#olivetan monks

[anastpaul]

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour – Apocalypse 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/ “ … He climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see Him …” – Luke 19:2 REFLECTION – “I’m writing with the desire to see you, a bold and good shepherd, pasturing and guiding the sheep entrusted to you with perfect zeal and thus, imitating the sweet Master of Truth, Who gave His life for us who are His sheep, who have strayed away from the path of grace. True…, we cannot do this without God and we cannot possess God while remaining on earth. But here is a sweet remedy – when our hearts are reduced to nothing and feeling small, we must do as Zacchaeus did. He was not tall and he climbed a tree to see God. This zeal of his, allowed him to hear these sweet words: “Zacchaeus, go home, for I must dine with you today.” We must do this too, when we are feeling low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity. We must climb the tree of the most holy Cross and there, we shall see, we shall touch God. There we shall find the fire of His inexpressible charity, the love that propelled Him, even to the humiliation of the Cross that raised Him up and made Him desire His Father’s honour and our salvation, with the craving of hunger and thirst… If this is what we want, if our carelessness does not get in the way, we can, in mounting the tree of the Cross, fulfill in ourselves, this word issuing from the mouth of Truth: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all things to Myself” (Jn 12,32 Vg). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Ghost, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy tree where hang, the ripe fruits of all the virtues which the Body of the Son of God bears, ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)  (Letter 119, to the prior of the Olivetan Monks).

(via One Minute Reflection – 9 November – ‘ … We must do this too, when we are feeling low … ‘ – AnaStpaul)

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (June 18)

St. Osanna was a Dominican tertiary, who spent her adult life serving the poor and the sick and offering spiritual direction to many.

However, she was also a mystic and a visionary, eventually bearing the pain and red marks of the stigmata, though not the bleeding.

Osanna was born on 17 January 1449 to a noble Italian family.

Her visions, first of angels and of the Trinity, began at the young age of five.

She felt a call to religious life and became a tertiary at 17, having already rejected a marriage arranged by her father.

Her visions continued into her adult life, and she often fell into ecstasies. She was also a strong critic of the lack of morality of her day.

Legend states that Osanna, like Catherine of Siena, miraculously learned to read and write.

One day, she saw a piece of paper with two words and said, "Those words are 'Jesus' and 'Mary.'"

Allegedly, from that time on, anything relating to the spiritual was within her grasp.

When Osanna was thirty years old, she received the stigmata on her head, her side, and her feet.

She also had a vision in which her heart was transformed and divided into four parts.

For the rest of her life, she actively experienced the Passion of Jesus, but especially intensely on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Osanna confided these things on her biographer and "spiritual son," the Olivetan monk, Dom Jerome of Mount Olivet, as well as the fact that for years, she subsisted on practically no food at all.

She spent much of her family's considerable wealth to help the unfortunate.

She died on 18 June 1505.

[vintageimageryx-blog]

1594 Bonsignori’s map of florence Historic city of Vintage Florence Map wall art Old Map of Florence Firenze Wedding gift Idea by VintageImageryX

16.00 USD

1594 Bonsignori’s map of florence Historic city of Florence Map Vintage Florence Map wall art Old Map of Florence Firenze Wedding gift Idea This was originally drawn by and named after the Olivetan monk Stefano Buonsignori in 1584 and issued in 1594 Want this on canvas (additional cost) drop us a message FREE SURPRISE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE!!!!! NEED A CUSTOM SIZE ?!?! Send us a message and we can create you one! A Perfect Gift for that Special Someone This Fine Art Print has been reproduced from the original source and digitally enhanced to create a unique rustic look printed on Ultra Smooth Matte Heavy Fine Art Paper ◆ S I Z E 11" x 14" / 28 x 36 cm 16" x 20" / 40 x 50 cm 18" x 24" / 45 x 61 cm 24" x 30"/ 61" x 76 cm 30" x 40" / 76 x 101 cm 34" x 43" / 86 x 109 cm 43" x 55" / 109 x 140 cm 48" x 60" / 121 x 155 cm *You can choose Your preferred size in listing size menu ◆ P A P E R Archival quality Ultrasmooth fine art matte paper 250gsm not cheap shiny poster paper A museum quality print ◆ I N K Giclee print with Epson Ultrachrome inks that will last up to 208 years indoors. ◆ B O R D E R All our prints are printed to size. if You a white border for matting& framing just drop us a message. ◆FRAMING: NONE of our prints come framed, stretched or mounted. Frames can be purchased through a couple of on line wholesalers: PictureFrames.com framespec.com When ordering a frame make sure you order it UN-assembled otherwise you could get dinged with an over sized shipping charge depending on the size frame. Assembling a frame is very easy and takes no more than 5-10 minutes and some glue. We recommend purchasing glass or plexi from your local hardware store or at a frame shop. ◆ S H I P P I N G Print is shipped in a strong tube for secure shipping and it will be shipped as a priority mail for fast delivery. All International buyers are responsible for any duties & taxes that may be charged per country.

