Report of the Monasticism, Education and Formation Symposium, 8 - 11 June 2021, Sant’Anselmo, Roma.
Background and objective of the Meeting
The Monastic Institute of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo in Rome organizes an International Symposium every four years, dedicated to different themes related to monasticism. This year the focus was on education and formation. The problems of education are currently very relevant, for various reasons, both in the modern world and in the Church, which dedicated the last Synod of Bishops to youth, and was crowned with the post-synodal exhortation Christus vivit. The Symposium was convened from 8 to 11 of June 2021 in Rome.
The Symposium was attended by participants from various countries both online and in presence. 43 abstracts from 15 countries were made available online well in advance to facilitate the participants to go through the topics.
Opening Remarks
Fernando Rivas osb, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, welcomed the participants. The symposium began with the official keynote address of Bernhard A. Eckerstorfer osb, Rector. His key note address on the novel theme ‘Gardens of Wisdom. Benedictine Cultures of Learning Today’ was well connected to the climatic context in Rome as it was season of flowers in the rose garden nearby and everywhere.
Structure of the Symposium
For the flow of ideas, the thematic sessions were held parallelly in two halls. Participants were given the possibility of selecting the hall according to the themes of interest. Three papers were presented for a session. After the presentations time was given for clarifications and questions. A half an hour break followed the presentations.
Session 1
Oriental & ancient monasticism: Moderator: B. Sawicki
Speakers:
Gkrekas Aristarchos-Vasileios: The Contribution of Mount Athos religious education
Brombin, Alessia: Teaching perfection. Monastic education in Peter the Athonite: founder of the anchorite life at Mount Athos
The Rule of St. Benedict: Moderator: M. Scheiba
Speakers:
Böckmann OSB, Aquinata: Spiritual abuse of power in formation – and “zeal for humiliations” (RB 58,7)? What does the Rule of Benedict (RB) emphasize in this context, seen against the Rule of the Master (RM)?
Bisogno, Gianmarco: Between ordo factitium and ordo naturalis analysis of the community character of the Anselm pedagogy.
Session 2
Oriental & ancient monasticism: Moderator: G. Peters
Speakers
Gushurst,-Moore André: The Benedictine Inheritance and Catholic Education for the Twenty-First Century
Kućko, Wojciech D.:Ritorno a San Benedetto? La ricerca di una strategia per la fede nel mondo postcristiano
Scheiba OSB, Manuela: Benedict's “School for the Lord’s Service” (RB Prol 45). Reflections from the Point of View of an Iconographer
The Rule of St. Benedict: Moderator: F. Rivas
Speakers
De Souza OSB, Filipe: Cercare la verita all'interno
Vecoli, Fabrizio : Pédagogie monastique et communauté eschatologique chez les Pères du désert
Session 3
On the second day there was a Panel Discussion on: Benedictine Education: between the past and today.
Members on the panel Board: Abbot Christopher Jamison OSB, President of the EBC, Prof. James Clark, University of Exeter, Prof. David Foster OSB (moderator).
Abbot Christopher dealt the theme from three points: Mental health, Information technology and Home schooling. He presented about the challenges the present pandemic has brought in the style of education. He stressed on the need of school chaplain who strengthens, who accompanies, who listens to the stresses and anxieties of the students. We need to understand what Benedict meant by ‘Listen to the master’s teaching’. He hinted at the Magisterial way of teaching and the exclusivity of monastic education.
James Clark spoke about the role of a monk as an educator. He also questioned if the students need to be present in the University at all. He brought to the notice of the participants about the medieval debate on how to be both monk and master at the same time. He also spoke about the involvement of monks in education in the middle ages citing Decreta I,II (816), Decreta II, V (817) of Benedict of Aniane. He also explained how monks have to be teachers citing different works of St. Anselm.
Clarifications and questions were given and answered.
After the coffee break the sessions resumed.
Session 4
History: Moderator: I.Jonveaux
Speakers:
Bortoleto, Edivaldo José: Monasticism, education, and philosophy in the formation process of Brazilian culture
Peters, Greg: Late Medieval Monasticism and Children’s Education: Monastic Apostolate or Recruiting Tool?
