Subiaco Congregation
Encyclopedia
The Subiaco Congregation is an international union of Benedictine
houses (abbeys and priories) within the Benedictine Confederation
. It was formed in 1867 through the initiative of Dom
Pietro Franceso Casaretto, O.S.B., and received final approval by the Holy See
in 1872.
of Benedictine monasteries. Due to his poor health later, after his ordination
as a priest, he was advised to seek exclaustration (a temporary release from his vows). Instead, he accepted assignment to a parish which had been entrusted to the pastoral care
of the Congregation, but only on condition of being accompanied by a few of his brother monks. Furthermore, his stipulation was that they be allowed to follow an exact observance of the monastic life as laid down in the Rule of St. Benedict. To be revived in this was the practice of perpetual abstinence
from meat and the celebration of Matins
at 2:00 A.M. This was seen as an act of defiance in some quarters, but Casaretto had won the confidence of Pope Pius IX
and the King of Piedmont
. His vision was fulfilled with the establishment of a small monastic community in 1843.
The new foundation received approbation within the Congregation in 1846 with the visit of the Abbot of their mother community. That same year, it also found support from the Vatican
with its approval of 18 articles Casaretto had submitted to serve as shaping the character of the foundation. Additionally, he founded a small seminary
nearby to prepare monks for serving overseas. This was a step away from the purely European focus of the Cassinese congregation.
Over the next few years, three other Cassinese monasteries joined Casaretto's experiment. At this point, the Cassinese Congregation formed these communities into a new Province
of Subiaco
, granting these communities a degree of autonomy. By 1867, monasteries in Belgium
, England
and France
had also joined this new Province. That was the year that Casaretto had decided that conditions in the mother Congregation were such that a complete split would be best. For this he convened an extraordinary Diet
, which declared such a break, and established the monasteries of the Province as the Cassinese Congregation of the Primitive Observance. One new feature of this congregation, breaking with monastic tradition, was the establishment of a single abbot
for the congregation, titled the Abbot General, with the Superior
of each monastery being titled simply a prior
, who was to be elected triennially, rather than for life.
This step drew the criticism of excessive centralization of monastic life, but the new congregation thrived, and received final papal approval in 1872, only five years after its inauguration. Yet Casaretto's vision was not to survive intact. Within a few years of his death, a committee of Cardinals
called an extraordinary General Chapter in 1880. In the course of this, they cancelled the congregational nature of the monastic religious vows
and re-established both the lifetime office of Abbot as the Superior of each monastery and the practice of the monk's vowing stability in a single community.
Following decades saw the consolidation and expansion of the Congregation. Growing hostility by the governments of Italy and France saw temporary suppression of various abbies. This led them to establish new foundations in Bengal
, New Zealand
and the Philippines
by the end of the 19th century. The congregation was flourishing, however, at the start of the 20th century, with the number of monks growing from about 1,000 in 1920 to over 1,400 by 1937. New foundations were taking place, but this growth also came through the affiliation of the formerly Anglican monastery of Prinknash Abbey
which chose to affiliate itself with this Congregation, after its conversion
to the Catholic Church.
The Spanish Civil War
, followed soon after by World War II
, saw a change in fortunes of the Congregation. Widespread destruction and dispersal of religious communites did not spare the monks. The entire community of "El Pueyo" was murdered during this conflict. Growth was able to resume after these conflicts, especially in the French province, which made new foundations in Asia
and Africa
. In 1959, the General Chapter of the Congregation chose to re-take its original name of Subiaco.
), the Subiaco Confederation is one of the most internationally diverse, due to the widespread missionary activity of its abbeys.
The office of the Abbot President of the congregation is at the ancient Monastery of St. Ambrose (founded by the saint's own sister in the 4th century) in Rome.
The individual membership numbers below are as of March 2009.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
houses (abbeys and priories) within the Benedictine Confederation
Benedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
. It was formed in 1867 through the initiative of Dom
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Pietro Franceso Casaretto, O.S.B., and received final approval by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1872.