[anotherconservator]

Detail from Monks Singing the Office; Olivetan Master and the Maestri del Corali di Lodi, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Italy, Lombardy (c. 1439-1447)

[met-european-paintings]

Portrait of an Olivetan Monk by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi, European Paintings

Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1986 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Medium: Oil on canvas

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437275

[cma-medieval-art]

Leaf from an Antiphonary: Historiated Initial P with the Prophet Samuel; Arms of the Visconti Family and the Olivetan Order, Olivetan Master, c. 1439-1447, Cleveland Museum of Art: Medieval Art

This leaf is distinguished by a large initial P depicting Samuel, the last and one of the greatest of Israel’s judges. It introduces the text Preparte corda vestra domino et servite (“Prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve”). In the lower margin are the arms of the Visconti family, rulers of Milan, featuring an eagle (left) and a coiled serpent (right). At bottom center is the emblem of the Olivetan Order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines founded in 1319 known as the “white monks.” The Olivetan monastery in Milan was founded in 1400 and it appears that this leaf belonged to a set of choral books presented to the monastery by one of the Visconti, perhaps about 1439–47. The so-called Olivetan Master takes his name from a luxuriously illustrated psalter made for the order’s monastery in Milan, where he was undoubtedly a monk. Size: Each leaf: 59.3 x 42.7 cm (23 3/8 x 16 13/16 in.) Medium: ink, tempera and gold on vellum

https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.131

[cesarecitypilgrim]

Monte Oliveto style: tre abbazie ricche di arte e storia/Monte Oliveto style: three Italian Abbey rich for art and history.

Monte Oliveto style: tre abbazie ricche di arte e storia/Monte Oliveto style: three Italian Abbey rich for art and history.

Gli olivetani dall’abito bianco, noti per il loro amore per l’arte e la cultura, sono una delle più affascinanti congregazioni dell’universo benedettino. Non numerosissimi, vivono in abbazie di grande interesse, diffuse in tutto il mondo, anche se è in Italia che si trova il cuore dell’ordine: l’abbazia madre di Monte Oliveto Maggiore in provincia di Siena. Da qui voglio partire per una breve…

[silvestromedia]

Saint of the day May 08

St. Peter of Tarantaise, Roman Catholic Monk and Archbishop.He was named the archbishop of Tarantaise against his wishes, and he devoted much energy to reforming the diocese, purging the clergy of corrupt and immoral members, aiding the poor, and promoting education. He is also credited with starting the custom of distributing bread and soup the so called May Bread just before the harvest, a custom which endured throughout France until the French Revolution. Feastday May8

ST. VICTOR MAURUS OF MILAN, MARTYR In 1576, at the request of St. Charles of Borromeo, Victor's relics were transferred to a new church in Milan established by the Olivetan monks. The church still bears St. Victor's name today. After a life of adherence to the Faith during perilous times, St. Victor Maurus was taken prisoner and tortured as an old man. May 8

ST. BONIFACE IV, POPE Boniface IV A doctor's son from L'Aquila, Pope/Saint Boniface IV was deacon and treasurer to St. Gregory the Great, and like his mentor, he turned his house into a monastery. Boniface was elected pope in late 607 but was not enthroned until September, 608, when his election was confirmed by Emperor Phocas. May 8

ST. ARSENIUS THE GREAT, ROMAN DEACON, ANCHORITE IN EGYPT Arsenius, who was born in Rome in 354, was the tutor of the children of Emperors Theodosius I the Great, Arcadius, and Honorius. At that time, Arsenius was a Roman deacon recommended for the office by Pope St. Damasus. He served at Theodosius' court in Constantinople for about ten years and then became a monk in Alexandria, Egypt. May 8

ST. BENEDICT II, POPE Benedict II Born and educated in Rome, St. Benedict served the church in every order of the clergy before his election to the papacy in 684. He persuaded Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus that papal elections do not require imperial confirmation. The practice, however, continued.

