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Becoming an abbey
In a May 25, 2024, decree for the Feast of St. Gregory the VII, a great Benedictine pope, the Priory of San Benedetto in Monte was elevated to the status of an abbey, during the 25th year of its founding. The monks extend their deepest gratitude to all who made this milestone possible, especially the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Order, the Rt. Rev. Dom Gregory Polan, O.S.B., and his council; the Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia, H.E. Msgr. Renato Boccardo; and, most notably, the founding prior, the Rev. Dom Cassian Folsom, O.S.B. The Abbot Primate stated: “Since the Benedictine Order was the first monastic order in the history of the Church, it is fitting that there should be an abbey in this city.” |
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What is an abbey?
The monks are pleased to offer several texts prepared and delivered during the abbatial elevation during the summer of 2024, explaining the spiritual and symbolic significance of becoming an abbey in the Benedictine tradition. These include the meaning behind the new coats of arms and Fr. Cassian’s homily for the abbatial blessing: “Having an abbot means that we have a father.” Click here to download the booklet The local archbishop, Msgr. Boccardo, remarked during his first visit to the Abbey: “I see this new abbey as a precious gift from the Lord to our local church.” |
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The Abbey’s coat of arms
On one side is the mountain with a cross, an S-shaped serpent, and lilies. These are the arms of the Celestines, the Benedictine congregation that dwelt for over three centuries in the ancient monastery in Norcia, in which the current community of San Benedetto in Monte was first welcomed in the year 2000. On the other side is the severed trunk of an oak tree, from which a new branch is growing; a symbol of rebirth. The coat of arms is completed by the heraldic elements proper to an abbey – which are the miter and crosier with sudarium – and the motto Nova facio omnia (‘I make all things new’). These words from the book of the Apocalypse (Apoc. 21:5) are Christ’s response to Man’s astonishment before the new Jerusalem that appears in all its splendor. |
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The new abbot
On May 28, 2024, the newly elevated abbey elected Dom Benedict Nivakoff, O.S.B. as Norcia’s first abbot since 1792, when another man who bore the name of St. Benedict, Abbot Benedetto Cipriani, died. The new abbot and the monks sincerely hope that this important spiritual moment will encourage a deeper longing for God among those in Norcia and those around the world who unite their daily prayers with the monastery. On June 29th, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Bishop James Conley solemnly blessed the new abbot. Additional photos from the abbatial blessing can be seen below. |
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Father Abbot’s coat of arms
The principal symbol of the coat of arms is the manus Dei, which originates from ancient Christian iconography. It proceeds from a transcendent white cloud, thus evoking the intervention of God in the world. This same symbol is seen from the most ancient periods in representations of the Sacrifice of Isaac, when the intervention of God stopped Abraham from slaying his son. From this same biblical story comes the motto chosen by Father Abbot: Deus providebit (‘God will provide’, Gen. 22:8). The mountain on which the divine hand rests has the shape of Monte Patino, which rises above the historic city of Norcia; the sea water at the base refers to a significant moment in the personal life of the Abbot. The mountain and water also recall the symbols in the coat of arms of New York State, thereby serving as an homage to the Abbot’s American origins. At the top of the shield are the two halves of the coat of arms of the Abbey. |
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