Abbot Mark and his confreres commence a service of thanksgiving, initially surprised to have so many lay people in attendance. But as he thinks about it, Abbot Mark comes to understand. “The monastic community is a constant here at Saint Anselm,” he said. “Because of our vow of stability, so many people form long-standing relationships with the monks and the community as a whole.” The authority and responsibility of being abbot was conferred upon Abbot Mark as soon as he agreed to accept election by his confreres. But the rules governing abbatial elections require that a new abbot be blessed within three months of the election, and the blessing usually occurs during a Mass. As the master of ceremony for Saint Anselm Abbey, Father Augustine Kelly, O.S.B., set about preparing the celebration. The date of Monday, September 10, was selected so that it would occur with the return of students at the start of the new academic year. “The election of a new abbot is indescribably important in terms of the life of the community,” said Father Augustine. “He is the spiritual father of the abbey. His relationship with each monk is absolutely vital. He alone, and uniquely, holds the place of Christ in the monastery.” As such, the blessing on September 10 was a ceremony full of symbolism and meaning, following guidelines established 1,500 years ago in the Rule of St. Benedict and including practices that have been tradition in the church for 900 years and more. Abbot Mark’s maternal uncle, Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B., who was the abbey’s third abbot, celebrated the Mass and conferred the blessing on his nephew. Bishop Joseph has always been a formative presence in his life, Abbot Mark says, and he was the first person he consulted
when he decided to join the monastery while still a student studying political science at Saint Anselm College. During the blessing, Bishop Joseph presented Abbot Mark with the items that symbolize his important new role. A gold signet ring, which is engraved with Abbot Mark’s coat of arms, symbolizes fidelity to the church. The miter, or pontifical hat, is an ancient symbol of prelacy. And the crozier, or staff, stands for his role as shepherd. The wooden staff was made by Father Martin Mager, O.S.B., an artist/craftsman, and superior of Woodside Priory, the California community that is part of Saint Anselm Abbey. Father Martin also had made Bishop (then Abbot) Joseph’s and Abbot Matthew’s croziers. Father Bede Camera, O.S.B., composed the offertory hymn sung during the Mass in honor of Abbot Mark’s blessing. Father Augustine wrote the lyrics. The new abbot’s coat of arms could be seen in several places, hanging on giant, white banners at the doors of the Abbey Church. The Abbey shield was embroidered on vimpae, or shawls, that attendants used to hold the miter and crozier and carved on the back of a chair that college carpenter Bob Dumas made for Abbot Mark to be seated on during the ceremony. Deacon Paul Sullivan, of the Diocese of Providence, is the herald who created the coat of arms. It includes the Abbey’s seal, as well as symbols for the waters of coastal Maine, where Abbot Mark grew up in Freeport; the unadorned cross of Lorraine to honor the Sisters of St. Joan of Arc, who ministered to the monks of Saint Anselm Abbey for more than 80 years; and the lion of St. Mark. Finally, it includes a cross taken from his uncle’s coat of arms referencing the connection to his Benedictine community. More than 1,200 people attended the blessing and the Mass, including 10 prelates and 50 clergy, who processed together into the church with the monks of
The Spirit calls men to a monastic way of life not to isolate them from
the Church but rather to build up the Church in holiness through their lived rhythm of love, which manifests itself in prayer, lecto divina, work and the common life. – Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B.
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