[alexandraitalysummer]

San Miniato al Monte/The Synagogue

San Miniato/Synagogue This week was full of religious appreciation. In our class we are expected to create a presentation over an assigned church and as a group we went and toured them. The church I was assigned was San Miniato al Monte, the oldest church in Florence! Construction began exactly 1000 years ago. WHAT!? I cannot believe that the same church is still standing after all these years. This Catholic Church is run by the Olivetan monks and they sing the Gregorian chants following the very orthodox mass. Many notable people are buried in the church such as the author of Pinocchio and the founder of the Florence children's hospital. Something that caught my eye was a beautiful sculpture in the cemetery representing a couple that was buried there. They had died in world war 2 and they were only 22 and 23 years old. There is so much history in San Miniato and i felt so blessed to have the opportunity to visit such a beautiful holy place. Another religious venue we attended was the Synagogue. The synagogue was given to the Jewish community after world war 2 and is one of the most beautiful and largest synagogues in all of the world (fact not opinion) I loved getting a lesson on the jewish religion because it helped me grasp a better idea of the many spiritual beliefs that are present in our world. This was a very informative experience where I was able to witness religious culture outside of my own.

[irmopradelli]

🇮🇹 Bologna. Il balcone in San Michele in Bosco ex convento olivetano che da sulla città di Bologna ed i suoi affascinanti corridoi. Il principale per lunghezza può contenere la torre degli Asinelli. Complesso già sede di strutture monastiche di epoca medievale (IV secolo circa) vide nel 1364 l'insediamento dei monaci Olivetani, per volontà di papa Urbano V. Questi ultimi, dopo la distruzione della chiesa avvenuta nel 1430, la ricostruirono in fasi successive, terminandola sostanzialmente nel 1523. Ora sede dell'istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🇬🇧 Bologna. The balcony up the city of Bologna seen from the balcony of San Michele in Bosco ex Olivet convent. Complex already home to medieval monastic structures (around the 4th century), the complex saw the establishment of the Olivetan monks in 1364, at the behest of Pope Urban Vthe latter, after the destruction of the church in 1430, rebuilt it in successive phases, ending it substantially in 1523. Now it houses the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #ig_bologna #yallersemiliaromagna #emiliaromagna_super_pics #inemiliaromagna #bologna_photogroup #vivobologna #clickfor_bologna #loves_bologna #bolognawelcome #italiastyle_bologna #labellabologna #sguardi_su_bologna #thehub_bologna #volgobologna #igersbologna #loves_united_emiliaromagna #thehub_emiliaromagna #perfect_italia #shot_italia #snap_italy #ig_emilia_romagna #picbol #emiliaromagna_cartoline #_click_eromagna #alluring_italy #perfect_italia #don_in_italy #italianstyle #alluring_emiliaromagna #liketimeag (presso Monastero di San Michele in Bosco) https://www.instagram.com/p/CILw6Tqsrs6/?igshid=1sm6ist3ybmxx

[kutxx]

1.

Battista Franco

Portrait of an Olivetan Monk

16th century, oil on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

[vintageimageryx-blog]

1594 Bonsignori’s map of florence Historic city of Vintage Florence Map wall art Old Map of Florence Firenze Wedding gift Idea by VintageImageryX

16.00 USD

1594 Bonsignori’s map of florence Historic city of Florence Map Vintage Florence Map wall art Old Map of Florence Firenze Wedding gift Idea This was originally drawn by and named after the Olivetan monk Stefano Buonsignori in 1584 and issued in 1594 Want this on canvas (additional cost) drop us a message FREE SURPRISE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE!!!!! NEED A CUSTOM SIZE ?!?! Send us a message and we can create you one! A Perfect Gift for that Special Someone This Fine Art Print has been reproduced from the original source and digitally enhanced to create a unique rustic look printed on Ultra Smooth Matte Heavy Fine Art Paper ◆ S I Z E 11" x 14" / 28 x 36 cm 16" x 20" / 40 x 50 cm 18" x 24" / 45 x 61 cm 24" x 30"/ 61" x 76 cm 30" x 40" / 76 x 101 cm 34" x 43" / 86 x 109 cm 43" x 55" / 109 x 140 cm 48" x 60" / 121 x 155 cm *You can choose Your preferred size in listing size menu ◆ P A P E R Archival quality Ultrasmooth fine art matte paper 250gsm not cheap shiny poster paper A museum quality print ◆ I N K Giclee print with Epson Ultrachrome inks that will last up to 208 years indoors. ◆ B O R D E R All our prints are printed to size. if You a white border for matting& framing just drop us a message. ◆FRAMING: NONE of our prints come framed, stretched or mounted. Frames can be purchased through a couple of on line wholesalers: PictureFrames.com framespec.com When ordering a frame make sure you order it UN-assembled otherwise you could get dinged with an over sized shipping charge depending on the size frame. Assembling a frame is very easy and takes no more than 5-10 minutes and some glue. We recommend purchasing glass or plexi from your local hardware store or at a frame shop. ◆ S H I P P I N G Print is shipped in a strong tube for secure shipping and it will be shipped as a priority mail for fast delivery. All International buyers are responsible for any duties & taxes that may be charged per country.

