The Chronicon Vulturnense continues the traditional medieval chronicle of San Vincenzo begun by Abbot John in the 12th century. We will update this periodically to let you know what is happening here. We gladly welcome your comments, suggestions and corrections through our e-mail address the email address with the end of @gmail.com with ContactSVA as the addressee; this is written this way to avoid SPAM -

     How do we tell you all the news of this year at San Vincenzo? "Climate change", the issue of our times, is the theme that has touched almost every level of our life over these past twelve months. We count on snow here in the winter to nourish our winter garden as the moisture from snow penetrates the earth more slowly and for a longer period of time. Instead we got only some rain which runs off quickly and makes a poorer climate for the plants present and those yet to be seeded.

     Spring seemed to come earlier and the roses and other flowers bloomed earlier and longer, as if to anticipate Rev. Mother Miriam's Golden Jubilee of vows on May 20th. She chose the fresco of "Flora" (Pompeii) for her card to commemorate the day. The horsemen usually come to the basilica for a blessing on that Sunday, but this year they asked to have a Mass in our back garden. About 130 mounted horsemen attended with their families, complete with a procession of banners and a costumed fife and drum corps. It was a deeply stirring occasion.

     Late that afternoon a solemn mass was celebrated in the basilica with Padre Abate Bernardo followed by a brief concert with choir and a guitar and flute duet. Along with refreshments provided by the women of Rocchetta, Piero Ricci serenaded Mother with a bagpipe composition and the Amici di San Vincenzo distributed a booklet sensitively written about the community by Maria Rossi, and expert photography done by Tobia Paolone. Words can not express the outpouring of love and affection from so many people, nor the golden grace that has hovered over us all year long. Even our little cactus plant by the enclosure wall outdid itself with over thirty flowers in rapid succession.

    Further jubilee celebrations took place in the summer with two concerts. One of sacred music was in July as the Scola Antique Voces from the state of Washington came to sing and brought Mother Prioress Therese from Our Lady of the Rock with them for a special visit; and later on, Reverend Mother's brother, Joseph, brought the Mystic River Choir from Connecticut for a concert of "oldies but goodies". It was wonderful music with heart felt reunions all around.

    With the coming of spring, we also found ourselves overflowing our small chapel for Mass and it was essential to move back into the basilica. The restoration of the basilica had come to a halt with scaffolding erected in the north side aisle and the south aisle was blocked off because of the buckling of the pavement, but the central nave was safe to use. Friends from Naples came and moved in the sacristy furniture in time for Rev. Mother's celebration and it was possible to hold several weddings as well as Sunday Mass. Mother Philip had become the sacristan in January and had to reawaken her "little grey cells" to the challenge of change, but enjoys the lovely work. She also designed and beaded a Persian evening purse based on an ancient Persian carpet.

Persian Evening Purse

    In the spring, a young woman from Milan, Raffaella Tucci, came to be with us for increasing amounts of time as an aspirant to the community. She wanted to enter, but her father, Vincenzo, was ill with cancer. She had to return to Milan to help him in the terminal phase of his illness. He received the sacraments and died peacefully on the 12th of December and Raffaella returned to us in time for Christmas Eve. She will have to go back to take care of some things and then can enter. She loves plants and the garden and is a very good cook.

Fabrizia, Mother Agnes and Raffaella

    Fabrizia Cordischi also came for a month during the summer and asked to come back for a year of discernment for her vocation. She comes from this region as is another breath of "fresh air" and has a God-given love for cleaning. Mother Agnes is "in heaven" as Formation Mistress and has taken on getting things in order in the novitiate dormitory. (Photo of Fabrizia, M Agnes and Raffaella)

    In late July, Mother Anna Jungbauer left the community to go to the Abbey of St. Walburga which is near her home in Germany. It had become evident that she needed to live in a large community and in her own culture. She had considered this for some time and we all feel that she has chosen well. She has now transferred her stability there and seems to be content. We pray the Lord's blessing for her and her new community.

    Over the summer we gradually moved into the dormitory during the summer, even though the 3rd floor construction was not completed. Another move this year was the archaeology archives which had been housed in a small hermitage. We had been unable to heat this and it was not possible to maintain an atmosphere for their protection. Again our friends from Naples, who came for the olive harvest, were able to move the archives and archaeology library to the 3rd floor of the main house where Mother Philip will be able to work on them during the coming year. It seemed like a miracle.

    Other changes in climate came to the barn and animals as Franzoni aged and Isabo became more aggressive. They both needed to go for appropriate care. Meanwhile Melody, our ass, had her baby, Stellina, the sweetest miniature of her mother. We were concerned that the pastures be well kept and so extended hospitality to a small beef herd that enjoy the barn at night and in bad weather. It is so good to enter the barn and hear them munching. Most recently we acquired Laura, a very pregnant Shetland pony who is adept at pulling a small cart for "going shopping". We anticipate her baby in January.

Melody and Stellina

Rev. Mother and Laura

     The olive harvest was finished early this year on December 7th as the yield was smaller than usual. We had had five months without rain during the summer and the irrigation canal was blocked so the garden suffered as well. Rev. Mother and Raffaella rigged up perforated hoses to water the plants, which helped them survive, but isn't as productive as warm rain water. We did have lots of beans to snap in the evenings though.

Tobia and Silvano

     This fall, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, appointed Abbot Bernardo of Montecassino as Archbishop of Gaeta. Thus the monks of Montecassino had an election for a new abbot, Don Pietro Vittorelli, who has been approved by the Pope. Archabbot Pietro received his abbatial blessing on the 28th of December, the Feast of the Holy Innocents and will come to celebrate his first Mass as abbot at San Vincenzo on the 27th of January, 2008. Abbot Pietro had been secretary to his predecessor as well as Master of Novices. His is a physician and much beloved. We pray for him as he assumes the heavy mantel of his new office and look forward to the winds of change.

Abbot Pietro

    Through all the changes of this year, the community is experiencing a new beginning, a strengthening to support new growth, a deepening spiritual life and embrace a widening horizon. Each event has been an advent for continuing new birth of Christ within us and around us, holding us tenderly into the New Year. We pray for each of you that you will be nourished through an integration of all that is past to new incarnations of Christ-life in you.

            Sincerely in Christ's love,
              Reverend Mother Philip Kline, O.S.B., editor

December Snow 2007