength. Not to kill. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honor all persons. Not to do to another what I would not wish done to myself. To chastise the body. Not to seek after pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To hold myself aloof from worldly ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ. Not to give way to anger. Not to foster a desire for revenge. Not to entertain deceit in the heart. Not to make a false peace. Not to forsake charity. Not to swear, lest I swear falsely. To speak the truth with heart and tongue. Not to return evil for evil. To do no injury: yea, even to bear patiently any injury done to me. To love my enemies. Not to curse those who curse me, but rather to bless them. To bear persecution for justice' sake. Not to be proud. Not to be given to intoxicating drink. Not to be an over-eater. Not to be lazy. Not to be slothful. Not to be a murmurer. Not to be a detractor. To put my trust in God. To refer the good I see in myself to God. To refer any evil in myself to myself. To fear the day of judgment. To be in dread of hell. To desire eternal life with spiritual longing. To keep death before my eyes daily. To keep constant watch over my actions. To remember that God sees me everywhere. To call upon Christ for defense against evil thoughts that arise in my heart. To guard my tongue against wicked speech. To avoid much speaking. To avoid idle talk. To read only what is good to read. To look at only what is good to see. To pray often. To ask forgiveness daily for my sins, and to seek ways to amend my life. To obey my superiors in all things rightful. Not to desire to be thought holy, but to seek holiness. To fulfill the commandments of God by good works. To love chastity. To hate no one. Not to be jealous or envious of anyone. Not to love strife. Not to love pride. To honor the aged. To pray for my enemies. To make peace after a quarrel, before the setting of the sun. Never to despair of your mercy, O God of Mercy. Amen.