The first time I ever went camping it was in the countryside around the beautiful Italian town of Norcia. Along with my friend Jordan, we hiked from Norcia up through mountains to the beautiful Piano Grande, a vast plain surrounded by mountains and a beautiful small medieval town overlooking it, Castelluccio. During the spring, the Piano Grande is full of wild flowers, making it one of the most breathtaking places in Italy.
This morning the ground in Norcia shook significantly. The town has been struck by a series of earthquakes during these past few days, along with all central Italy. Unfortunately the earthquake this morning took a tremendous toll on the city. The Basilica of Saint Benedict, which stands on the place where this great saint was born, was destroyed.
The Monastery of Saint Benedict in Norcia is significant for the whole church since it is here that Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of western monasticism, was born. It is also significant because in the late 1990s, Father Cassian Folsom founded the present monastery with a desire to be faithful to the Rule of Saint Benedict and focus on the beauty of the Church’s liturgy. Father Cassian, who serves as prior of the monastery, is highly respected in the liturgical life of the Church, and often speaks at liturgical conferences throughout the world. Having an American prior, the monastery had attracted many American men. One last significant fact of note of the monastery is that it brews its own beer: Birra Nursia. This beer was served during the last two Papal Conclaves in Rome.
Thankfully there were no fatalities at the Monastery since the monks had already left it due to damage the structure received these past few days. This morning the monks reported, “The monks are all safe, but our hearts go immediately to those affected, and the priests of the monastery are searching for any who may need the Last Rites. The basilica is destroyed.”
This is a great historical and spiritual loss for the Church. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the citizens of Norcia.
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