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Saint Meinrad, Indiana: Saint Meinrad Archabbey & Monte Cassino Shrine

About Saint Meinrad Archabbey:

Saint Meinrad Archabbey was founded in 1854 by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland. They came to southern Indiana at the request of a local priest who was seeking help to serve the pastoral needs of the growing German-speaking Catholic population and to prepare local men to be priests.

The windows are the original stained glass ones produced by the Emil Frei Studio in St. Louis, MO, and the studio of Francis X. Zettler of Munich, Germany.

An extensive renovation took place in 1996-97, with the installation of a marble floor, a new altar, the relocation of the organ, and new furnishings that included the return of the monks’ choir stalls, which had been removed from the church in the 1960s.

The renovation was successful in preserving and honoring the liturgical tradition of those early monks. And its beauty and design provide a vitality that allows the monastic community to continue its tradition of prayer and liturgy well into the 21st century.

A few years after settling in Indiana, the Benedictines began offering high school courses to local youths. In 1861, the monks expanded their general courses to include undergraduate courses in philosophy and theology.   Both of these missions remain part of Saint Meinrad’s ministry to the Roman Catholic Church, as Saint Meinrad operates a graduate seminary and school of theology and has other monks in parish work, chaplaincies and diocesan assignments.

Through these programs, the monks of Saint Meinrad began their mission, which continues today: preparing men for service in the Catholic Church as priests. The Seminary and School of Theology now also has education and formation programs for permanent deacons and lay ministers, as well as a summer liturgical leadership program for high school youth and their adult leaders.  Today, the Seminary and School of Theology offers these degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies, and Master of Arts (Theology). Its alumni number more than 14,000.

The Benedictine community at Saint Meinrad consists of men who dedicate their lives to prayer and work. The monks live by the Rule of St. Benedict, the sixth-century instructions for community living written by St. Benedict.  They gather in community five times each day to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrate Mass. Guests are welcome to join the monks in prayer in the Archabbey Church.

Retreats:

Saint Meinrad offers a variety of monk-led retreats during the year – on these and other topics at our Guest House and Retreat Center in southern Indiana.

Three-day retreats are held on weekends (Friday evening through Sunday noon) or during the week (Tuesday evening through Thursday noon).

Guest House and dining facilities:

Their comfortable Guest House features private rooms with baths, dining room, conference rooms and chapel.

Overnight accommodations, meals and meeting spaces equipped with the latest technology are available.

The Archabbey also features a gift shop, which offers a selection of inspirational gifts, books, Bibles, music and DVDs.  They even offer caskets, cremation urns, commemorative items:  a special way to honor the deceased.

Saint Meinrad monks Br. Kolbe Wolniakowski, Br. Nathaniel Szidik, Br. John Mark Falkenhain, Fr. Prior John McMullen, Novice Christian Lumsden, and Br. Aloysius Saracen work together to jar Peanut Brother on November 9, 2018 inside the monastery.

The Monastery Blessings area features foods ((they call their peanut butter “Peanut Brother”……sounds fantastic: only two ingredients) and gifts handcrafted from Saint Meinrad’s monastery and other monasteries across the country and the world.

You definitely want to stop by during your visit here.

 

You will also find The Scholar Shop – their campus bookstore where you’ll find books on theology, spirituality, and pastoral and liturgical resources. They also carry quality Saint Meinrad imprinted clothing and merchandise.

 

The Monte Cassino Shrine:

The small chapel of Monte Cassino is located on a hill one mile east of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Surrounded by trees and panoramic views of the Anderson Valley, the shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a testament to the age-old tradition of seeking God.

The history of Monte Cassino Shrine tells how a novena to Our Lady of Monte Cassino is credited for saving the village of St. Meinrad from a smallpox epidemic in 1871. The faith that God’s people placed in the intercession of Mary more than 140 years ago has not waned. Since the chapel’s dedication in 1870, thousands of people have visited the sandstone chapel to offer their prayers and petitions.

Public rosary pilgrimages are held at the shrine each Sunday during May and October. In addition, a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey presides at Mass in the chapel each Saturday.

As the months of May and October are especially devoted to the Blessed Mother, pilgrimages to Monte Cassino Shrine are held each Sunday during those months.

The pilgrimage begins with an opening hymn and a short sermon, followed by a rosary procession. The hour-long service ends with the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and a hymn.

Pilgrimages start at 2 p.m. Central Time.

For more information on the Monte Cassino pilgrimages, call (812) 357-6585 or (812) 357-6501 during business hours.

 

Traveling to Saint Meinrad Archabbey:

Address:  200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577

email:  use this contact page on their website.

Click here for the official website of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana

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Photos courtesy Saint Meinrad Archabbey.