St. Meinrad Archabbey

The coat of arms of Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Spencer County, Indiana, USA, was founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey (Switzerland) on March 21, 1854, and is home to approximately 98 monks. It is one of only two archabbeys in the United States and one of 9 in the world.

The Benedictine community at Saint Meinrad consists of men who dedicate their lives to prayer and work. They gather in community five times a day—for morning prayer, Mass, noon prayer, evening prayer and compline—to pray for the Church and the world. Guests often join the monks in prayer in the Archabbey Church. Gregorian chant is sung in the canonical hours of the monastic Office, primarily in antiphons used to sing the Psalms, in the Great Responsories of Matins, and the Short Responsories of the Lesser Hours and Compline. The psalm antiphons of the Office tend to be short and simple, especially compared to the complex Great Responsories. In addition, the monks spend private time reading spiritual and religious materials. They live under the Rule of St. Benedict, the 6th-century instructions for community living written by St. Benedict.

History

Archabbey Church

The monks came to southern Indiana at the request of a local priest (Fr. Joseph Kundek) for assistance in addressing the pastoral needs of the growing German-speaking Catholic population and to prepare local men to be priests. St. Meinrad became an abbey in 1870,[1] with Martin Marty as abbot and Fintan Mundwiler as prior.[2] Saint Meinrad now operates a graduate school of theology and has more than a score of its monks in parish work, chaplaincies, and diocesan assignments.

Shortly after arriving in Indiana, the Benedictines began offering high school courses to local youths. In 1861, the monks expanded their general courses to include undergraduate courses in philosophy and theology. Through these programs, the monks of Saint Meinrad began their mission, which continues today: preparing men for service in the Church as priests. The undergraduate degree program, St. Meinrad College, closed in 1998.

In 1877, the Abbot of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Martin Marty, negotiated with an agent of the LR&FS Railroad Company, for land to establish a Benedictine monastery in northern Arkansas. The Subiaco Abbey and Academy was founded on March 15, 1878, upon the arrival of three monk-missionaries from Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

In 1889, a group of monks left from St. Meinrad Archabbey to travel to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. They came with an invitation from the Archbishop there to found a college seminary to train local vocations. The monks founded Saint Joseph Abbey, located in Saint Benedict, near Covington, Louisiana, north of New Orleans. Saint Joseph Abbey is now the home of a total of 48 monks who run Saint Joseph Seminary College, and a number of other ministries around the Diocese.

In 1933, Saint Meinrad Archabbey founded Marmion Abbey in Aurora, IL. In 1950, the Saint Meinrad community founded Blue Cloud Abbey near Marvin, South Dakota. Then, in 1958, the monks of Saint Meinrad founded Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, CA.[3]

A Celtic cross in front of the School of Theology

Seminary and School of Theology

The Seminary and School of Theology offers graduate-level degrees in theology. Priesthood candidates work toward a Master of Divinity. Lay degree students can earn a Master of Arts (Theology) or a Master of Arts (Pastoral Theology). A two-year pre-theology program leads to a Master of Catholic Philosophical Studies.

Saint Meinrad began offering lay degree programs in 1969, although students worked on their degrees during the six-week Summer Session program. In the fall of 1993, the Seminary and School of Theology expanded its mission to allow lay ministry students to attend classes during any of the academic terms. While some classes specifically aimed at ordination preparation are reserved for MDiv students, lay ministers sometimes pursue their graduate degrees as part-time or full-time students. More than 5,000 men and women have studied in the School of Theology.

Other programs in the Seminary and School of Theology include a permanent deacon formation program, which assists Catholic dioceses in the formation of their deacon candidates, and a youth and vocations program, which encourages high school and college students to participate more deeply in the Church's liturgy and consider a vocation of service to the Church.

The Seminary and School of Theology also houses the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates, which offers continuing formation for priests making the transition from seminary to parish life, priests preparing for their first assignment as pastor, and presbyterates - which is the group of priests and their bishop in a Catholic diocese.

Notable Alumni

Abbey Press

Saint Meinrad Archabbey owns and operates an international company that produces and markets religious, spiritual and inspirational cards, books and gifts. Abbey Press is one of the largest business enterprises in Spencer County, Indiana, with more than 100 employees.

It was begun in 1867 when the Benedictine monks purchased a used printing press. Today, Abbey Press markets its products throughout the United States and in 25 English-speaking countries. More than 20 foreign companies are licensed to print some of Abbey Press' publications in native languages. Net proceeds from the sales of Abbey Press products support the good work and ministries of Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Abbey Press Printing

Abbey Press Printing is a full-service commercial printing company, owned and operated by Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Started in 1867 when the monks purchased a small, secondhand printing press for their in-house needs, Abbey Press Printing was soon fulfilling printing orders from the outside community. Since that time, Abbey Press Printing has grown in size and expertise and now offers the most up-to-date technology. Their expertise includes greeting cards, newsletters, direct mail literature, short-run publications or journals, annual reports, manuals and brochures.

Abbey Caskets

Abbey Caskets is a work of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Founded in 1999, Abbey Caskets offers handcrafted wooden caskets and cremation urns directly to the public. The caskets and cremation urns are made from solid hardwoods, in the choice of poplar, cherry, walnut and oak. The Monastic Abbey Casket is designed after the caskets used by the monks of Saint Meinrad. Abbey Caskets also offers a more conventional casket, the Traditional Abbey Casket. All proceeds from the sales of the caskets and cremation urns support Saint Meinrad Archabbey and the Seminary and School of Theology.

Notes

  1. ↑ Saint Meinrad Archabbey History: 1854-1954, Albert Kleber, OSB
  2. ↑ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Fintan Mundwiler". Newadvent.org. October 1, 1911. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ 2010 Ordo, Swiss-American Congregation O.S.B.

External links

Coordinates: 38°09′58″N 86°48′39″W / 38.166212°N 86.810886°W