ACTION ITEM: Benedictine Monks of Norcia – affected again, badly, by new earthquakes
Last night I felt in Rome, the new series of earthquake.
From the Monks of Norcia.
Take care to read down to the part about Archbishop Sample of Portland saying Holy Mass there in Norcia when the quakes hit.
Dear friends,
I am hesitant to implore you all again for prayers and support. In the midst of so much suffering, one cannot help but feel a kind of embarrassment to invite your attention to our situation so soon after the first series of earthquakes in August. Since then, we monks have been trying to determine God’s will for our lives and community. Perhaps, at least for us, this second quake is God yelling even louder His will for our lives. We pray for understanding.
Over the past 24 hours, a powerful series of earthquakes passed through Norcia, once again graciously sparing the lives of the monks and inhabitants to Norcia. Unfortunately, however, it has brought many of the townspeople to the brink of despair and more damage than any of us can yet assess. As before, we are busy at work trying to respond to the crisis on multiple levels. Therefore, my time is short to update all of you, even though you each have found so much time to support us through your prayers and donations.??The Basilica fared the worst. Entire walls of decorative plaster crashed to the floor and the dome has begun to cave in. The roof collapsed in two places, leaving the ancient Basilica exposed to all the elements. Most dramatically, perhaps, the Celtic Cross which adorned the 13th century facade came crashing down.
“Most dramatically, perhaps, the Celtic Cross which adorned the 13th century facade came crashing down.”
Earlier this week, engineers were examining the falling Celtic Cross, which finally collapsed after the Oct. 26 earthquakes.
The 50% of the monastery which had been considered “habitable” after the August quakes has now been damaged far beyond what one might call safe livable conditions. At 10:30 PM last night, 5 of the town monks escaped to San Benedetto in Monte to join the 8 of us already here, where, after a common sip of Birra Nursia Extra, we camped out for a night of turbulence. After a few scant moments of sleep, we rose at 3:30 AM for Matins and started to accept once more that our life is not our own and God had altered our path once again, solidifying it here on the mountain top. Sadly, for the foreseeable future, this means it will no longer be possible for us to offer Mass in the crypt of the Basilica for the public. But, if God wills it, we will soon offer Mass here on the mountain.
“God will bring good to you out of this suffering and this earthquake will become the cornerstone on which generations of monks will build their monastic life.”
— Archbishop Alexander K. Sample
In closing, and on a note of hope, I want to tell you about a special visitor we had this morning. In an act of both ecclesiastical solidarity and paternal support, and as the ground beneath us continued to tremble, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, became the first Bishop to offer Mass in the private chapel of our modest dwellings. The Bishop was in Norcia to participate in the fifth annual Populus Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage. Following the earthquake, the pilgrimage’s Norcia events were cancelled, and so the Bishop spent time with our community. He was able to join us for coffee and offered soothing words of support, which we in turn repeat and offer to all of those in the region affected by natural disaster:
“God will bring good to you out of this suffering and this earthquake will become the cornerstone on which generations of monks will build their monastic life.”
Photo: Populus Summorum Pontificum
Relying, as ever, on your prayers and support,
Fr. Benedict
Subprior
Note: If you want to help the rebuilding process, you can give to the monks by clicking here.