[anastpaul]

Another Saint for today – 21 August – St Bernardo Tolomei (1272-1348) Founder, Theologian, Mystic, Hermit, Lawyer, Soldier, Politician (10 May 1272 at Siena, Tuscany as Giovanni Tolomei – 20 August 1348 in Siena, Italy of natural causes).   He was Beatified on 24 November 1644 by Pope Innocent X (cultus confirmed) and Canonised on 26 April 2009 Pope Benedict XVI.   Patronage – the Order he founded, the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto, known as the Olivetans.   Attributes – White Habit.

BERNARDO TOLOMEI, son of Mino Tolomei, was born in Siena on the 10th of May 1272. At his baptism he was given the name Giovanni.   He was probably educated by the Dominicans at their College of San Domenico di Camporegio in Siena.   He was knighted by Rodolfo I d’Absburgo (†1291).   While studying law in his home town, he was also a member of the Confraternity of the Disciplinati di Santa Maria della Notte dedicated to aiding the sick at the hospital della Scala.   Due to a progressive and almost total blindness, he was forced to give up his public career.   In 1313, in order to realize a more radical Christian and ascetic ideal, together with two companions, (Patrizio di Francesco Patrizi †1347 and Ambrogio di Nino Piccolomini †1338) both noble Sienese merchants and members of the same Confraternity, he retired to Accona on a property belonging to his family, about 30km south-east of the city.   It was here that Giovanni, who in the mean time had taken the name Bernardo out of veneration for the holy Cistercian abbot, St Bernard of Clairvaux (Memorial 20 August), together with his two companions, lived a hermitic penitential life characterised by prayer, manual work and silence.

Towards the end of 1318, or the beginning of 1319, while deep in prayer, he saw a ladder on which monks in white habits ascended, helped by angels and awaited by Jesus and Mary.

In order to secure the legal position of his group, Bernardo, together with Patrizio Patrizi, visited the bishop of Arezzo, Guido Tarlati di Pietramala (1306-c.1327) under whose jurisdiction Accona fell at the time.   On the 26th March 1319 he was given a Decree authorising him to build the future monastery of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto and instituted “sub regula sancti Benedicti”, with certain privileges and exemptions.  Through his legate, the bishop received their monastic profession.   In choosing the Rule of St. Benedict, Bernardo accepted Benedictine coenobitism and, wishing to honour Our Lady, the founders wore a white habit.   Welcoming the small group of monks, the bishop said: “Since your fellow citizens glory in placing themselves under the patronage of the Virgin, and because of the virginal purity of the glorious Mother, it pleases you to wear a white monastic habit, therefore showing outwardly that purity which you harbour within.” (Antonio di Barga, Cronaca 5).   The white habit characterised various forms of medieval monasticism, amongst which the Camaldolese, Carthusians, Cistercians and the monks of Montevergine.

With the laying of the first stone of the church on the 1st of April 1319, the monastery of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto Maggiore was born.   The hermits became monks according to the Rule of St Benedict to which they made some institutional changes.   The most characteristic element of this institutional change recorded in an episcopal document 28thMarch 1324, was the temporariness of the abbatial office and the abbot-elect would have to be confirmed by the bishop of Arezzo.   When the time came to elect an abbot, Bernardo succeeded in withdrawing himself from those eligible because of his infirmity of sight.   Therefore, Patrizio Patrizi was elected first abbot (1st of September 1319).   Two other abbots followed: Ambrogio Piccolomini (1st of September 1320) and Simone di Tura (1st of September 1321).   On the 1st of September 1322, Bernardo could no longer oppose the wishes of his brethren and so became the fourth abbot of the Monastery he founded, remaining abbot until his death.   An Act dated 24th September 1326 attests that the Apostolic Legate, Cardinal Giovanni Caetani Orsini (†1339), dispensed abbot Bernardo from the Canonical impediment of Infirmity of Sight, hence validating his election.   From Avignone, with three Bulls dated 21st January 1344 (Significant Vestrae Sanctitati: acknowledges the foundation and requests pontifical privileges; Vacantibus sub religionis:  canonical approval of the new community;  Solicitudinis pastoralis officium: the faculty to erect new monasteries in Italy) Clemente VI approved the Congregation which numbered ten monasteries.   Bernardo did not go to Avignone himself but sent two monks:  Simone Tendi and Michele Tani.

