Benedictine Education

Education within the Benedictine Tradition

The origin of monastic schools can be traced to the beginnings of Benedictine life in the sixth century. Monasteries from their founding became places of reading, study and learning because it was imperative for monastics to be educated to read the psalms and practice lectio divina . Over time, and long before universities or colleges in our sense of the term had arisen, monasteries became places of learning for people who came to learn alongside the monastics. Hospitality simply would not allow these people to be turned away and great life was found in this broader monastic and lay engagement in education.

Through many centuries, monasteries have cultivated arts and letters. They have stewarded knowledge of the past in scriptoria and libraries, and they have promoted understandings of the earth and wise use of its resources. This work has engaged the labors of countless individuals and,
taken together, it has been a source of social, economic and cultural grounding for entire civilizations. Benedictine colleges and universities participate in this great saga, seeking to cultivate understanding among their faculty, staff and students of time-honored values that make full, worthwhile human lives possible.

From: http://www.ben.edu/cmi/upload/Education-within-the-Benedictine-Wisdom-Tradition.pdf 

Solemn Vow Retreat

In preparation for Solemn Vows, Br. Canice, Br. Joachim, and Fr. Killian made a retreat to St. Emma Monastery (http://www.stemma.org/) for a time of prayer and reflection.  

These Monks will profess Solemn Vows on Friday, July 11, The Feast of our Holy Father, Saint Benedict

Thank you Sisters for your Benedictine Hospitality!

Junior Camp comes to Saint Vincent

On June 14 to June 28, over thirty Temporarily Professed Benedictine Junior Monks from across the United States, Mexico and Canada will visit Saint Vincent Archabbey for a special summer Retreat program.  An annual event that occurs at a different monastery each summer, it is the first time Saint Vincent will host the program. 

The primary aims of the Junior Summer School program include:
To provide additional educational experiences not available in most monastic formation programs.
To provide opportunities to meet temporarily professed monks from other Benedictine houses.
To provide an experience of participation in the life of another Benedictine community.

The theme for this year will be "Building a Dynamic and Joyful Community Spirit" (Unity in the midst of our diversity and diversity in the midst of our unity.)"

To visit the monastery websites of the monks attending the Retreat:

• St. Bernard Abbey - Cullman, AL 
• http://www.stbernardabbey.com/
  
• St. Andrew Abbey - Cleveland, OH
• http://standrewabbey.org/
  
• Mount Angel Abbey - St. Benedict, OR
• http://www.mountangelabbey.org/
  
• Belmont Abbey - Belmont, NC
• http://belmontabbey.org/
  
• St. Benedict's Abbey - Atchison, KS
• http://www.kansasmonks.org/
  
• St. Meinrad Abbey, St. Meinrad, IN
• http://www.saintmeinrad.org/
  
• St. Peter's Abbey - Saskatchuwhan  
• http://www.stpetersabbey.ca/
  
• New Camaldoli Hermitage - Big Sur, CA
• http://www.contemplation.com/
  
• St. John's Abbey - Collegeville, MN
• http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/
  
• St. Andrew's Abbey - Valyermo, CA
• http://www.valyermo.com/
  
• Assumption Abbey - Richardton, ND
• http://www.assumptionabbey.com/
  
• St. Mary's Abbey - Delbarton, NJ
• http://www.saintmarysabbey.org/
  
• St. Anselm's Abbey - Washington, DC
• http://www.stanselms.org/
  
• Mount Savior Monastery - Pine City, NJ
• http://www.msaviour.org/
  
• Glastonbury Abbey - Hingham, MA
• http://www.glastonburyabbey.org/index.php

St. Vincent Archabbey Welcomes Generation Life

From June 1 to June 15, Saint Vincent Archabbey will host the Generation Life team for their annual Retreat

Generation Life is a movement of young people committed to building up a Culture of Life by educating their peers on the Pro-Life and Chastity messages and developing new leaders for the Pro-Life movement.  Only by spreading the message of Chastity can abortion be ended at its root cause.  

Generation Life Home Page:
http://www.generationlife.org/

Generation Life Team

Yo Yo Ma & St. Vincent Monks

After his wonderful performance in the Archabbey Basilica, Yo Yo Ma invited the monks of Saint Vincent to join him in singing the Benedictine Ulitma.  The Ultima is a traditional hymn that has been sung by monks for centuries.  A song which request's the Blessed Mother's intercession for a happy death, the Ultima is sung by monks on Festive occasions, at the end of each day after Night Prayer, and at the conclusion of a funeral.    


To watch Yo Yo Ma accompany the Ultima, watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7ovccAA6hE

At Saint Vincent, the text is sung in three languages Latin, German and English:

Ultima in mortis hora,

Filium pro nobis ora,

Bonam mortem impetra,

Virgo, Mater, Domina. 

Wenn wir mit dem Tode ringen,

Wollst, Maria, uns beispringen,

Dass wir selig scheiden hin,

Jungfrau, Mutter, Königin. 

When death's hour is then upon us,

To your Son pray that he grant us,

Death, both holy and serene,

Virgin Mary, Mother, Queen.