History
Casaretto (1810-1878) from the age of seventeen was a monk of the Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte which was a member of the ancient Cassinese CongregationBenedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
of Benedictine monasteries. Due to his poor health later, after his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as a priest, he was advised to seek exclaustration (a temporary release from his vows). Instead, he accepted assignment to a parish which had been entrusted to the pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
of the Congregation, but only on condition of being accompanied by a few of his brother monks. Furthermore, his stipulation was that they be allowed to follow an exact observance of the monastic life as laid down in the Rule of St. Benedict. To be revived in this was the practice of perpetual abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
from meat and the celebration of Matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
at 2:00 A.M. This was seen as an act of defiance in some quarters, but Casaretto had won the confidence of Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
and the King of Piedmont
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
. His vision was fulfilled with the establishment of a small monastic community in 1843.
The new foundation received approbation within the Congregation in 1846 with the visit of the Abbot of their mother community. That same year, it also found support from the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
with its approval of 18 articles Casaretto had submitted to serve as shaping the character of the foundation. Additionally, he founded a small seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
nearby to prepare monks for serving overseas. This was a step away from the purely European focus of the Cassinese congregation.
Over the next few years, three other Cassinese monasteries joined Casaretto's experiment. At this point, the Cassinese Congregation formed these communities into a new Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Subiaco
Subiaco
Subiaco may refer to:*Subiaco, Lazio, town in Italy, site of St. Benedict's first monastery,*Subiaco, Western Australia, suburb of Perth*City of Subiaco, local government municipality in Perth, Western Australia centred on the suburb of the same name...
, granting these communities a degree of autonomy. By 1867, monasteries in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
had also joined this new Province. That was the year that Casaretto had decided that conditions in the mother Congregation were such that a complete split would be best. For this he convened an extraordinary Diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
, which declared such a break, and established the monasteries of the Province as the Cassinese Congregation of the Primitive Observance. One new feature of this congregation, breaking with monastic tradition, was the establishment of a single abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
for the congregation, titled the Abbot General, with the Superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
of each monastery being titled simply a prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
, who was to be elected triennially, rather than for life.
This step drew the criticism of excessive centralization of monastic life, but the new congregation thrived, and received final papal approval in 1872, only five years after its inauguration. Yet Casaretto's vision was not to survive intact. Within a few years of his death, a committee of Cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
called an extraordinary General Chapter in 1880. In the course of this, they cancelled the congregational nature of the monastic religious vows
Religious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
and re-established both the lifetime office of Abbot as the Superior of each monastery and the practice of the monk's vowing stability in a single community.
Following decades saw the consolidation and expansion of the Congregation. Growing hostility by the governments of Italy and France saw temporary suppression of various abbies. This led them to establish new foundations in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
by the end of the 19th century. The congregation was flourishing, however, at the start of the 20th century, with the number of monks growing from about 1,000 in 1920 to over 1,400 by 1937. New foundations were taking place, but this growth also came through the affiliation of the formerly Anglican monastery of Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham....
which chose to affiliate itself with this Congregation, after its conversion
Conversion
-Economy and Finance:* Currency conversion or exchange rate* Conversion , one of the options strategies* Economic conversion-Law:* Conversion , conversion by taking a chattel out of the possession of another with the intent of exercising a permanent or temporary dominion over it, despite the...
to the Catholic Church.
The Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, followed soon after by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, saw a change in fortunes of the Congregation. Widespread destruction and dispersal of religious communites did not spare the monks. The entire community of "El Pueyo" was murdered during this conflict. Growth was able to resume after these conflicts, especially in the French province, which made new foundations in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In 1959, the General Chapter of the Congregation chose to re-take its original name of Subiaco.
Current Status
As of A.D. 2010 the Congregation consists of 64 monasteries, with another 45 women's houses affiliated or "aggregated". The congregation was formed with the aim of rediscovering the ancient simplicity of the monastic life, which had become obscured over the centuries. As such, its houses tend to be focussed more on an enclosed contemplative life rather than pastoral involvement with the larger community through the operations of schools or parishes. Compared to the other member congregations of the Benedictine Confederation (apart from the Ottilien CongregationOttilien Congregation
The Ottilien Congregation, often also known as the St. Ottilien Congregation and as the Missionary Benedictines, is a congregation of religious houses within the Benedictine Confederation, the aim of which is to combine the Benedictine way of life with activity in the mission field.-History:The...
), the Subiaco Confederation is one of the most internationally diverse, due to the widespread missionary activity of its abbeys.
The office of the Abbot President of the congregation is at the ancient Monastery of St. Ambrose (founded by the saint's own sister in the 4th century) in Rome.
