A Brief Refelection the Night Before Investiture

 
The following was written on July 9th, 2008 by one of our new Novices as he prepared to receive the holy habit of our order and enter the Benedictine novitiate.

"One can prepare, and prepare, and prepare all he wants to, but one is never quite ready for some events" This piece of wisdom used to annoy me greatly. I thought it was false in most, if not all, instances; however, as I sit here about to be invested in my habit and truly begin my novitiate at Saint Vincent Archabbey, I think, for the big moments in life, we are never quite ready. It seems there is always a little discomfort and a little doubt - and this is intentional. God keeps us little and humble by reminding us how dependent we are upon Him.

My vocation has been confirmed through signs and wonders. I have been abundantly blessed in my preparation for this moment. Yet, despite all of this, I feel unready; but i don't think anything could make me ready. Everything I have endured and experienced in twenty years of living have prepared me for this moment and I simply trust that Our Lady, who holds my poor and miserable heart in her own, will act powerfully through me in my new life as a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Totus Tuus Maria!!!

The Feast of St. Benedict!!!

Happy Feast Day!!! What a Blessed 2 days for our Community!!! Last evening (during Solemn first vespers for the feast of our Holy Father St. Benedict) we witnessed the first vows of our brothers (Br. Maximilian Maxwell, OSB - Br. Jeremiah Lange, OSB - Br. Michael Antonacci, OSB - Br. Gabriel Myriam Kurzawski, OSB. That morning our community welcomed five new men (Br. John Paul Heiser, Br. Isidore Minerd, Fr. Jean Luc Zadroga, Br. Albert Gahr, and Br. Pio Adamonis)...pictures of the various celebrations and liturgies are on the way!!!

Profession and Investiture

This Thursday, July 10, our Community will welcome our 5 postulants into our Monastic family as they enter the Novitiate. Please keep these men in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Holy Benedictine habit during Lauds. They are: Mr. Ryan Gray, Father Clinton Zadroga, Mr. Peter Adamonis, Mr. Scott Gahr, and Mr. Matthew Minerd. We are also blessed to announce that our 4 Novices (Br. Maximilian Maxwell, Br. Jeremiah Lange, Br. Michael Antonacci, and Br. Gabriel Myriam Kurzawski) will profess first vows during Vespers in the Archabbey Basilica. The next day, July 11, is the Feast of our Holy Father St. Benedict in which our brothers Fr. Peter Augustine Pierjok and Br. Bonaventure Curtis will profess Solemn Vows during Holy Mass. Please pray for these men as they strive to unite themselves more closely to Christ in the Monastic Life here at St. Vincent Archabbey!!!

(l-r) Br. Maximilian, Br. Jeremiah, Fr. Sebastian Samay (Novice Master), Br. Michael, and Br. Gabriel Myriam

Novena to St. Benedict

Glorious St. Benedict who taught us the way to religious perfection by the practice of self-conquest, mortification, humility, obedience, prayer, silence, retirement and detachment from the world, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection (mention here). Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints to praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Benedict, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, there to worship and enjoy the most holy and adorable Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

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Pray One Our Father, One Hail Mary, and One Glory Be.

O Come Let us Adore Him!!!