Abbot-elect Michael Brunner, O.S.B.

On Monday, January 17, the Portsmouth monastic community celebrated the election of Michael Brunner as its fourth abbot. Abbot Michael had been serving as the community’s superior since appointed by Abbot President Christopher Jamison three years ago. The appointment had come as part of a transitional effort to establish the Portsmouth community more securely as it considers its future stability and growth. Abbot Michael had been joined by Father Edward Mazuski and Brother Sixtus Roslevich, all established members of the Saint Louis community, in the bold and generous commitment to explore a future with Portsmouth. The three formally transferred their stability to this community this past spring, helping to open the possibility of an abbatial election. Portsmouth also has been helped in this transitional process by a number of other members of the St. Louis house, notably Abbot Gregory Mohrman, who has also served in leading this community and has been active on the School’s board, as well as by Father Francis Hein, who served as the School’s director of Spiritual Life, and by Father Andrew Senay, currently in residence at Portsmouth. The trio of monks who have transferred to Portsmouth have joined the longstanding Portsmouth monks in residence: Abbot Matthew Stark, Brother Joseph Byron, Father Paschal Scotti, and Father Gregroy Havill, as well as the recently professed Br. Benedict Maria. The electors included monks residing elsewhere: Abbot Caedmon Holmes and Father Christopher Davis.  

“The Room Where It Happened”: Election Setup in the Calefactory

The completion of the election was itself subject to the added suspense not only due to Covid questions, but also from some extensive travel on a weekend subject to severe weather across the country. Abbot Christopher was able to fly in from the United Kingdom, Abbot Caedmon from New Mexico, Brother Benedict from Florida, and even Fr. Chris Davis dealing with hazardous travel from neighboring Middletown. With the community successfully assembled, the process of electing the community’s superior could proceed. The election commenced formally on Sunday afternoon, with the opening of the traditional “tractatus,” during which the solemnly professed monks assembled, reciting prayers in the monastery’s calefactory. This assembly also allows for the putting forth of the names of possible candidates. Each monk must read an oath against collusion in the election, touching the standing crucifix placed on the table near the ballot box. The crucifix is again touched again later by the three “scrutators,” those appointed to count and report on the vote. The crucifix, pictured above, is a substantial, well-crafted piece produced in Providence by the noted Gorham Silver Company.

Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit

At a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit offered prior to Monday’s election, Abbot Christopher dedicated his homily to the community’s task that morning. “Our invocation of the Holy Spirit this morning is a great act of trust: trust in God, trust in the community, and trust in myself. We trust that God will guide the abbatial election. We trust that the brethren will be the means by which God guides us. And I trust that my own vote will also express God’s will.” He pointed out that an abbatial election is not a popularity contest, but requires a sincere discernment of God’s will for the community. Calling for trust, he noted that the process is also tinged by mistrust which remains “part of human nature,” a nature whose sinfulness, carries the mistrust inaugurated by Adam and Eve. We therefore call on the Holy Spirit: “The grace of the Holy Spirit is God’s way of overcoming the original sin of mistrust. We pray for this grace not only during the election, but also during the term of the new abbot.” The trust that must be present in the election must subsequently guide the community, “more and more.” It is this community faith, centered in and fortified through the eucharist and through prayer, that will secure its growth and fruitfulness. (Abbot Christopher’s homily of January 17 can be found on this page.)  

The full community in attendance ( l to r: Paschal Scotti, Edward Mazuski, Benedict Maria, Joseoh Byron, Caedmon Holmes, Abbot President Jamison, Michael Brunner, Christopher Davis, Gregory Havill, Matthew Stark, Basil Piette, Sixtus Roslevich)

The community thanks Abbot President Jamison for his thoughtful, prayerful, and sensitive handling of the process of electing the new abbot. And this gratitude extends to all its friends members of its extended community, for their prayers all along the way.