Structure of the Congregation
The congregation is currently made up of:- Six provinces: the Italian Province (18 houses), the English Province (14 houses), the Flemish Province (10 houses), the French Province (14 houses), the Spanish Province (11 houses), the African and Madagascar Province (7 houses), and the Vietnamese Province (4 houses);
- Two pro-provinces: the German Pro-Province (2 houses), and the Philippine Pro-Province (3 houses)
- Six extra-provincial monasteries.
The individual membership numbers below are as of March 2009.
Italian Province
- Subiaco AbbeySubiaco AbbeySt. Scholastica's Abbey, also known as Subiaco Abbey , in Subiaco, Latium, Italy, is a Benedictine territorial abbey founded in the 6th century AD by Saint Benedict of Nursia. It was in one of the Subiaco caves that Benedict made his first hermitage...
: 22 monks and 1 secular oblate - St. Scholastica's Monastery, Civitella San PaoloCivitella San PaoloCivitella San Paolo is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region of Lazio, located about 35 km north of Rome....
(1934): 13 nuns and 20 secular oblateOblateAn oblate spheroid is a rotationally symmetric ellipsoid having a polar axis shorter than the diameter of the equatorial circle whose plane bisects it. Oblate spheroids stand in contrast to prolate spheroids....
s - St. Mary's Abbey, Finalpia, Finale LigureFinale LigureFinale Ligure is a comune on the Gulf of Genoa in the Province of Savona in Liguria, Italy. It is considered part of the Italian Riviera.-Geography:...
(1905): 19 monks - Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul, GermagnoGermagnoGermagno is a comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 110 km northeast of Turin and about 9 km west of Verbania...
(1974): 8 monks and 5 secular oblates - Monastery of Our Lady of Miracles, Miracoli: 11 monks
- Territorial Abbey of MontevergineTerritorial Abbey of MontevergineThe Territorial Abbey of Montevergine is a Roman Catholic territorial abbey located in the city of Montevergine in the Ecclesiastical province of Benevento in Italy.-History:...
(1126): 13 monks - Noci Abbey (Abbazia della Madonna della Scala), NociNociNoci is a city and comune in the province of Bari in the region of Puglia, Italy. It has about twenty thousand inhabitants. On a West to east line it is located between Gioia del Colle and Alberobello. Most buildings in the town are built in a traditional style and all of the buildings are packed...
(1930): 22 monks and 330 secular oblates - Monastery of Saints Paul and Andrew, NovalesaNovalesaNovalesa is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km west of Turin, on the border with France.As of 31 December 2004, Novalesa had a population of 560 and an area of 28.3 km²....
: 8 monks and 20 secular oblates - Abbey of St. Justina, Padua (970:) 21 monks and 25 secular oblates
- Abbey of St. John the Evangelist, ParmaParmaParma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
(980): 14 monks - Priory of Saints Martin and Benedict, PegliPegliPegli is a neighbourhood in the west of Genoa, Italy.With a mild climate and a sea promenade, Pegli is mainly a residential area with four public parks and several villas and mansions. It is also known as a tourist resort with some hotels, camping and bathing establishments...
: (dependent on Finalpia) - Praglia Abbey, TeoloTeoloTeolo is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 50 km west of Venice and about 15 km southwest of Padua....
: 45 monks and 32 secular oblates - Sadhu Benedict Math, Maheshwarapash, DaulatpurDaulatpurDaulatpur may refer to:*Daulatpur, Manikganj, a town in Manikganj District, Bangladesh, well known for being the site of the world's deadliest tornado*Daulatpur, Punjab, a census town in Punjab, India...
, BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(1990): 2 monks and 27 secular oblates (dependent on Praglia) - Abbey of San Pietro di Sorres, BoruttaBoruttaBorutta is a comune in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 150 km north of Cagliari and about 30 km southeast of Sassari....
(1955): 10 monks
- Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Monte, TeoloTeoloTeolo is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 50 km west of Venice and about 15 km southwest of Padua....
: (dependent on Praglia) - Monastery of Our Lady of the Snows, TorrechiaraTorrechiaraTorrechiara is a frazione of the comune of Langhirano, in the province of Parma, northern Italy. It is especially known for its massive castle, built by Pier Maria II Rossi , count of San Secondo, between 1448 and 1460.-Geography:...
