Abbey of Regina Laudis
The Abbey of Regina Laudis is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the United States with headquarters in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Gained international recognition the present abbey in 1963 made by the accession of the actress Dolores Hart, who is prioress since 2001 and the three-member governing body belongs.
- 4.1 External links
- 4.2 Literature
- 4.3 Notes and references
History
Prehistory
The roots of Regina Laudis can be found at the Abbey of Notre- Dame de Jouarre in France in the 7th century. Just a few days after living in France US-American Vera Duss in 1936 completed her medical studies, she surprised her family with the decision to devote himself to the religious life and join the Notre- Dame de Jouarre abbey. During the Second World War the town was occupied by Jouarre the German army and occupied the abbey itself by Nazi officers. After the United States had entered the war, what has become the mother Benedict consecrated Vera Duss was advised to go into hiding because the mere presence of an American was a constant threat to the abbey.
After the Abbey on 27 August 1944 has been released from the U.S. 3rd Army under General George S. Patton, Mother Benedict wanted to thank in some way. So you came to mind to found a monastery in the USA. With their project, they find support at Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the nuncio of his time in Paris, and Cardinal Giovanni Montini, the Pope were both later.
The beginnings
Together with Mother Mary Aline, Mother Benedict had once saved from the Gestapo, she traveled to New York in 1947. The two nuns were housed in the artist Lauren Ford, who lived in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Soon they got unexpected support of industrialist Robert Leather, who also lived in Bethlehem. The believing man bequeathed them a 450 -acre piece of land with a request to keep it intact and a holy place to make it. This extraordinary gift provided the space for the planned monastery of them.
On the property there was a redesigned from Leatherhead to a brass polish factory barn, but was now no longer used and was empty. It was rebuilt to the main building of the monastery. A small farmhouse was rebuilt by the now eight nuns of the convent to the first chapel and their first property.
From the monastery to the Abbey
With effect from 10 February 1976 Regina Laudis the monastery was raised to the rank of an abbey and was the first abbey on American soil.
After the founder of the Office of the abbess with age no longer able to exercise, broke in January 2001, a new era with increasing vocations of young people. Mother David Serna was elected to the new abbess, Mother Dolores Hart determined Prioress ( the deputy of the abbess ) and mother Mary Immaculate to subprioress. This Troika passes in good cooperation the fortunes of the abbey.
Meaning of the name
The name of the abbey, means "Queen of praise " and was explained by the first and longtime abbess, Mother Benedict Duss, as follows: " Mary is the perfect example of the praise of God; she did nothing more than to live by the rules of God. "
Well-known visitors
Over the decades, visited a number of well-known personalities, the monastery or abbey. One of them was Clare Boothe Luce, the laughs, the template for the successful film ... and the sky to go ( Come to the Stable ) has written, which obviously has the history of the Abbey of the foundation. The effective in the same movie actress Celeste Holm was also a guest at the monastery as the social activist and journalist Dorothy Day.
The presence and involvement of Dolores Hart quite other sizes were first lured from the show business. One of them was the British actress Vanessa Redgrave, who came at the invitation of Dolores Hart. Also had Paula Prentiss, together with Dolores Hart in the film, including two ( Where the Boys Are) participated, Regina Laudis visited frequently. The actress Patricia Neal was Mother Dolores Hart even for the creation of the theater The Gary - The Olivia win that performs annual open-air events on the grounds of the abbey.