Quaerere Deum

Final Release of Quaerere Deum.

“Eight years ago, our close friends, Tom Kolenberg and Eric Griffin, produced our first short video which gave a glimpse into our life. The video was an immediate success. But within a short time, we realized that a new video would be necessary which could illustrate the tremendous growth of the community and in a longer format, depict more aspects of our daily life. Inspired by the full length documentary of Carthusian life, “Into Great Silence” we sought to produce a medium length film of high quality which would expose those far away from us to the inner workings of our life. Thus the idea of “Quaerere Deum” was born. The title comes from the first task of all monks, To Seek God, as described by the Rule of St Benedict. We especially want to thank Peter Hayden, brother of our Br. Evagrius, who gave of his time and talent to produce this wonderful film. May God continue to bless him and the work he does, as well as all of our friends who watch this video. Without further ado, we present to you “Quaerere Deum”. Please feel free to pass this along to others.”                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                  ~Fr Benedict, O.S.B.

New Dates Confirmed

A slight adjustment of the dates of the 2012 Summer Program has been made necessary. The new dates, fixed now and confirmed, are June 18 - June 30.

Here is a quick overview of the program calendar. See the Summer Program 2012 page for more details.

18 June, Monday: Arrival Day.
19 June, Tuesday: Academic Day.
20 June, Wednesday: Academic Day.
21 June, Thursday: Optional Trip to Assisi.
22 June, Friday: Academic Day.
23 June, Saturday: Academic Day.

24 June, Sunday: Morning in Norcia - Optional Trip to Cascia in the Afternoon.
25 June, Monday: Academic Day.
26 June, Tuesday: Academic Day.
27 June, Wednesday: Academic Day.
28 June, Thursday: Optional Trip to Rome.
29 June, Friday: Feast of Saint Peter and Paul in Rome.
30 June, Saturday: Departure Day (or you can extend your stay in Rome!)

Fr. Cassian named as person of the year by Inside the Vatican Magazine

"Sometimes we are able to see a splendid adventure of life and faith just at the moment that it is unfolding. And we are able to watch the struggles and challenges and successes of a man, or of a group of men, and even to participate with them in that adventure.

Fr. Cassion Folsom, O.S.B.

Such is the case with Father Cassian Folsom and the refounding of the Benedictine monastery in Norcia, Italy—the birthplace of St. Benedict in about A.D. 480—which was closed in 1810, and reopened after 190 years in the year 2000.

For what Father Folsom has done for Norcia, for what he has done for monasticism in general and Benedictine monasticism in particular, for what he has done for the Church’s liturgy (for the last three years, the monastery in Norcia has been offering Holy Mass in both uses of the Roman Rite, old and new) and for what he has taught all of us about following Christ by his Christian example, we feel privileged to have the opportunity to select Cassian Folsom, who is also an old friend, as our “Person of the Year” for 2011."

Read more here. Congratulations to Fr. Cassian! We are honored by his participation and help with our programs.

Monastero San Benedetto di Norcia

Trailer for a documentary on the Monastery of Saint Benedict in Norcia.

"The documentary, filmed in the summer of 2011, takes you into the life of the Benedictine monks of Norcia. Release date: Christmas, 2011. Documentary filmed, produced, and edited by Peter Hayden and Wilderland FIlm Studios. ~ On December 2, 2000, a tiny band of American monks with faith and courage and not much else re-founded monastic life in Norcia, Italy at the birthplace of St. Benedict. Powerful forces hostile to the faith had expelled the monks in 1810 and almost two centuries were to pass before Providence brought them back. Inspired by the Holy Rule, these monastic pioneers are going back to the roots of the Benedictine tradition. Chanting the Divine Office in Latin by day and by night at the very place where their holy patron was born, they are able to return to the spirit of their founder, as Vatican II urged all religious to do, in a very tangible way. As a result, something extraordinary is happening in Norcia. Young men from around the world, leaving home and country for the love of Christ, are drawn to the new monastery and commit themselves to stability, conversion of life and obedience at the birthplace of their founder. Their goal is focused and compelling: to prefer nothing whatever to the love of Christ!"

© 2011 Wilderland Film Studios.

Enjoying Italy (2011)

This year's location in Norcia, Italy, was in itself one of the highlights of the 2011 Summer Program of the St. Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies.

View over Norcia

Norcia is a small town (population under 5,000) in the province of Perugia, in Southeastern Umbria. It is famous generally forits sausages and hams made from wild boar; among Catholics, it is also known and loved as the birthplace of Saints Benedict and Scholastica.

Our location in Norcia also gave us the chance to spend a few days in Rome, as well as make a couple of day-trips, to Assisi and to Cascia.

Saint Peter's in Rome

For the feast of Corpus Christi we headed off to Rome to attend the papal Mass and Eucharistic procession with the Holy Father. Here we encountered some difficulties, principally, I think, on account of our choice of lodging. Our group was split up, and half of us encountered an unexpected curfew which prevented us from participating in the eucharistic procession. Lesson learned: ask about more than the price when looking for a place to stay (in fact, we were even misinformed about that!). The location was also further removed from the center of the city than we would have liked. Not to go on too long about the stressful parts of travel, though, it was wonderful to see the Holy Father, the great basilicas, the Vatican museum, etc. Not to mention the food - incredible pizza and pasta!

Cascia

The next day after returning to Norcia we were off again to Cascia, the home of St. Rita. After the stresses of Rome, this was perfect. A short bus ride away, Cascia is a small, quiet, beautiful Umbrian hilltown. After visiting the Church in which lays St. Rita's incorrupt body, and seeing the relic of a eucharistic miracle, we wandered the streets or sat in the piazza eating gelato until it was time to head back to Norcia.