THE MONKS OF CALDEY

New Zealand Tablet, 14 February 1918, Page 23

THE MONKS OF CALDEY

% Wednesday, October 24, was another epoch-making day for Caldey. iOn that day,' in the "ancient Priory Church, now fully restored to its Catholic and Benedictine owners, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass t was • offered for the first-time since the dissolution of the Community under Henry VIII.- in 1534. Up till August 27 of last year the old church remained a place of Anglican worship. The- former owner of the island, the Rev. W. Done Bushell, had been granted a life-tenancy of the Priory buildings by the monks, and he made use of the church for the services of the Church of England. But by his death on the above-mentioned date, August 27, the monks have entered into full;possession of their ancient heritage, and one more pre-Reformation church has returned yinto Catholic hands. ; ‘ x . h■■.'■■n Xx During the early part of the sixth century, or even perhaps the fifth century, Caldey was the seat of a Celtic monastic settlement founded by St. Iltyd, and the monastery was successively ruled over by SS. Dubricius and Samson, as well as by Abbot Piro. The existing Priory is, however, of - twelfth’ century construction, and was inhabited by Benedictine monks sent from the Abbey of St. Dogmael, an offshoot of the Abbey of Tiron, in France. The : greater part of - the old monastery—which was never large—together with the complete church, still stands. ‘Now, after an alienation of 384 years, 1 Caldey Priory is once more in the hands of its rightful owners—legitimate descendants of those sons of St. Benedict by whom it was built. ' ■ The service for the reconciliation of the many-times-desecrated church—a necessary preliminary to the celebration of Mass again ' within its walls —commenced with the singing of Tierce by the community in" the Abbey Church. At the end of the Office the monks, islanders, and guests ; went in ; procession to the-old Priory, singing the Litany of Our Lady .' On nearing the Priory the “Te deprecamur” 1 was chanted, as on- a former memorable occasionthe “home-coming” of the monks 12 years ago. The Abbot, vested in cope and mitre, then sprinkled the church with holy : water outside and inside, and the Litany of the Saints'was sung. After ' this followed Pontifical High Mass, and the chanting of the office of , Sext brought the morning’s ceremony to a close. In’ the afternoon, community, islanders, and guests assembled again in the old church, now once more a place of Catholic worship, and Pontifical Vespers were solemnly sung at 5 o’clock. The scene, of these 'festivities; was one that will; live 4 long in the memory of j those who were f privileged >to f witness it. The ; quaint old: church, .filled almost to overflowing in sanctuary, choir, and western’; gallery; ' the altar, with its' frontal, lights, and flowers ; the white habits of the monks in the i stalls; t and the rich. vestments of the Abbot and . his ministers ; and as a background to it all —in. contrast and yet in‘harmony—the; rough- walls and floor, scarce hidden by ?carpets and hangings, the rude, primitive architecture lof the .> venerable old building. 'l T Since I God s has watched- over- the old church in so wonderful" a way, and: has made "it ‘ once ' more-;” House’ and ai“ house. of 1 prayer, ;it is' to ■be • hoped that man, too, will do hist part; and that ; the means will be provided to prevent its ever falling again into its: former state of desolation. 1 ■ ' •.. V-/ ' -