Each day the monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey help to write another page in the long history of Benedictine monks throughout the world. As in the life of any family, life in a monastery is made up of events big and small. Here Father Prior Tobias reports on some of last month's events at Saint Meinrad.

January 2010

(1) Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Father Vincent was the celebrant and homilist this morning.

(3) The Epiphany of the Lord. Archabbot Justin presided and preached at the Conventual Mass. Archabbot Lambert arrived home today. Over the next few days, he will be leading the retreat for the seminarians of Bishop Bruté Seminary in Indianapolis.

(4) In a few days, Brother Zachary will be returning to the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO, to complete his degree. During Vespers this evening, he received a special blessing in anticipation of his departure for further studies. This evening, the monastic Chapter approved Novices Gary and Joseph for first profession, and Candidates Michael and Timothy for entry into the novitiate.

(5) Seventeen of the monks serve as regular chaplains for the Benedictine sisters at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, IN. This evening, the majority of the chaplains joined the sisters for Vespers and supper as a thank-you for their service.

(6) All day there were threats of a winter storm coming our way. We’ll see.

(7) Well, the winter storm conditions never really developed in our area. We had just about two inches of snow overnight. Pretty manageable.

(9) We had a “Second Saturday” session this morning, during which several Abbey Press managers made presentations about their areas of responsibility. Brother Karl, one of our junior monks, left the monastery today to return to northern Indiana. Our prayers accompany him in his life’s journey.

(10) Father Adrian was the celebrant and homilist this morning as we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord.

(11) Four of the monks are among the 15 participants in an icon-writing class being offered this week by Father Marek Visnovsky from Brunswick, OH.

(12) During a brief ceremony in the house chapel, in the presence of Archabbot Justin, Brother Philippe from Monastery of the Incarnation in Togo, West Africa, and Brother John renewed their simple profession today. In Brother Philippe’s community, it is the practice automatically to renew one’s simple vows for three years after completing the first three years. For his part, Brother John will be eligible for solemn profession this August.

(13) The people of Haiti are very much in our prayers following yesterday’s devastating earthquake. Here at home, it was the first day this year that the temperature climbed above freezing.

(15) Father Eugene is leading a retreat for 15 this weekend at the Archabbey Guest House and Retreat Center.

(16) For the fifth straight year, fraternity Delta Chi’s “A’s” Academy took place here at Saint Meinrad. Fraternity presidents and other staff from all over the country—this year nearly 175 strong—have come to reinforce their leadership skills.

(17) Many of the priests of the community, including Archabbot Justin, are out this weekend to preach Saint Meinrad Sundays in parishes throughout the Diocese of Evansville.

(18) Today began the annual Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. Each day of the octave we have special petitions for this intention at Lauds, Mass and Vespers.

(19) Before Vespers, in the entry of the monastery, Candidates Michael and Timothy were invested as novices. We had colloquium at supper in their honor. In Joliet, IL, alumnus Bishop Joseph Siegel was ordained auxiliary bishop by another alumnus bishop, Bishop J. Peter Sartain, the Bishop of Joliet. Saint Meinrad was well represented at the ordination, with Archabbot Bonaventure, Father Jonathan, Father David and Father Edward in attendance.

(20) During First Vespers for the Feast of St. Meinrad, Novices Gary and Joseph professed their simple vows for a period of three years. They are now known as Brother Adam and Brother Luke, respectively. The seminarians joined us for Vespers, and then all of us together enjoyed a buffet supper in the Newman Dining Room. Here for a visit are four Benedictine monks from Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas, Father Richard Walz and Novices Ed Stocks, John Magin and Jay Hagge.

(21) Solemnity of St. Meinrad. On this, our patronal feast, and the fifth anniversary of his abbatial blessing, Archabbot Justin was the celebrant and homilist this morning. We honored him with a social following Midday Prayer, warm applause and colloquium at dinner.

(22) The Church has designated this day as a Day of Prayer and Penance for violations of the dignity of the human person through acts of abortion. Seven van-loads of our seminarians left early this morning for tomorrow’s March for Life in Washington, DC.

(23) This morning we marked the first anniversary of the death of Brother Stephen. The Conventual Mass was offered for him. Today we welcomed Brother Cuthbert Brennan, OSB (Glenstal Abbey, Ireland), for a visit. Brother Cuthbert, who has been studying theology in Chicago, will finish his studies in May.

(24) Father Dennis Doyle (St. Louis) arrived for his retreat today. A big football fan himself—and his retreat not yet begun—he witnessed a roomful of monks whooping it up as the Indianapolis Colts won the AFC championship.

(25) Archabbot Justin gave a conference to the community in the Chapter Room this evening following Compline. Three Comboni missionaries are with us for retreat this week: Father Mario Malacrida, Eric Zadji and Mario Ledesma.

(26) Light snow fell overnight, covering a thin sheet of ice. There were many accidents on local roads in the early morning hours. Alumnus Bishop David Ricken (Green Bay) presided at the opening Mass of the second semester in the School of Theology. The bishop was also the featured speaker during dinner for the seminary community in the Newman Dining Room.

(27) Father Cassian, who serves as prior at Monastero di San Benedetto in Norcia, Italy (the birthplace of Ss. Benedict and Scholastica), is home for a brief visit. A number of the monks took advantage of the availability of the H1N1 vaccine today at the firehouse. (One of the older monks got a bit confused and announced that he had gotten his HIV shot!)

(29) Father Denis is leading the retreat at the Guest House this weekend for the men of Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville, IN. Their group, which has been coming annually for many years, numbers 46 this year.

(30) We awoke to four inches of snow this morning. Lovely. Organists from the Bloomington, IN, chapter of the American Guild of Organists, joined by singers from Indiana University, presented a program in the Archabbey Church this afternoon. One of the organists then played the processional and recessional for us at Vespers.

In your charity, please remember in prayer our confreres who currently reside part-time or full-time in the infirmary: Brother Benedict, Father Eric, Father Simeon and Brother Charles.