Community of Saint Martin
Encyclopedia
The Community of Saint Martin is a public association of clerics according to pontifical law, gathering Roman Catholic priests and deacons. It was founded in 1976 by Fr. Jean-François Guérin, a priest from the archdiocese of Tours
(France), under the protection of Cardinal Giuseppe Siri, archbishop of Genoa
(Italy).
and Carmelite orders. But some others intended to become secular priests living their priesthood in community with others, pursuing the liturgical spirit they had inherited from Fr. Guérin: doubly faithful to the Latin and Gregorian tradition of the Roman rite
, and to the liturgical movement
and its synthetical expression in the Second Vatican Council
.
Since Cardinal Siri was interested in promoting the renewal of priestly training in France, he called Fr. Guérin and his first seminarians to his diocese in 1976. Thus the Community of Saint Martin was founded in Italy to give priests to the Catholic Church of France. Fr. Guérin and his students established themselves in the Capuchin
convent of Genoa-Voltri. The seminarians pursued the academic part of their training in the Genoa seminary, whereas Fr. Guérin took in charge their human, spiritual and intellectual training.
In 1983 the Community got its first pastoral mission in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, in South-Eastern France. In the following years, other French bishops entrusted parishes to the Community. In 1993 there was an opportunity to leave Italy, and to establish the Community's Home of training in France, in the village of Candé-sur-Beuvron, near Blois
, in the historical Loire valley
(about 200 km / 125 miles southwards of Paris).
Today, the Community of Saint Martin has about eighty priests and deacons, and about forty seminarians. It is present in nine French dioceses and in Cuba
. Some members of the Community were also selected by the Holy See, and entrusted with various missions in Rome or in nunciatures.
, recognized the Community as a public clerical association of diocesan right. In 2000 it got the status of a public clerical association of pontifical right.
. It has its roots in Fr. Guérin’s proximity to the Benedictine
Order and even more to the Congregation of Solesmes
, where he was an oblate at Fontgombault
Abbey in Central France. The Lectio Divina
is the base of spiritual training and spiritual life in the Community, and Gregorian Chant
is used almost exclusively in Mass and the celebration of Divine Office during the five years of training. In the different parish liturgies, there are more vernacular pieces.
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
(France), under the protection of Cardinal Giuseppe Siri, archbishop of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
(Italy).
History
Between 1965 and 1976, Fr. Guérin was active in Paris. He was chaplain in the Sacré Cœur of Montmartre, and many young people chose him as their spiritual guide. Quite a lot of them engaged themselves in the way of religious life, mainly in the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
and Carmelite orders. But some others intended to become secular priests living their priesthood in community with others, pursuing the liturgical spirit they had inherited from Fr. Guérin: doubly faithful to the Latin and Gregorian tradition of the Roman rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
, and to the liturgical movement
Liturgical Movement
The Liturgical Movement began as a movement of scholarship for the reform of worship within the Roman Catholic Church. It has grown over the last century and a half and has affected many other Christian Churches, including the Church of England and other Churches of the Anglican Communion, and some...
and its synthetical expression in the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Since Cardinal Siri was interested in promoting the renewal of priestly training in France, he called Fr. Guérin and his first seminarians to his diocese in 1976. Thus the Community of Saint Martin was founded in Italy to give priests to the Catholic Church of France. Fr. Guérin and his students established themselves in the Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
convent of Genoa-Voltri. The seminarians pursued the academic part of their training in the Genoa seminary, whereas Fr. Guérin took in charge their human, spiritual and intellectual training.
In 1983 the Community got its first pastoral mission in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, in South-Eastern France. In the following years, other French bishops entrusted parishes to the Community. In 1993 there was an opportunity to leave Italy, and to establish the Community's Home of training in France, in the village of Candé-sur-Beuvron, near Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
, in the historical Loire valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
(about 200 km / 125 miles southwards of Paris).
Today, the Community of Saint Martin has about eighty priests and deacons, and about forty seminarians. It is present in nine French dioceses and in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Some members of the Community were also selected by the Holy See, and entrusted with various missions in Rome or in nunciatures.
Canonical status
The first canonical recognition of the Community was granted by Cardinal Siri in 1979. His successor as the archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Giovanni CanestriGiovanni Canestri
Giovanni Canestri is an Italian Catholic clergyman, currently Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa.Born in Castelspina, province of Alessandria, he was ordained priest on April 12, 1941 and began his pastoral ministry in Rome...
, recognized the Community as a public clerical association of diocesan right. In 2000 it got the status of a public clerical association of pontifical right.
Spirituality
“Martinian” spirituality is centered on communal life and liturgyLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
. It has its roots in Fr. Guérin’s proximity to the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Order and even more to the Congregation of Solesmes
Solesmes
Solesmes is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in northwestern France.It is located near Sablé.The commune is almost entirely agricultural, but is especially noted as the site of the Benedictine St. Peter's Abbey, originally founded in 1010 and re-established by...
, where he was an oblate at Fontgombault
Fontgombault
Fontgombault is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
Abbey in Central France. The Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina
In Christianity, Lectio Divina is a traditional Catholic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word...
is the base of spiritual training and spiritual life in the Community, and Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
is used almost exclusively in Mass and the celebration of Divine Office during the five years of training. In the different parish liturgies, there are more vernacular pieces.