Premoli, Daniele: Un monaco prestato a Milano? L’educazione nel pensiero e nell’azione pastorale del cardinale Schuster
The Rule of St. Benedict: Intersections & Dialogue: Moderator: M. Jewdokimow
Speakers:
Jayasundara OSB, Araliya: Two Monastic Traditions in the Pursuit of Education: Towards a Paradigm
Wilde OSB, Mauritius: How to set the bar
Bini, Stefano: Formazione e lavoro nelle organizzazioni sostenibili: la regula benedicti al tempo di industry 4.0
After the Lunch break the sessions resumed.
Session 5
Liturgy & Prayer: Moderator: M. Van Parys
Speakers:
Campion, Eleanor: I think of your name in the night time. Introducing the Old Testament through the Two-Year Cycle of Vigils Readings
Carroll, Thomas: Mapping the field: Mindfulness and ethos in the Irish Catholic primary school
Foster OSB, David: What kind of mindfulness
Modern challenges & culture: Intersections & Dialogue : Moderator: P. Trianni
Speakers
Potier Dejean de la Bâtie, François : Essere un autentico Benedettino nel suo insegnamento, in un contesto di “laicita” stretta, come è in vigore in Francia
Monda, Andrea: L’educazione cristiana come narrazione
Wheatley Paul D.: Lectio Divina, Lectio Apostolica: Saints, Apostles, and the Divine Words of Scripture as Ongoing Revelation in Byzantine Monastic Praxapostolos Manuscripts
After the Coffee Break the sessions resumed
Session 6
Art: Moderator: G.Showraiah
Speakers
Limonta, Roberto: L’asceta dadaista. Utopia sociale e spiritualità monastica negli scritti di Hugo Ball
Sawicki OSB , Bernard: From experience to performance: about some underestimated aspect of monastic formative tradition
Skillen, John: Education and Formation through Visual Art in a Benedictine monastery
Liturgy & prayer: Modern challenges & culture: Moderator: I. Jonveaux
Speakers
Herron, Fred: “Our Transformation in Christ“: Thomas Merton and Transformative Learning
Quartier OSB, Thomas: “A School for the Lord´s Service”. Ritual-liturgical Laboratories in Education
The morning sessions of the third day were dedicated to the presentation of the ‘Laboratories’
Session 7
Roberto Scanarotti of Libera Università dell’Autobiografia di Anghiari presented on ‘Scrivere per cercarsi”. un’introduzione alla scrittura autobiografica e biografica. laboratorio di educazione narrativa”’.
Roberto dealt with different tools to write a biography. He explained about the courses that are offered in the University regarding how to write biographies. To introduce the participants to familiarize with some of the tools of writing he asked them to write whatever word they wanted. Later he asked the participants to write in a sentence the answer for the question: For me to write is? Later many have expressed what they have written. He continued explaining what it is to write a biography. He underlined that the autobiography is a reality. Imagination is easy but the memory is difficult. Autobiography means our truth; it comes from our interiority. Augustine’s example was cited to show how one searches into oneself. Important tools to write the autobiography were underlined: first to remember secondly to give voice to what comes into heart and thirdly to compose what comes. Those that with which we are occupied at different stages of life were brought to light: Infancy- games; youth-love; Maturity- work; Middle age- Witness; he explained that one need to pay attention to things, faces, objects, persons, emotions and places while writing the autobiography. The difference between self-writing, narrating and memory was also presented.
The participants actively participated in the exercise.
After the coffee break the session resumed
Session 8
Speaker: Sabrina Tinghi: Nella Scuola della Musica e del Silenzio: Laboratorio “La via del silenzio sonoro” di Canto Meditativo.
Sabrina Tinghi spoke about the importance of the Word, the Breath and the Sound. She cited the example of the Creation narrative in the Bible and spoke about the importance of the wind and the breath. The Sacred words have a special sound and are meditative. The participants were given few Hebrew words from the Bible and were given practice in pronouncing the words, singing the words meditatively and also moving the body accordingly. Excercises in meditation were taught. Participants actively participated and for a period of time were elevated in spirit and melody.
