Benediction of the Monastery of Cellole
On Sunday in albis, 7 April 2013, at 10:00 A.M. the local ordinary, the bishop of Volterra, Alberto Silvani, with archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses, bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity, archbishop Antonio Buoncristiani of Siena, bishop Mansueto Bianchi of Pistoia, bishop Mario Meini of Fiesole, auxiliary bishop Erminio De Scalzi of Milan, abbot of Sant’Ambrogio, as concelebrants, presided at the eucharistic liturgy for the blessing of the Monastery of Cellole, on the occasion of the beginning of the stable presence of our brothers there.
At the beginning brother Enzo recalled the road that brought us to this day, the contacts and collaboration with the diocese of Volterra and the local reality, a period of time that was above all an opportunity to experience again, in various ways, the Lord’s fidelity and inexhaustible mercies, greatly beyond what we are able to see and what we could have expected.
In his homily bishop Alberto spoke words that touched us deeply, of fatherly welcome and lively joy at our presence, which he awaited and desired.
Numerous friends and guests participated in this festive moment, who in various ways have been and continue to be close to us with their affection and attentions.
Among these we remember bishop Andrea Palmieri, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity, bishop Enrico Viganò, chamberlain of the Vatican Chapter, the retired Anglican bishop of Salisbury, David Stancliffe, the monks of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, the Benedictine nuns of Civitella San Paolo, the sisters of Cumiana, the Cistercian monks of Pra d’Mill, the monks of Dumenza, the brothers of the Augustinian monastery of San Gimignano, the mayor of San Gimignano Giacomo Bassi with the vice-mayor, the president of the Foundation Monte Paschi Gabriello Mancini, Francesco Scoppola, director of the Cultural Patrimony of Umbria, and Micol Forti, directress of the Collection of Modern Art of the Vatican Museums, and many others, local and coming from other regions. Br Enzo thanked all at the end of the liturgy.
Filled with a spirit of thanksgiving, we ask you to pray to the Lord so that as monks we may strive to live the Gospel in communion with other Christians and in the company of men.