|
On April 2, 2004, Bishop Despierre
issued a formal decree agreeing to the return of the ancient
abbey of Lagrasse to the religious life. The decision delighted most
faithful Christians in the area and elsewhere.
By this transfer of the
seat of their abbey, the Canons were established in the diocese of
Carcassonne in full communion with their bishop and pastor. Mgr Planet,
the new Bishop of Carcassonne, came to visit the abbey and its Canons on
January 30, 2005. This was a very encouraging gesture. Meetings have also
taken place with the priests of the diocese. The Canons have a
particularly close relationship with Abbot Andre Vergnes, the episcopal
vicar in charge of the Corbières area.
The Canons do not exercise parochial
responsibilities, like their brother priests, but they are anxious to live
in harmony with their fellow diocesan priests, monks and nuns, as well as
with the Faithful of Corbières.
The priests and brothers of the
canonial abbey of Saint Mary of Lagrasse have to devote themselves first
to three major tasks: their religious life of contemplative prayer,
centred on the liturgy and nourished by prayer, "lectio divina"
(contemplative reading of Sacred Scripture and the writings of the Fathers
of the Church and major spiritual works), augmented by a serious
philosophical and theological training. |
|
The apostolate in the diocese
of Carcassonne will be, above all, a "tourist apostolate", by opening the
abbey to the public, apart from the times when the Canons pray their
religious office.
The development of the abbey will continue the work of
restoration which has already begun. Since the building is classified,
this work will be done in conjunction with the regional conservator of historic
monuments, the architect of historic buildings and the chief architect of
Buildings of France. Fruitful contacts have already been made.
The
apostolate of the Canons in Corbières will thus be centred around their
abbey. Any diocesan apostolate outside the abbey will take place following dialogue with local pastors.
|
|