(dependent on Parma) - Abbey of San Giorgio MaggioreSan Giorgio MaggioreSan Giorgio Maggiore is one of the islands of Venice, northern Italy, lying east of the Giudecca and south of the main island group. The isle is surrounded by Canale della Grazia, Canale della Giudecca, Saint Mark Basin, Canale di San Marco and the southern lagoon...
, VeniceVeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
: 8 monks
English Province
- Monastery of the Holy Cross, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1988): 7 monks ( dependent on Christ in the Desert) - Monastery of Christ in the DesertMonastery of Christ in the DesertThe Monastery of Christ in the Desert is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery belonging to the English Province of the Subiaco Congregation of Benedictine monasteries....
, Abiquiu, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States (1964): 37 monks - Coyoacan Priory, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
: 4 nuns - St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(1895): 6 monks - Monastery of Kristo Buase, TechimanTechimanTechiman is the leading market town in Ghana and is, together with Sunyani, one of the two chief cities of the Brong-Ahafo Region. This city of nearly 80,000 is located at a historical crossroads of trade routes and the Tano River, and serves as capital of the Techiman Municipal...
, GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
(1989): 9 monks (dependent on Prinknash) - St. Mildred's Priory, Ramsgate, England: 14 nuns
- St. Mary's Monastery, Petersham, United States (1987): 7 monks (dependent on Pluscarden)
- St. Scholastica's Priory, PetershamPetersham, MassachusettsPetersham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,234 at the 2010 census. Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest, the Swift River Reservation, and Federated Women's Club State...
, United States (1981): 9 nuns - Pluscarden AbbeyPluscarden AbbeyPluscarden Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery located in the glen of the Black Burn about 10 kilometres south-west of Elgin, in Moray, Scotland...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(1230): 22 monks - Prinknash AbbeyPrinknash AbbeyPrinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham....
, England (1896): 12 monks - St. Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate, England (1856):
- Monastery of La Soledad, San Miguel de AllendeSan Miguel de AllendeSan Miguel de Allende is a city and municipality located in the far eastern part of the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. It is 274 km from Mexico City and 97 km from the state capital of Guanajuato...
, GuanajuatoGuanajuatoGuanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, Mexico (1986): 8 monks (dependent on Christ in the Desert) - Our Lady Queen Monastery, Tickfaw, United States (1970): 8 nuns (dependent on St. Scholastica's Petersham)
- Monastery of VeracruzVeracruzVeracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico (1996): 18 monks (dependent on Christ in the Desert)
Flemish Province
- St. Godelieve's Abbey, BrugesBrugesBruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, Belgium: 10 nuns - Dendermonde Abbey, DendermondeDendermondeDendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
, Belgium (1858): 18 monks - St. Godelieve's Abbey, GistelGistelGistel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Gistel proper and the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Zevekote. On January 1, 2006 Gistel had a total population of 11,125. The total area is 42.25 km² which gives a population...
, Belgium: 9 nuns - Keizersberg AbbeyKeizersberg AbbeyKeizersberg Abbey, also known as Mont César Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on the hill Keizersberg or Mont César in the north of the university town of Leuven, Belgium.-The site:...
(Regina Coeli) , LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium (1899): 5 monks - Affligem AbbeyAffligem AbbeyAffligem Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, twelve miles to the north-west of Brussels...
, AffligemAffligemAffligem is a municipality located some west-north-west of Brussels in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, not far from the town of Aalst and the important railway junction of Denderleeuw....
, Belgium (1887): 20 monks - Abbey of Maria Mediatrix and St. Wivina, AffligemAffligemAffligem is a municipality located some west-north-west of Brussels in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, not far from the town of Aalst and the important railway junction of Denderleeuw....
, Belgium (1969): 15 nuns - Bethlehem Abbey, BonheidenBonheidenBonheiden is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bonheiden proper and Rijmenam. On January 1, 2006 Bonheiden had a total population of 14,510...
, Belgium: 13 nuns - St. Benedict's Abbey, Pietersburg, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
: 12 monks - St. Willibrord's Abbey, SlangenburgSlangenburgSlangenburg Castle is a castle in the municipality of Doetinchem in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. The castle is located in the forest of the same name between the towns of Varsseveld and Doetinchem, about 5 kilometers from the latter....
