Communion Services

[OraLabora]

The Dioceses of the United States are loaded with deacons. American Catholics are often surprised to find that Vatican II’s call for the restoration of the permanent diaconate has, to date, still not been implemented in much of the world. I could be wrong on this, but I believe the vast majority of all permanent deacons in the world are found in either the USA or Italy. Some regions of Canada have promoted the diaconate, but in my experience most dioceses simply can’t be bothered.

The Archdiocese of Sherbrooke, Quebec, seems to have a good number of permanent deacons. I know my diocese, St. Hyacinth, apparently has some kind of formation program and there are some permanent deacons; at least two of them are oblates at our abbey.

Doesn’t seem to be much consistency across the country

I’ve also met several from France at the World Oblate Congress and a Gregorian Chant colloquium.

 

[Phemie]

The Archdiocese of Sherbrooke, Quebec, seems to have a good number of permanent deacons. I know my diocese, St. Hyacinth, apparently has some kind of formation program and there are some permanent deacons; at least two of them are oblates at our abbey.

Doesn’t seem to be much consistency across the country

I’ve also met several from France at the World Oblate Congress and a Gregorian Chant colloquium.

What surprised me were how many of the monks at the Abbey were priests.

 

[twf]

What surprised me were how many of the monks at the Abbey were priests.

Westminster Abbey in Mission, BC has a good number of priest-monks as well. While the original Benedictine model called for brothers with only a few priests as necessary, I believe the Benedictines have become quite clerical over the centuries. Once upon a time, abbots weren’t even necessarily priests, but this would probably be unheard of today. (In fact it may not even be allowed).

 

[OraLabora]

Westminster Abbey in Mission, BC has a good number of priest-monks as well. While the original Benedictine model called for brothers with only a few priests as necessary, I believe the Benedictines have become quite clerical over the centuries. Once upon a time, abbots weren’t even necessarily priests, but this would probably be unheard of today. (In fact it may not even be allowed).

I believe it is necessary for an abbot to be a priest now. The faculties of an abbot are analogous to a bishop except he can’t ordain, but he uses the mitre and crozier. The abbot is in fact the “ordinary” of the place and in some territorial abbeys, was in fact the ordinary of the district; there are still a few territorial abbeys left; Monte Cassino in Italy is one; St. Peter’s in Saskatchewan used to be one.

At the abbey Phemie speaks of, which is the one I’m oblate of, there used to be two classes of monk: lay brothers and choir monks. The latter were either priests, transitional deacons, or on their way to becoming priests eventually. The former did the manual work of the abbey. In the early '80s, consistent with the the original Rule and after Vatican II, all the remaining lay brothers became professed monks fully equal to the priest monks except for sacerdotal duties (i.e. they get to vote in chapter).

What Phemie didn’t see is that several of them are in sick bay or in an assisted care facility as they’re all older and dying off alas. There are however several youngish brothers; one of them recently became transitional deacon so we know where that’s headed , one of them will probably go in that direction (he’s the youngest monk), and two of them have elected to remain in the non-ordained state (in their early 40s). There’s another one, who’s youngish, but he’s on loan to another abbey in France. Out of a community of 34, off the top of my head I count 10 who are brothers (not ordained). But many of them aren’t present in choir for the reasons above.

Please pray for vocations for them as they are a rapidly aging community.

 

[Phemie]

What Phemie didn’t see is that several of them are in sick bay or in an assisted care facility as they’re all older and dying off alas. There are however several youngish brothers; one of them recently became transitional deacon so we know where that’s headed , one of them will probably go in that direction (he’s the youngest monk), and two of them have elected to remain in the non-ordained state (in their early 40s). There’s another one, who’s youngish, but he’s on loan to another abbey in France. Out of a community of 34, off the top of my head I count 10 who are brothers (not ordained). But many of them aren’t present in choir for the reasons above.

Please pray for vocations for them as they are a rapidly aging community.

Sister Denise had given me the lowdown on the sick, elderly, away in France, etc. when I asked how many monks actually belonged to the Abbey. How many oblates are there? I only saw one while I was there. Do you sit in choir when you attend Mass/LOTH or do you sit with your wife (nosy, ain’t I? )

It was actually an eye opener for me. I didn’t think so many would be so old and feeble. I tend to forget how old** I** am.

I got the impression that it’s a concern for the neighboring community since the Abbey is the only thing in this incorporated community, the smallest incorporated community in the province. They seem to be worried about what will happen to the Abbey if they don’t get more vocations.

 

[OraLabora]

Sister Denise had given me the lowdown on the sick, elderly, away in France, etc. when I asked how many monks actually belonged to the Abbey. How many oblates are there? I only saw one while I was there. Do you sit in choir when you attend Mass/LOTH or do you sit with your wife (nosy, ain’t I? )

It was actually an eye opener for me. I didn’t think so many would be so old and feeble. I tend to forget how old** I** am.

I got the impression that it’s a concern for the neighboring community since the Abbey is the only thing in this incorporated community, the smallest incorporated community in the province. They seem to be worried about what will happen to the Abbey if they don’t get more vocations.

Alas external oblates aren’t allowed to sit in choir. If you see someone in choir not in a habit, it’s either a postulant or someone on their “live a a monk” trial.

Usually I go to Mass alone but sit in the front row so my voice blends in with the monks. When my wife does accompany me, she makes us sit a few rows back, shy Anglican that she is. She was with me this past Sunday.

We are well over 100. We are the future . (Though many are elderly now too, but we have many under 50 and even some under 30)

 

[twf]

I believe it is necessary for an abbot to be a priest now. The faculties of an abbot are analogous to a bishop except he can’t ordain, but he uses the mitre and crozier. The abbot is in fact the “ordinary” of the place and in some territorial abbeys, was in fact the ordinary of the district; there are still a few territorial abbeys left; Monte Cassino in Italy is one; St. Peter’s in Saskatchewan used to be one.

At the abbey Phemie speaks of, which is the one I’m oblate of, there used to be two classes of monk: lay brothers and choir monks. The latter were either priests, transitional deacons, or on their way to becoming priests eventually. The former did the manual work of the abbey. In the early '80s, consistent with the the original Rule and after Vatican II, all the remaining lay brothers became professed monks fully equal to the priest monks except for sacerdotal duties (i.e. they get to vote in chapter).

What Phemie didn’t see is that several of them are in sick bay or in an assisted care facility as they’re all older and dying off alas. There are however several youngish brothers; one of them recently became transitional deacon so we know where that’s headed , one of them will probably go in that direction (he’s the youngest monk), and two of them have elected to remain in the non-ordained state (in their early 40s). There’s another one, who’s youngish, but he’s on loan to another abbey in France. Out of a community of 34, off the top of my head I count 10 who are brothers (not ordained). But many of them aren’t present in choir for the reasons above.

Please pray for vocations for them as they are a rapidly aging community.

I will pray for you guys. The only Benedictine abbey I’m familiar with, Westminster Abbey in Mission, BC, is entrusted with the primary seminary for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a mass up there, but I understand that they are also quite traditional when it comes to liturgy - certainly the office was chanted as I recall during my visit there years ago. I knew about the mitre / crossier. I saw the current Abbot at Holy Rosary Cathedral some years ago for the chrism mass. He was seated among the bishops in a place of honour.

 

[POJIUJH]

These things (weekday communion services) aren’t encouraged even now while the world is mad, but the Church’s position will become stronger on this. When the Church makes her next glorious recovery I will make the prediction that communion services will be done away with altogether, or at the very least resemble something very different than we have now.