Significant evidence of the spiritual personality of Bernardo consists in the fact that, even though the monks had decided not to re-elect an abbot at the end of his annual mandate, they decided to ignore this, re-electing Bernardo for twenty-seven consecutive years, until his death.   Another act of trust in Bernardo’s paternity was seen in the General Chapter of the 4thof May 1347 when the monks granted him the faculty to govern without recourse to the Chapter and the brethren, trusting that he would do all in conformity to God’s Will and for the salvation of all.

Bernardo tried at least twice, in 1326 and 1342, to lay down the abbatial office, declaring to the Pope’s Legate and Jurists that he was not a priest but only in Minor Orders, also citing the existing dispensation from his function as abbot because of his persistent infirmity of vision.   However his leadership was asserted fully legitimate even according to the canonical norms of the time.   With the Pontifical Approbation of a new Benedictine Congregation named “Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto”, Bernardo is the initiator of a resolute Benedictine monastic movement.

Bernardo left his monks an example of a holy life, the practice of the virtues to a heroic level, an existence dedicated to the service of others and to contemplation.   During the Plague of 1348 Bernardo left the solitude of Monte Oliveto for the monastery of San Benedetto a Porta Tufi in Siena.   In the city, the disease was particularly dire.   On the 20th August 1348, while helping his plague-stricken monks, he himself, along with 82 monks, fell victim of the Plague.  Bernard Tolomei died, together with half of the congregation, during the epidemic of plague that ravaged Tuscany in 1348;  he had gone to rescue his brothers from the monastery of St Benedict of Siena.

This hero of penance and martyr of charity did not go by unnoticed, as Pius XII observed in a letter sent to Abbot General Dom Romualdo M. Zilianti on the 11th April 1948, to commemorate the forthcoming sixth centenary of the death of Blessed Bernardo.   The venerable abbot was buried near the monastery church in Siena.   All the plague-stricken bodies were put in a common pit of quick-lime outside the church.   Unfortunately the search for the bodies of the victims of the plague, both in Siena and in and around the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, has been unsuccessful to this day.

The Congregation underwent a strong development later, in Italy exclusively until the 19th century where the first foreign foundations took place, first in France.   Today of modest size, the monastic family is nonetheless present almost on five continents.   Its institutions have, of course, evolved from the beginning, in order to allow for a greater consistency of local communities and to be able to live real cultural diversity.

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

[met-european-paintings]

Portrait of an Olivetan Monk by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi, European Paintings

Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1986 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Medium: Oil on canvas

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437275

[cma-medieval-art]

Leaf from an Antiphonary: Historiated Initial P with the Prophet Samuel; Arms of the Visconti Family and the Olivetan Order, Olivetan Master, c. 1439-1447, Cleveland Museum of Art: Medieval Art

This leaf is distinguished by a large initial P depicting Samuel, the last and one of the greatest of Israel’s judges. It introduces the text Preparte corda vestra domino et servite (“Prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve”). In the lower margin are the arms of the Visconti family, rulers of Milan, featuring an eagle (left) and a coiled serpent (right). At bottom center is the emblem of the Olivetan Order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines founded in 1319 known as the “white monks.” The Olivetan monastery in Milan was founded in 1400 and it appears that this leaf belonged to a set of choral books presented to the monastery by one of the Visconti, perhaps about 1439–47. The so-called Olivetan Master takes his name from a luxuriously illustrated psalter made for the order’s monastery in Milan, where he was undoubtedly a monk. Size: Each leaf: 59.3 x 42.7 cm (23 3/8 x 16 13/16 in.) Medium: ink, tempera and gold on vellum

https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.131

[koredzas]

Il Sodoma - Benedict Presents the Olivetan Monks with His Rule. 1505 - 1508