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St. Benedict |
Welcome to the Abbey of San Vincenzo, a monastery of Benedictine nuns near the source of the Volturno River at the foot of the
Mainarde mountains in the province of Isernia in central Italy. The community is dedicated to contemplative life in the 1500 year
old tradition of St. Benedict, father of western monasticism, and whose motto, ora et labora "pray and work" in balance, was key for
forming persons in community.
From the beginning of the re-founding of this ancient abbey, the primary dedication of the nuns is to the public prayer
of the Divine Office and to personal prayer as a way to contain and to consecrate to God the many complexities of modern life. For
this reason the nuns observe the traditional choral recitation of the Holy Mass and canonical hours in Gregorian chant.
Closely tied to the prayer of the church is the study of the Bible, the Fathers of the Church, theology and sacred history for
spiritual development. Every nun orients herself to be competent in an area of study and work to sustain the life of the community and the mission of the
monastery in the modern world.
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Basilica of San Vincenzo |
The abbey during all of its history has been a place for pilgrims, persons seeking God, a center for cultural and spiritual
convergence of people in Europe. This remains the privilege of the nuns today through the guest house, participation in the liturgy, work with the nuns
on land, craft or study projects and personal or spiritual sharing.
Fundamental to the spiritual life at San Vincenzo is manual labor. Dedication to the land, work with the animals and crafts
provide the nuns and guests with food along with a strong experience of nature which nurtures creativity and continual personal and spiritual formation.
Prayer, study, manual work and hospitality are empty without the creation of community. The rich and
robust peace of contemplative life flows from a freedom to work in common and in common to praise and love God with the whole of one's
life, mind, soul and heart. See Links for the Order of St. Benedict.
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