Abbot Philip Anderson of Our Lady of Annunciation of Clear Creek delivers two spiritual conferences about "Paradise Lost: the Rugged Road of the Beatitudes."
Over the years Solesmes started new monasteries, one of which was the Abbey of Fontgombault, restored to monastic life in 1948. Fontgombault in turn, after having sent monks to three monasteries in France, has now started one in Oklahoma in response to the gracious invitation of His Excellency Edward Slattery, Bishop of Tulsa.
Monasteries which are members of the Solesmes Congregation, as are Fontgombault and Clear Creek, in order to better to cultivate the essential of their vocation, that is, the life of prayer, do not assume pastoral charge of parishes nor run schools. But in the Rule of Saint Benedict, hospitality has an important place, and Benedictine tradition has always considered this to be a part of the monastery's role in the Church. So, besides their deep communion with the life of the Church and their prayer for all, the monks of Clear Creek receive guests for retreats and help the faithful participate in their life of prayer and recollection, especially through the Divine Office.
It is indeed a part of the Solesmes tradition to cultivate a solemn, public liturgical Office. The monks of Clear Creek celebrate God's glory in Latin, so appropriate to give an idea of God's majesty, a sense of the sacred. Thus the monks exploit the riches developed over centuries in the Church's liturgy and cultivate Gregorian Chant.
Two other main features of the Solesmes Congregation and which the monks of Clear Creek will strive to fully live must be noted: deep fidelity to the Holy See and devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Speaker(s): Abbot Philip Anderson
Date: March 12, 2011
Location: Annunciation Church
Length: 53 mins (Part II) and 10 mins (part III)
Video Link ("The Rugged Road of the Beatitudes"):
