La profession d’oblat de frère Alan Pierre-Benoît

 

Last weekend I had the honour in accompanying my dear friend Alan, who is also my schola master, and sœur Dorothy Marie-André OSB (Obl) to L’Abbeye Notre Dame d’Argentan, a community of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the region of Lower Normandy, France.  

Alan was to receive the honour of becoming an Oblate of the Abbey following a two year period as postulant.  This he humbly received in a very moving ceremony during Mass on Monday 8^th October when a true relic of St Benedict was displayed on the altar.

Alan Pierre-Benoit recites his Vows at the Altar

The Abbey is very ancient founded in the sixth century and as one would expect of such an old Abbey, a colourful history.  It was sacked during the Norman period, dissolved during the French revolution and bombed during the Second World War.

 

Housed within the Abbey is a relic of St Opportune, an abbess of the Abbey during the 8^th Century. St. Opportune is very famous as in intercessor for childless couples.  Whilst there we were shown albums of letters, and more recently of photographs, from thankful parents who have now been blessed by children.

Reliquary of St Opportune

Reliquary of St Benedict

The good sisters of Argentan truly live the Rule; in their hearts, minds, words and deeds.  Their unrestrained hospitality was a wonder to behold.  Without exception the faces of the community literally “lit-up” with love and joy when they saw Alan and Dorothy.  They made sure I was not forgotten and given a loving welcome as a fellow Benedictine oblate.

The Abbey has been blessed with the wisdom of its Abbesse Mère Mariè-Paul, a very wise woman, as indeed is her predecessor Mère Abbesse Emerita Mariè-Joseph.  We were most fortunate to have a number of meetings with the Abbess and I recall one of her wonderful pronouncements:

We have so much for which to be thankful in this life. It is a good job we have an eternity to give thanks as it will take all eternity to offer them.

Mother Abbess,standing back left, Mother Infirmarian back right, Mother Emerita seated front.


We left with little gifts of prayers and tokens to remind us of a truly wonderful weekend; one of which we hope to repeat in the future.

In your kindness please pray for frère Alan Pierre-Benoit and the community of L’Abbeye Notre Dame d’Argentan.

As usual a small set of photographs is available HERE

Together in Christ - at last!

Public Profession of the Vows of Religion

 

Together in Christ, the Motto of the Diocese of Aberdeen, and, on Wednesday the 22nd August 2012, this came true for the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer when they were raised as a Clerical Institution of Diocesan Right by His Excellency Bishop Hugh Gilbert O.S.B., Bishop of Aberdeen.

 

Travelling across on the boat with the Community from the Monastery on Papa Stronsay to Stronsay where the ceremony was to take place in their chapel before the ceremony, Fr Anthony Mary remarked how this was the last time they would travel like this.  I thought to myself how prophetic; the vessel was heading west into the sunset as the day was ending on their time in the 'tween decks of the Church and on our return journey, after the acceptance of their vows, we would be sailing east into a new dawn.

 

By happenstance the Abbot of Ampleforth, Dom Cuthbert Madden O.S.B. was visiting Bishop Hugh and was a welcome presence during this wondrous occasion.  Also actively participating during the ceremony was Dom Benedict Hardy, Prior of Pluscarden Abbey.

The service commenced with three lessons and a Gospel.  Bishop Hugh's address was, as usual, of a high quality and he remarked how long a gestation period it had been for the Community.  (I think it was even longer that it takes for an elephant to gestate thrice times over!).  The Litany of Loreto was well chanted - very daunting for both cantors when you have a master such as Dom Benedict in choir.  Thereafter Father Michael Mary, as Rector Major, professed his vows to Bishop Hugh.  This was followed by the members of the Congregation of the F.SS.R. professing their vows into the hands of Fr. Michael Mary.

Benediction included the public recitation of the prayer to Jesus Exposed in the Blessed Sacrament by St Alphonsus and also included a robust rendering of Tantum Ergo to the tune of Das Lied der Deutschen.  The final hymn was to Our Lady of Aberdeen using the original words; not the watered down version heard today.  Superbos.

Please keep the Community in your prayers.  It is hoped that those brothers who have completed their time at seminary will receive thier sub-diaconal, diaconal and priestly ordinations in the not too distant future.

Here are a few photos I took.  You may view the whole set HERE

On the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer site you may view their video HERE




Dom Hugh Gilbert O.S.B.
Bishop of Aberdeen

Rev. Fr. Michael Mary F.SS.R.
Rector Major

The Altar at Our Lady's Chapel, Stronsay

 

His Lordship receives Fr. Michael Mary's Vows