, DoetinchemDoetinchemDoetinchem is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . The municipality has 56,700 inhabitants and has an area of 79.66 km²...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(1945): 8 monks - St. Peter's Abbey, Steenbrugge, Belgium: 7 monks
French Province
- Belloc Abbey, UrtUrtUrt is a village in Gascony in the traditional province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-External links:...
, France (1875): 27 monks - Chauveroche Priory, France (1980): 6 monks (dependent on the Abbey of La Pierre-qui-Vire)
- Dourgne Abbey (or St. Scholastica's Abbey, Dourgne) DourgneDourgneDourgne is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.-Demographics:-Sites and Monuments:Dourgne is known for its two Benedictine monasteries, the En Calcat Abbey and the Sainte Scholastique Abbey, both founded in 1890....
, France (1904): 75 nuns - En-Calcat Abbey, DourgneDourgneDourgne is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.-Demographics:-Sites and Monuments:Dourgne is known for its two Benedictine monasteries, the En Calcat Abbey and the Sainte Scholastique Abbey, both founded in 1890....
, France (1890): 64 monks - Goías Priory, GoíasGoiásGoiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(1961): 10 monks (dependent on Tournay Abbey) - Koubri Abbey, OuagadougouOuagadougouOuagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Burkina FasoBurkina FasoBurkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(1963): 29 monks - Abbey of La Pierre-qui-Vire, Saint-Léger-VaubanSaint-Léger-VaubanSaint-Léger-Vauban is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.It lies within the Parc naturel régional du Morvan.-Geography:The town is situated between Rouvray and Quarré-les-Tombes...
, France (1859): 58 monks - Landévennec AbbeyLandévennec AbbeyLandévennec Abbey was a monastery in Brittany, now in Finistère, France. It existed from its foundation at Landévennec, traditionally by Winwaloe in the late fifth century, to 1793, when the monastery was abandoned and sold. In 1950 it was bought and rebuilt by the Benedictines of Kerbénéat.It...
, France (1878): 22 monks - Monastery of Morne-Saint-Benoît, Port-au-PrincePort-au-PrincePort-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, HaïtiHaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
(1981): 5 monks (dependent on Landévennec) - Fleury AbbeyFleury AbbeyFleury Abbey in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret, France, founded about 640, is one of the most celebrated Benedictine monasteries of Western Europe, which posseses the relics of St. Benedict of Nursia. Its site on the banks of the Loire has always made it easily accessible from Orléans, a center of...
, Saint-Benoît-sur-LoireSaint-Benoît-sur-LoireSaint-Benoît-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.This town hosts the Abbaye de Fleury, also known as the Abbaye de Saint Benoît . Founded around 630, it is one of the oldest abbeys of the Benedictine rule...
, France (1944): 39 monks - Tournay Abbey, TournayTournay, Hautes-PyrénéesTournay is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-References:*...
, France (1931): 20 monks - Urt Priory (or St. Scholastica's Priory, Urt), UrtUrtUrt is a village in Gascony in the traditional province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-External links:...
, France (1984): 36 nuns - Valognes Abbey, ValognesValognesValognes is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.It lies on the Merderet river, southeast of Cherbourg.-History:...
, France (1954): 36 nuns - Venière Abbey, BoyerBoyerBoyer is a surname which is derived from the Boii, a Celtic tribe that migrated from ancient Bohemia to many regions surrounding the Alps. Boyers in England may come from bowyer, meaning "bow maker" or "bow seller." In French, the surname may mean "ox guard" or "ox leader"...
, France (1955): 45 nuns
Spanish Province
- Abbey of Santa Maria de MontserratSanta Maria de MontserratSanta Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey located on the mountain of Montserrat, in Monistrol de Montserrat, in Catalonia, Spain.It hosts the Virgin of Montserrat, and the Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, a publishing house, one of the oldest presses in the world still running, with...
, CataloniaCataloniaCatalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(1025): 76 monks - Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-CuxaSaint-Michel-de-CuxaSaint-Michel-de-Cuxa is a Benedictine abbey located in the territory of the commune of Codalet, in the Pyrénées-Orientales département, in southwestern France...
, CodaletCodaletCodalet is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It is very small with only a few streets but has a lot of character. There are no shops but there is a little park with a boules court and soccer goal as well as a river running through it. Codalet has an annual garage...
