16 December 2022

On 27 November, Collegio Sant’Anselmo hosted a group of contemplative sisters and nuns from the Rome and surrounding Lazio region to celebrate Pro Orantibus Day, or World Day of Cloistered Life.

Pro Orantibus Day was initiated by Pope Pius XII on 21 November 1953, to encourage the wider Church to pray for “those who pray” and to help support contemplative communities in their fundraising efforts. To this end, the Nuns’ Assistance Secretariat, or SAM, has as its president Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M.

Archbishop Carballo is also the Secretary for the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and in his capacities he asked Collegio Sant’Anselmo to host the 2022 celebration.

For this special Mass, RAI 1, the Italian national public broadcasting company of Italy, live-streamed the Eucharist as part of their popular weekly Sunday programming. The music of the Mass was provided by both the Collegio Schola, led by Choirmaster Fr. David Foster, OSB, and a group of 30 cloistered nuns gathered from communities in the Rome area. After the celebration, the nuns gathered in the cloister with the Collegio community for refreshments and lunch.

Collegio Sant’Anselmo was honoured to host this event and we extend or warm thanks and prayers for our contemplative sisters throughout the world.

Altre Notizie

  • On the evening of 28 March, Armenian monks Kevork Sarkisyan, Hovhannes Manukyan, and Mashdoz Ohanian of the Mekhitarist monastery in Venice-Lido gave a presentation to the residents of Sant'Anselmo. Story and photos here.

  • On 21 March, The Feast of our patron Saint Benedict, the Sant'Anselmo community was treated to limoncello, a traditional Italian "digestivo", made by Head Chef Antonio Giovinazzo and Monk-Refectorian Antoine Sossa.

  • Father Kevork Sarkisyan made a short video of our early-morning Candlemas. Story, links and video here.