Abbey of Regina Laudis
The Abbey of Regina Laudis is the oldest Benedictine convent in the USA and is based in Bethlehem , Connecticut . Today's abbey gained international fame through the 1963 accession of actress Dolores Hart , who has been prioress since 2001 and is a member of the three-person executive committee.
history
prehistory
Regina Laudis' roots can be found in the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Jouarre in 7th century France . Just a few days after the American Vera Duss , who lived in France , had completed her medical degree in 1936, she surprised her family by deciding to devote herself to religious life and to join the Notre-Dame de Jouarre Abbey. During the Second World War , the municipality of Jouarre was taken by the German army and the abbey itself was occupied by Nazi officers. After the US entered the war , Vera Duss, now ordained Mother Benedict , was advised to go into hiding because the mere presence of an American woman was a constant danger to the abbey.
After the abbey was liberated by the 3rd US Army under the leadership of General George S. Patton on August 27, 1944 , Mother Benedict wanted to thank her in some way. So it occurred to her to found a monastery in the USA. With her project she found support from Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli , the then nuncio of Paris , and from Giovanni Montini , both of whom later became Pope .
The beginnings
She traveled to New York in 1947 together with mother Mary Aline, who had saved mother Benedict from being attacked by the Gestapo at the time . The two nuns found shelter with artist Lauren Ford, who lived in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Soon they got unexpected support from industrialist Robert Leather, who also lived in Bethlehem. The believing man bequeathed them a 450- acre piece of land with a request that it be kept intact and made into a holy place. This extraordinary gift provided the space for the monastery they planned.
On the property was a barn that Leather had converted into a brass polish factory, but it was no longer used and was empty. It was converted into the main building of the monastery. A small farmhouse was converted into the first chapel and their first accommodation by the now eight nuns of the convent.
From monastery to abbey
With effect from February 10, 1976, the Regina Laudis monastery was raised to the rank of an abbey, making it the first abbey on American soil.
After the founder could no longer exercise the office of abbess due to her age, a new era dawned in January 2001 with increasing vocations for young people. Mother David Serna was elected as the new abbess, mother Dolores Hart as prioress (the abbess's deputy) and mother Maria Immaculata as subprioress. This troika directs the fortunes of the abbey in good cooperation.
Meaning of the name
The name of the abbey means “queen of praise” and was explained by the first and long-time abbess , Mother Benedict Duss, as follows: “ Mary is the prime example of praising God; she did nothing but live according to God's rules. "
Well-known visitors
Over the decades, a number of well-known personalities visited the monastery or the abbey. One of them was Clare Boothe Luce , the template for the successful film laughs ... and the sky to ( Come to the Stable ) has written, which obviously has the history of the abbey to the foundation. The actress Celeste Holm, who was involved in the same film, was also a guest at the monastery, as was the social activist and journalist Dorothy Day .
The presence and commitment of Dolores Hart attracted even more greats from the show business. One of them was British actress Vanessa Redgrave , who came at the invitation of Dolores Hart. Also, Paula Prentiss , together with Dolores Hart in the film This includes two ( Where the Boys Are ) had participated, visited Regina Laudis frequently. Actress Patricia Neal was even able to win over mother Dolores Hart to found the Gary - The Olivia theater , which holds annual open-air events on the abbey grounds.
swell
Web links
literature
- Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2013 ISBN 978-1-58617-747-8
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c History of the Abbey "Regina Laudis" (English; accessed on September 16, 2013)
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 108
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 109
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 297
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , pp. 402f
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 112
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 107
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 323
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 324
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 325
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , p. 361
- ↑ Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut: The Ear of the Heart , pp. 351ff