Worship at the Abbey

A Service of Blessing for the Benedictine Torch

2nd March 2011 at 12:00 pm

,The Torch of Saint Benedict, a symbol of peace, hope, and unity, is the main feature of an annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Benedict in Montecassino led by the Archabbot and monks of Montecassino.

Preachers:
The Right Reverend Stephen Platten
Bishop of Wakefield and Chairman of Governors, Anglican Centre in Rome

Dom Pietro Vittorelli OSB
Archabbot of Montecassino

Further information:

Web: http://www.montecassino.it/

The Benedictine Torch carries a message of peace, hope and fraternity.

In 1964, when Saint Benedict was proclaimed Patron of Europe, it was decided that the lighting of a torch would take place to represent European unity. The torch is now known simply as the Torch of Saint Benedict. Following 1992, the year of the Maastricht Treaty and the European Union, it has also become a symbol of peace.

Saint Benedict was chosen as the symbol and Saint to testify to the common Christian cultural roots which the 27 European Countries share. The firing of the torch represents the light of Saint Benedict which spans over Europe bringing peace, fraternity and friendship.

Since 1980, the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict, the torch has retraced the path of Benedictine spirituality in the main European locations. Many cities across the globe have also been involved over the past thirty years, including Jerusalem and New York. The latter was of crucial importance to strengthen the Benedictine message of peace, after the threat and the fear following the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers, in 2001.

Every year the Torch has been the main feature of a pilgrimage beginning from the city chosen to light the torch and ending in Montecassino at the Shrine of St Benedict.

This year the Torch was lit in London on 2 March 2011 at a special service in Westminster Abbey, which houses the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor. The service was led by the Dean of Westminster, and the Archabbot of Montecassino gave an address alongside the Bishop of Wakefield, who is Chairman of Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome. Representatives of European Institutions, and the Italian Government were also present alongside other political and religious institutions as this ecumenical celebration took place. This was the first year in which the torch has been lit in a non Roman Catholic church.

On 3 March, the following day, the Torch of Saint Benedict was transferred to Westminster Cathedral where a Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Westminster for Italian immigrants.

The pilgrimage of the Torch ended in Montecassino with a special service on St Benedict’s Day, March 21 2011.