, France: 5 monks (dependent on Montserrat) - Monastery of Santa Maria el Miracle, El Solsonès, Catalonia, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(1901): 6 monks (dependent on Montserrat) - El Paular Priory, RascafriaRascafríaRascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.In its territory is the Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular....
, MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain (1954): 8 monks - Estibaliz Priory, Estibaliz, ÁlavaÁlavaÁlava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, Spain (1923): 7 monks - Guatapè Abbey, ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
(1968): 27 monks - Lazkao Abbey, Basque RegionBasque Country (autonomous community)The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain (1943): 8 monks - Monastery of Mayagüez, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
: 5 monks (dependent on Samos) - Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Medellín, Colombia (1954): 15 monks
- Abbey of San Julián de Samos, LugoLugoLugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:...
, Galicia, Spain: 19 monks - Valvanera Abbey, La RiojaLa Rioja (Spain)La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
, Spain (900): 12 monks
Africa and Madagascar Province
- Bouaké Priory, BouakéBouakéBouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 . It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region...
, Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
: 19 monks - Abbey of the Ascension, Dzogbégan, Danyi-Apéyémé, TogoTogoTogo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
(1961): 32 monks - Monastery of the Assumption, Dzogbégan, Danyi-Apéyémé, Togo (1992): 36 nuns
- Mont Tabor de Hékanmé, AttogonAttogonAttogon is a town and arrondissement in the Atlantique Department of southern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Allada. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the...
, BeninBeninBenin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
(1998): 7 monks (dependent on Koubri) - Koubri Abbey, Koubri, Burkina FasoBurkina FasoBurkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(1963): 23 monks - Mahitsy Monastery, MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
(1955): 23 monks - Emmanuel Monastery, Sadori, Togo (1995): 9 nuns (dependent on the Assumption, Dzogbégan)
Vietnamese Province
- Thien An Abbey, HuéHueHue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
(1895): 43 monks and 3 secular oblates - Thien Binh Priory, Dong Nai (1970): 51 monks
- Thien Hoa Priory, Daklak (1962): 12 monks
- Thien Phuoc Priory, Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
(1972): 55 monks and 28 secular oblates
German Pro-Province
- Kornelimünster AbbeyKornelimünster AbbeyKornelimünster Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Kornelimünster, since 1972 a part of Aachen , in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.- First foundation :...
, AachenAachenAachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
: 9 monks - Michaelsberg Abbey, Siegburg (1064): 14 monks
Philippine Pro-Province
- Monastery of the Transfiguration, Malaybalay (1981): 13 monks
- Manila Abbey (Abbey of Our Lady of Montsarrat, or San Beda), ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
(1895): 42 monks and 60 secular oblates - San Beda College Alabang, Muntinlupa (1972): 8 monks (dependent on Manila)
Extra-Provincial
- Jamberoo Abbey, Jamberoo, New South WalesJamberoo, New South WalesJamberoo is a small picturesque village approx 11 km inland from Kiama on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. At the 2006 census, Jamberoo had a population of 935 people...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(1849): 30 nuns - Abbey of the Holy Trinity, New Norcia, Western AustraliaNew Norcia, Western AustraliaNew Norcia is a town in Western Australia, north of Perth, along the Great Northern Highway. It is situated next to the banks of the Moore River, in the Shire of Victoria Plains.New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia...
, Australia (1846): 12 monks and 30 secular oblates - Priory of Our Lady of the Desert, Abiquiu, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1990): 11 nuns (dependent on Jamberoo) - Queen of Peace Monastery, OzubuluOzubuluOzubulu is a larger town in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Ekwusigo Local Government Area.The town has an official Post Office. Its neighbouring towns are Nnewi, Ukpor, Ihembosi, Okija and Orifite.It is a predominantly christian town although there exists a few people who...
, Anambra, NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(2000): 30 nuns (dependent on Umuoji) - Tanby Priory, Yeppoon, QueenslandYeppoon, QueenslandYeppoon is a coastal resort town situated in Central Queensland, Australia. Located on Keppel Bay, at the 2006 census, Yeppoon had a population of 13,284.-Geography:...
, Australia: 6 nuns - Umuoji Abbey, Umuoji-Idemili, Anambra, NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(1994): 140 nuns