Vocations: December 2010 Archives

On Christmas eve morning, Cardinal Valasio De Paolis, CS, the pontifical delegate for the Legion of Christ, ordained 61 new priests on Christmas eve at Saint Paul outside the Walls. The Most Reverends Brian Farrell, LC and Paolo Schiavon, respectively from the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rome, concelebrated. 

This is a must see video on the life of the Canons of Klosterneuburg, some of whom are moving to the Rockville Centre in the Spring 2011. The producer of the video, Jason Fudge, did a terrific job in making "Life Around the Collar."

The Canons Regular of St. Augustine of the Klosterneuburg is one of the oldest Latin Rite orders. The canons live together in community and take three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Because of this, many times they are confused with monks who live a cloistered, contemplative life. However, the canonical life is clerical and engages in public ministry of liturgy and sacraments for those who visit their churches.

As one of Austria's oldest and most historically important orders, the order has been traditionally Austrian. However in the last 20 years, people outside of Austria have decided to take the solemn vow to become a canon at the monastery.

For almost 900 years a monastery in Austria has been devoted to preserving a religious life, culture and science. The origin dates back to Margrave Leopold III when he founded the monastery in 1114. In 1133, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine were summoned to develop the monastery. Alongside the canons' devotion to religion, they also viewed it their duty to preserve culture and art. Since its foundation, the monastery has grown to be one of the wealthiest monasteries and owns the largest private scholarly library in the country.