Brother Benedict Maria. O.S.B.

Midway through the Mass for the ordination of Br. Benedict Maria to the Sacred Order of Deacons, the principal celebrant, His Excellency, Bishop Richard G. Henning of the Diocese of Providence, began his homily by addressing the young man directly. “Brother,” he said, “many years ago when I was a newly-ordained priest, a missionary came to offer a Mass at the parish where I was serving.” The bishop went on to relate to Brother Benedict, as well as to the capacity assembly gathered in the Abbey Church, a story passed down in an oral tradition sort of way, which held at its core sage advice for everyone. The missionary in question was a priest of the Maryknoll order who was sent to Tanzania at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1982, perhaps because he was also a medical doctor. At the prayer of consecration during one particular Mass, the priest experienced “a moment of the deepest conversion,” as the bishop put it, and his ministry from that point on, as risky as it was involving care of the sick and injured, became his deepest calling. He understood that he was uniting himself, as he had never done before so fully and deeply, to the self-offering of Jesus Christ, literally, physically, and with all of his being. (A transcript of Bishop Henning’s homily is included in this June issue of The Current.)

Br. Benedict presented for ordination
 

At the altar during the Ordination Mass

The choice of Friday morning, May 3, for the occasion of the ordination of Brother Benedict was not made accidentally. It ensured that the entire school body, both boarders and day-students, would be able to participate and be witness to it. Intermingled among the students were faculty members, parents, the Board of Directors, oblates, and friends of the Abbey from near and far – from down the street as well as from up and down the coast. The respect and love for Br. Benedict was made all the more evident by the presence of many staff members at the Mass, including the men from the Information Systems department, the hockey rink workers, the kitchen cooks and servers, the landscaping and grounds crew, the maintenance workers and the housekeeping personnel.

Br Benedict with oblates
Bob and Maureen Magnuson

Br. Benedict’s parents, Anthony and Geetha Maria, along with his sister, Pricilla, made the long trek from India for their second visit to Aquidneck Island. He was also supported by a large group of personal friends who had all made lengthy trips to share this day with him. Following the weekend activities surrounding the ordination Mass, his family joined Br. Benedict in a trip to Florida where Brother has one more year of theology studies at the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, before his priestly ordination in 2025, deo volente. The seminary’s vice rector, Fr. Gregg Caggianelli, was here to join us as concelebrant at the Mass, as was Abbot Gregory Mohrman of Saint Louis Abbey where Br. Benedict spent a year during his initial formation as a novice. Rev. Mr. Paul Saint Laurent of the diocese of Providence, a familiar figure around Portsmouth, had the honor of being the Vesting Deacon, while the Deacon at the Altar was a close friend and classmate of Brother’s, the Rev. Peter Jutras. Bishop Henning was accompanied by Fr. Nathan Ricci who served as the Episcopal Master of Ceremonies. The liturgical music for the Mass was beautifully sung by the Schola consisting of students from Portsmouth Abbey School, under the direction of Mr. Michael Carnaroli, the school’s Director of Music. And as they have done throughout this academic year, the student servers were instrumental in assisting at the altar, more fully integrating the student body into the celebration of the Mass.

Abbot Michael Brunner welcomes the congregation for ordination

Br. Benedict made his solemn profession as a monk of Portsmouth Abbey on the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, 2021, and began his philosophy studies the same year at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. Besides his interest in philosophy and theology, he has a decidedly artistic and culinary bent, both of which have come to fruition during his formative years at Portsmouth. Once, as he was preparing one of his delicious Indian meals for a Sunday evening dinner for the community and guests, he was asked by a curious monk whether he was following written instructions or perhaps a recipe. Brother answered gleefully with a giggle, “NO!” He knows what he knows and does what he does having watched his mother tend to the family cooking back home in India. And he knows enough to have supervised the professional kitchen cooks in planning and preparing dinners for our entire school.

Recessional at the end of the ordination Mass,
Br. Benedict with Bishop Richard Henning

As for his artistic talent, we have noted in The Current how he developed an interest in mosaics while in formation in St. Louis, where he learned the necessary skills from Br. Symeon Gillette, O.S.B., now retired but the founder and long-time director of the Medieval Arts Guild at Saint Louis Priory School. Based upon the guild system of apprenticeships, journeymen and masters, the boys there (at this all-boys school) start out by learning calligraphy and continue working their way through mosaic design and fabrication, eventually culminating in the art of true stained-glass window production. Brother’s own fascination with and study of medieval arts has enabled him to create beautiful works that bless our monastery.

Br. Benedict’s family and friends in attendance

Following the end of the Mass and with the recessional hymn sung with gusto, we proceeded to the altar to undertake the near-ritual photo session. One particular shot which includes Bishop Henning and Brother Benedict shoulder to shoulder in the center, shows them surrounded by dozens of friends and family of all ages, and it sums up the joy of the day. For many, it was their first visit to the Abbey and, as Abbot Michael made abundantly clear in his welcoming remarks, we look forward to welcoming them back again, especially in a year from now. When the time came in the Mass for the abbot to respond to the bishop’s crucial question beginning of the ordination rite – “Do you know him to be worthy?” – the abbot’s voice was as clear as our St. David bell which pealed from the rooftop during Mass: “After inquiry among the Christian people and upon the recommendation of those concerned with his formation, I testify that he has been found worthy.”