Participants were invited to attend the concert that was programmed for that evening in the Church at 20.30. online link also was sent to all the online participants.
After the Lunch break the session resumed
Session 9
A Panel Discussion was conducted in French on the topic: “Does the modern society need monks?”.
Panel Board Members:
Prof. Daniele Hervieu-Leger: The Author of Le temps des moines: Clôture et hospitalité
Michel Van Parys: Retired Abbot of Chevetogne
Rod Dreher: The Author of “The Benedict Option”
Isabelle Jonveaux (moderator)
The moderator Isabelle Jonveaux presented the speakers. Simultaneous translation in English was made possible for the participants to follow the French talk in English.
Daniele Hervieu-Leger spoke about the Cloister and the hospitality...
Rod spoke about the crisis in America with regard to loss of faith. He opined that the Benedictine monks can remind the people about God. When people are challenged about the purpose of life, social media and internet, the Benedictine model can help. He gave some examples of communities who were inspired by the Benedictine life. He also broght to the notice of the participants about the families who live close to the monasteries to benefit from the Liturgy celebrated in that monasteries. He informed that nearly 1000 families live this way. He expressed the desire of many families who want to educate their children in a Catholic way taking the inspiration from the Benedictines. Some monasteries allow families to use their property to live there.
Time for disucssion was given. Questions were answered by the speakers.
After the Coffee break the session resumed.
Session 10
The session was for feedbacks and reflections.
Moderator: Sawicki OSB , Bernard
M. Van Parys, sharing his reflection on education, said that there is a teaching that is more direct. That is teaching by word and example.
Showraiah commented that the talks given by different professors from various nations on Benedictine Education and Formation are a great treasure.
The morning sessions on the fourth day:
Session 11
Modern challenges & culture: Moderator: M. Van Parys
Speakers
Rivas OSB , Fernando: La antica paideia e la nuova paideia cristiana nella vita monastica
Van Deursen-Vreeburg Juliëtte: Sacred reading and formation in secondary schools in the Netherlands. An educational model
Bini, Sergio - Bini, Stefano: Training and work, in the light of the Regula Benedicti. Effective and sustainable organizations, at the time of “Industry 4.0”
Intersections & Dialogue: Moderator: Th. Quatier
Speakers
Jonveaux, Isabelle: The Role of Contemporary Monasteries in Education in Africa and Europe. Tradition and Tensions
Paganopoulos, Michelangelo: Bridging “East” and “West” in the Formation of World Christianity. A comparative ontological approach to relational monastic personhood amongst Orthodox and Benedictine Monks towards an Ecumenical Understanding of Contemporary Monastic Life in terms of Practice and Experience
Sundberg, Mikaela: Learning to Love
After the Coffee Break the sessions resumed:
Session 12
Intersections & Dialogue: Moderator: M.Scheiba
Speakers :
Trianni Paolo: Educare al pluralismo religioso e al dialogo. Uno sguardo monastico
Jewdokimow, Marcin – Sadłoń, Wojciech: Communication about Gender, Intimacy, and Sexuality within the Formation
Zaccaron Francesca: A mediating encounter. The role of catholic intellectual tradition in secondary education
History: Moderator: B.Sawicki
Speakers:
Dell’Omo OSB, Mariano: La scuola a Montecassino nel secolo XI: formazione alla vita monastica, cultura religiosa, tradizione classica e patristica
Preobrazhenskaya Anastasia A.: Teachings of Western Church Fathers in Monastic Sermons in Early Modern Muscovy (St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Gregory, St. Jerome)
After the Lunch Break the session resumed
Session 13
CLOSING SESSION – FEEDBACKS – EVALUATION: Moderator: B.Sawicki
Most of the participants expressed their appreciation for holding the Symposium.
Following are the comments:
The programme was good but the time that was selected to conduct was not. Many students from Sant’Anselmo could not attend because of the time of exams.
Key speakers are to be selected. They need to send the full text early enough so that the participants can follow the text while the speaker is presenting.
The anthropological challenges in monastic formation today could have been addressed. Especially from the places that monks come eg. Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Some speakers were just running through the text rapidly.
At the end of the Session special thanks were expressed to Sr. Silvia for her technical service to the Symposium.