Benedictine monastery celebrates
1,000 years of its history
 |
| Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England. |
Buckfast abbey, in Devon, England, was founded in 1018.
Celebrations are underway to marks its millennial anniversary. Pope Francis'
representative takes part in one celebration today.
By Joachim Teigen
Their Tonic Wine has gladdened people’s hearts since 1890.
During the 20th century their particular strain of bees came to be favoured by
beekeepers all over the world. But the Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey can
trace their history all the way back to 1018, making this year their millennial
anniversary.
The Pope’s representative
On Thursday 24th May, Cardinal Anders
Arborelius of Sweden joins the monks at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England for
their millennial celebration. Cardinal Arborelius was chosen by Pope Francis as
his representative for the occasion, and the entire episcopal hierarchy of the
Catholic Church in England has been invited. This is only one of several events
scheduled to mark the anniversary of one of England’s most historic
monasteries. In so doing, they recall a history intimately intertwined with
that of England, the Catholic Church and monasticism.
From Benedictine to Cistercian
The first Benedictine monastery was founded near the site of
today’s monastery in 1018, although its precise location has been lost to
history. At the time of its foundation, Cnut the Great was king of Denmark,
England and Norway, and the Normans had yet to conquer the British Isles.
Almost half a century earlier the Council of Winchester had spearheaded the
reform of monastic life in England after massive decline.
In 1147 Buckfast became a Cistercian abbey, implementing the
austere life of the recently established Order, resulting in a complete
transformation of the buildings of the monastery themselves.
From Henry VIII to The Tablet
The abbey increased in size and wealth through subsequent
centuries, making it a perfect target for King Henry VIII’s campaigns,
resulting in the dissolution of Buckfast in 1539 along with the moving of its
wealth to the Tower of London.
After more than three centuries without monks, it would take
only an advert in The Tablet for monastic life to return to
Buckfast in 1881. Six weeks after the advert appeared, Benedictine monks from
France moved in, the forebears of the present-day monks. When the French monks
arrived, it was on the basis of the Cistercian foundations that they built the
new monastery, effectively reconstructing the Cistercian abbey
The Abbey today
The Buckfast monks live a life rooted in the Benedictine
motto of ora et labora. They rise at 5.30 in the morning for the
celebration of various liturgies including Mass. During the day, the monks will
probably not find work wanting, seeing that they have guest quarters, a retreat
centre, a conference centre and a large garden to be attended to.
At midday and in the late afternoon they assemble again for
prayer. Daily recitation of Night Prayer allows the monks to pray it from
memory, in a dark chapel.
Their prayer and contemplation roots and gives purpose to
their work, and although the monks of Buckfast live separated from the world
they have demonstrated a capacity of drawing the world to themselves – for
1,000 years.
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