Abbey Returns to Tradition
Mariawald is a Cistercian Monastery of the “strict observance” (known popularly as the Trappist order, very contemplative and one of the strictest orders in the Catholic Church) in Europe. In fact it is the only monastery of this order left in Germany. Mariawald has always been a Novus Ordo monastery. But recently the abbot announced that he had the intention–and the permission of the pope–to return to the traditional rite of the Church, the Traditional Latin Mass.
Many will ask: What is this? Is it another compromise like Le Barroux, or Campos, or the Redemptorists? The answer to that question is that, for the first time, the direction of “reformation” is from the Novus Ordo towards Tradition, whereas in the examples of Le Barroux, Campos, and the Redemptorists, it was Tradition towards (theological) compromise. It will therefore be interesting to see how this “experiment of Tradition" will turn out in the future.
This article consists of three parts: A news story about this development, the declaration of the Abbot and the comment of Fr. Schmidberger, District Superior of the SSPX in Germany.
Mariawald Abbey as Pioneer
Power is in quietness. This thought comes spontaneously when you get a glimpse at Mariawald Abbey. But although the activities and prayers of the monks on Kermeter Hills near Heimbach may be done in tranquility, at present the whole world is talking about the only Trappist Monastery left in Germany.
The reason: a few days ago Pope Benedict XVI granted the abbot of the Trappist Monastery Mariawald, Joseph Vollberg, the privilege of using the old liturgy and the traditions that were in use in the Order prior to the liturgical reforms of 1965 and 1969. This does not only affect the celebration of the Mass. Even beyond the liturgy, the life of priests and brothers in future will follow their traditional way of life.
But the sensation is not only in the fact that the Pope in person supported Abbot Josef by granting a privilege from the highest quarters. Mariawald is also the first Cistercian monastery of the strict observance–this is the official name of the Trappist Order–internationally to reintroduce the old liturgy and the old monastic culture in their life.
According to the Dürener Zeitung [a local newspaper–Ed.], the changes in Mariawald will not enter into effect at once, but in September 2009, when the abbey will be celebrating its centenary as an abbey. Then the changes will become fully effective.
Abbot Joseph’s asking Rome for the privilege and obtaining it has not only and primarily to do with the foundation of a monastery by Benedictines in Reichenstein near Monschau–those monks are followers of Archbishop Lefebvre. There are other reasons as well.
On July 7, 2007, the Pope published a letter (a so-called Motu Proprio), by which he allowed the use of the Mass in its traditional form to a larger extent than before. In this old rite of Mass, priest and faithful face the altar and, according to their faith, the risen Christ. Since then there has been a lot of interest in this traditional form of Catholic worship. That is why you find today in the diocese of Aachen, to which Heimbach and Mariawald belong, celebrations according to the Roman Missal of 1962 in Mönchengladbach, Herzogenrath, Kohlscheid, Aachen and Steinfeld.
Dom Josef, as he is called according to his official title, feels thoroughly motivated by the Pope and the papal juridical decree to enact the traditional reform of his monastery in order to guarantee its existence in the future. The 45-year-old monk, born is Hessen, met the Pope before. On June 18, 2008, he had the opportunity to make the Pope aware of his intentions during a general audience. Moreover, his concerns were shared in Rome by the influential curial Archbishop from Sri Lanka, Albert Malcolm Ranjith. Also, the Pope knows Mariawald. In 1991, as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, he ordained the monk Robert Hirtz to the priesthood.
The abbey is the pioneer of a renewal of the monastic life in the spirit of tradition. The decline of monastic life has to be stopped (in the past Mariawald has suffered from a series of departures and financial problems).
Abbot Dom Josef explained in a conversation with the DürenerZeitung that it was this type of question that brought about his decision. There were controversial discussions with his fellow-monks, but the majority of them saw his arguments, were fully in favor of returning to tradition, and were disposed to learn the celebration of the Mass in the traditional rite.
The superior of the monastery seems to have a lot of spiritual energy. Talking to him you find that he is neither cold nor incommunicative, but rather joyful and convinced of his cause. Forward-looking adaptations from Mariawald are nothing new. The monastery has become known in recent years for its commitment in organic farming.–
A Manifesto For a Return to Monastic Tradition
By the abbot of Mariawald, Cistercian Abbey of the strict observance in Germany
The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has granted to the abbot of the Trappist abbey Mariawald (diocese of Aachen), Dom Josef Vollberg, O.C.S.O., according to his petition, the privilege to return with his abbey to the liturgy and observance in the Ancient Use of the Order which was in force up to the reforms in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.
This so-called “use of Monte Cistello” was approved during the time of the Council in the years 1963-64 as a preliminary step of reform.
In a letter of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” of November 21, 2008, this papal privilege is granted to the Abbey. In it, reference is made to the personal decision of the Holy Father to accede in all respects to the privileges desired by the Trappist for a full return to the Ancient Use in liturgy and monastic life. This includes the return to the ancient liturgical tradition of the Order in the celebration of Mass and Divine Office as it was binding until the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council.
The project of reform in Mariawald and the petition of the Abbot concerning this can be regarded as a fruit of the efforts of Pope Benedict XVI for the renewal of the Church in the spirit of tradition.
As the various postconciliar reforms have not yielded for the monastery the expected flowering in liturgy and in the life of the Convent, now the return to tradition links to the centuries-old tradition of the Order. Through the return to the ancient Gregorian liturgy and the stricter use of the monastic form of life, Dom Josef promises himself new spiritual impulses, also regarding new vocations for the abbey.
