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LETTER FROM OBLATE DIRECTOR

September 3, 2008

Feast of St. Gregory the Great

As you receive this, you are back after Labor Day to your routines of the workplace and we are preparing to celebrate the feast of one of the greatest saints in the Church and monastic tradition, Pope Gregory the Great. In this election year, when we hear much about qualities of leadership, it is timely to acknowledge that Gregory was recognized by all his contemporaries as one of the most capable leaders of his day. As prefect (mayor) of Rome and a papal diplomat, he acquired a reputation for administration and tact that was tested even more after he was made pope in 590. For the next fourteen years, he guided the Church through one of its most trying periods. Yet even in these years of accepting the burdens of office, his contemplative spirit was very prominent. As a monk, he was aware of St. Benedict (who had died shortly after Gregory's birth) and his Rule and is considered the author of Book II of the Dialogues, the only source we have for the life of St. Benedict. I commend St. Gregory to you as someone whose many responsibilities never kept him from maintaining a practice of prayer and holy reading in his daily routine. It is also good for us to remember that on September 3, 2000, Blessed Columba Marmion was beatified at St. Peter's in Rome.

Since the last letter, I can report that after their simple profession on July 11 Brother Aaron (Devett) and Sebastian (Switalski) are both working within the community. Novice Kenneth, who is preparing to make simple profession on November 1, is teaching in the Academy as well as working in the sacristy and tailor shop. Br. Marcos left earlier in the month for St. Vincent in Latrobe, PA, where he has begun his studies in theology. Fr. Thomas left for Conception Abbey in Missouri on August 12, where he is teaching in the college seminary. Fr. Paul returned from his tour of duty in Iraq this past week. He is grateful for all of the prayers provided him these past months. I want to thank all of those who attended the wake and funeral of Fr. Barnabas on August 11-12. The death of Fr. Barnabas leaves only three of our 1947 founding members left: Abbot Gerald, Father Bede and Abbot David.

Many of you are aware that Marmion has begun observance of its 75th anniversary. There is currently an exhibit on Marmion's history in the Scholl Gallery at the Academy that will run through Thanksgiving. A new and updated booklet on the history of Marmion has just been published. All of you who receive the Marmion Magazine should receive a copy of this booklet in the next week or so. I commend to you three of the personal essays in the back of the booklet that have been authored by Marmion oblates: Joe and Helen Rippinger, Pat Poss and Martha Piorkowski. We also have commemorative pins for the anniversary. I will bring them to our next meeting, when I will also give a review of other events commemorating the celebration.

One of those events will happen at our next meeting on Sunday, September 14. As we begin our meeting at 3:30 in the chapter room, I would then like to have us go down to the abbey cemetery, where we will have a blessing of the Way of the Cross, the oblates' gift to the monastic community for the 75th anniversary.

We will also have a chance to let people walk through the path. In making this announcement I want to give special thanks to Pat Williams for the many hours of work he has contributed to this project. Ginger Salis, Mike Mattio and others also deserve our gratitude for their labor, as well as those of you who have made financial commitments and contributions. I think you will all be favorably impressed when you see the Way of the Cross. We will also have the chance to have a business and planning meeting on September 14. Among other matters, I am asking that you consider whether to keep our sessions on the study of the Rule continuing this year. In addition, will have updates on oblate activities in the wider Benedictine Confederation. I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday, Sept. 14.