Prayers for Italy

[cappie]

[Archaeology cat]

Thank you for posting this

[Luigi]

NEWS FROM THE BENEDICTINE MONKS IN NORCIA

Dear Friends,

Many of you have by now heard of the earthquake that struck us during the night. The quake was a powerfu...l one with a magnitude of 6.2. We've taken the past few hours to assess the situation.

First: We are OK. We are alive, and there are no serious injuries to report. Sadly, there are many injuries to report among the people of the region, especially those in small mountain villages. Please pray for them. We monks will do what we can to contribute here on the ground, but we'll need your spiritual support in a special way during this period.

Second: We, as many others in Norcia and surrounding areas, suffered a lot of damage to our buildings and especially to our basilica. It will take some time to assess the extent of the damage, but it is very sad to see the many beautiful restorations we've made to St. Benedict's birthplace reduced, in a moment, to disrepair.

Click here for a virtual tour of the basilica (pre-earthquake) https://en.nursia.org/visit/#acc_360_tour

Third: What can you do? Please, pray for us, for those who have lost their lives, who have lost someone they love, who have lost their homes and livelihoods. We will need your help, as always but now in a special way, to start the project of rebuilding. Please consider making a gift to help us get started.
The Monks of Norcia

https://en.nursia.org/

[NadaTeTurbe]

Horrible. Italy is one of these place where you can't go somewhere and not find historical landmarks. 

I read on a newspaper that in 1908, an earthquake made 95 000 death ! 

[Spem in alium]

Thank you for this. I have many friends in Italy, mostly in Rome, but one in Assisi. She is thankfully safe. I can't imagine how terrifying this would have been, especially in the early hours of the morning.

[Luigi]

I'm not trying to make light of a really terrible situation - the Italian earthquake - but I had to smile when I read this headline. It just seems like a sort of wry providence or something. The article contains good details on the situation of the Norcia monks. 

26 Aug DAY 3: MONASTERY UNINHABITABLE, BREWERY SAFE

This will be a shorter update since we’ve been very busy today responding to journalists and townspeople, politicians and bishops, all wanting to help us in their own way, and we are grateful to all of them.

Inspectors finally came and as expected declared the church and most of the monastery unusable. Only the brewery a few rooms, and our gift shop will be allowed to be used as they are nearest to the ground and suffered the least damage. As a result, we’ll be setting up a new base camp at our monastery outside the walls, the restoration of which has not yet been completed, but which offers us various fields for tents and temporary buildings and a local farm house where we can take our meals. Alas the Basilica will remain closed for some months, but over the next weeks we hope to be able to gain access to the crypt or an adjacent room for daily celebration of Mass.

Today we were also able to stop in and see a few families and businesses and assure them of our prayers. The Archbishop of Spoleto Norcia made an official visit with the inspectors of all the churches in Norcia (all will remain closed) and made arrangements with the Pastor of the town for Mass to be offered outside in a field this Sunday as aftershocks continue to make all the already damaged churches dangerous.  The monks in Rome also continue to care for the people of Norcia through their particular monastic role of intercessory prayer on behalf of and for the people.

The monks’ primary role in the life of the Church is one of praying quietly and silently, often unnoticed and even forgotten. Thus, we continue to strive to support the local parish clergy, who are charged with the particular sacramental needs of the townspeople, with our spiritual intercession, and collaborate with them when they request need. We know by faith our prayers help sustain their work and all those suffering and assist in healing the sufferings of many all over our region in these difficult times. Your continued support has inspired us in our prayer and mission.

Pax,
Fr. Benedict
Subprior

Note: If you want to help the rebuilding process, you can give to the monks by visiting: http://en.nursia.org/earthquake-relief/