Mount Saviour Monastery

July 2020 News:
Br. Bruno has begun haying when the weather allows. Thanks to the new livestock guardian dogs, he is not finding carcasses of sheep killed by coyotes as he mows unlike previous years. Our chaplain, Father Don, celebrated his 6th anniversary with us on the 7th. That was the day he moved into the old milking parlor down the hill from the monastery.

Br. Antonio was admitted to the hospital on the 13th with another brain bleed, seemingly caused by the blood thinner he has to take on a regular basis. Fortunately, because the bleed was caught promptly there was no lasting damage. Unfortunately, the solution looks to involve open heart surgery to replace a mechanical valve with a tissue valve. After adjusting his medications he finally returned to the monastery on the 31st.  Please remember in prayer Br. Antonio and his needs.

Then on the 15th Br. Mark underwent total knee replacement surgery. He was back with us on the 18th as he embarked on the painful process of physical therapy to help him walk on his new knee. Since then he has had to return to the hospital two more times. Please remember Br. Mark in prayer as he remains in hospital at the end of the month.

Word reached us that Mother Miriam Benedict, originally from Elmira, died on June 27, 2020. In 1955 Mother Miriam joined the Benedictine Order at Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT, with the assistance of Reverend Father Damasus who was her spiritual advisor. From there she was sent to establish Our Lady of the Rock Monastery on Shaw Island, WA, in 1976. Then, in 1969, at the invitation of the monks at the Benedictine Monastery of Montecassino, Italy, Mother Miriam and two other nuns traveled to Italy to resurrect the Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno. Initially established in 734 A.D., it had been demolished on several occasions by invading marauders or earthquakes. She subsequently spent 26 years running and continually improving the Abbey and Basilica. With great reluctance she eventually left San Vincenzo several years ago to reside at Monastero di Santa Scholastica in Cassino, Italy. Her desire to be interred at the Monastery of Montecassino ' the burial site of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica was granted on June 28, 2020. May she rest in the Peace of Christ.

At the end of the month, there was a crew of painters hard at work re-staining and repainting the exterior of St. Peter's, the East and West monastery buildings and the Arts and Crafts Shop.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the monastery guest houses, chapel and shop remain closed until further notice.