Worldwide, it can be felt that monastic communities which cultivate the preconciliar Latin liturgy can boast of significant numbers of vocations. Especially in France, on the background of a traditional interpretation of the rule of St. Benedict and the Gregorian liturgy in Mass and Divine Office, there are flourishing abbeys. In Germany, it has previously not been possible for vocations to the monastic life of a traditional form to join a corresponding community. With the papal privilege in Germany, too, there is now for the first time the possibility for young men to live the ancient tradition of contemplative life in the august forms of the classical liturgy and in the strict observance of the rule of St. Benedict.
Dom Josef sees himself confirmed in his decision by the Holy Father, whose generously formulated privilege of all desired forms of return to tradition also bespeaks his personal desire that in the rediscovery of the ancient liturgy and manner of life, a renewal of monastic life as a whole may be stimulated. Thus, the abbot is convinced, the personal and direct action of the Pope for the Mariawald Abbey corresponds to the “Project of Tradition” the Holy Father initiated in 2007 by his Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum for the liturgy.
Dom Josef finds himself and his abbey motivated by the Holy Father and his immediate and direct papal juridical act to implement the tradition-oriented reform of the monastery with new spiritual vigor for the sake of its future. The Abbey assumes in this a pioneering role worldwide to renew the monastic life out of the spirit of tradition and to counteract the decline of monastic life, which especially some Trappist abbeys have experienced in recent years.
In the field of economics, the monastery has in recent years already put an emphasis on its focus on organic agriculture. Now it is the spiritual content of contemplative life which is to receive new stimuli from the great tradition of the Order and its classical Latin liturgy.
Currently in Mariawald there are ten monks, a novice, and an oblate. The history of the abbey began with the founding of a Cistercian priory in the 15th century. After an interruption of monastic life of more than 60 years through the turmoil of the French Revolution, the monastery, newly populated in the 19th century by Trappists from Alsace, was raised to abbey on the Feast of St. Michael in 1909.
On the background of this historic date, now the implementation of the full return of the abbey to the old tradition of contemplative life and to classical Gregorian liturgy is to be completed on the Centenary on September 29, 2009.
Dom Josef Vollberg, O.C.S.O., Abbot Mariawald
November 25, 2008
Press Release
The district superior of the SSPX in Germany, along with his fellow priests, is very happy about the return of the Mariawald Abbey to the unchanged monastic and liturgical tradition of the Trappist Order. He hopes and prays that other monasteries may imitate this courageous move in the direction of Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio so that monastic life in Germany may flourish again. This is the only way that our fatherland might become a Christian nation once again and that the Church will be able to achieve an urgently needed reform of her leaders and members. Let us imitate the call from the Book of Machabees: “Let us raise up the low condition of our people, and let us fight for our people, and our sanctuary” (I Mach. 3:43).–
Sons of St. Benedict in Germany
It has been widely observed that in the diocese of Aachen, Germany, two noticeable events happened around the same time: the foundation of a traditional Benedictine monastery from Bellaigue (France) and Silver City (USA), initiated by the SSPX in Germany, and the return of a Trappist abbey in the same diocese to the traditional rite and monastic life. Some newspapers drew a connection between the two events, going even so far as to quote a priest from the diocese stating that it might be a political move from Rome as a preventive measure against the “Lefebvrists.” Presumably this is the case insofar as the projected foundation of the Benedictines from Bellaigue and Silver City in Germany may have helped to bring about the speedy permission from Rome for the celebration of the Traditional Mass.
Monastery in the Eifel Region
The foundation of a Benedictine Monastery at Reichenstein Manor (about 20 miles south of Aachen)–in the district of the lovely town of Monschau in the Eifel region–is imminent.
On Thursday, January 11, 2007, the city council approved with an overwhelming majority the criteria for construction, restoration, and extension of the monastic facility, built in the 12th century.
The former monastery of the Premonstratensian (or Norbertine) order [founded in 1131–Ed.] is located in a protected area near the border of Germany and Belgium. The facility became a private farm after the secularization in 1802. The manor and church were restored over the last 30 years with much dedication.
Fr. Franz Schmidberger, the District Superior of the SSPX in Germany, and Dom Angel [R.I.P.—Ed.], the prior of the French Benedictine monastery at Bellaigue, were happy about the progress of the construction plans.
The plans include the construction of 25 cells for monks, a cloister and facilities for farming.
...That in all things God may be glorified...–(
PRESS RELEASE OF THE SSPX:
New Monastery for Benedictines Acquired
The present proprietor of Reichenstein manor, Dr. Handschuhmacher, and his wife signed the contract with the SSPX to buy the facility. Because of this, the establishment of a Benedictine community in the old monastic property 20 miles south of Aachen is finalized.
Until the foundation can take place in about three years, construction will be undertaken, so that the monks will find a home according to their vocation.
Fr. Franz Schmidberger, the district superior of the SSPX in Germany, along with his fellow priests, are truly happy about the outcome of the contract and about the future foundation of a Benedictine monastery which is entirely committed to Tradition in what has become neo-pagan Germany.–
Report of Aachener Zeitung
For the first time in 206 years, Compline–the evening prayer of Western Christianity–could be heard at this historical location, which had been officially given to the monks only five hours before.
The keys had been handed over by the actual proprietors of Reichenstein Manor, Dr. Ernst and Helma Handschuhmacher, to the prior of the Benedictines from Bellaigue, Dom Matthew Haynos. Two hundred guests were present and celebrated in a convivial and conciliatory atmosphere.
“We want to bring peace,” said Dom Bernhard Huber, a German-speaking priest from Bellaigue Monastery, translating the address of Fr. Prior Matthew Haynos. He announced, that “our house is always open for everyone, so that they may find God in this place.” (Sept. 23, 2008)
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