January 2010 - St. Michael's Abbey

January 2010
The
St. Michael Messenger
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 64, fol. 152 (detail)
“Why do you Norbertines need a building in that
particular style? Isn’t that outdated?”
Dear Friends,
Each year I am consoled and strengthened by the
Advent season and Christmastide. But of the entire
time, it is Advent, with its promise of the Savior’s
arrival, that especially has long spoken to my heart. If
asked to explain this, I would be hard-pressed to put
it into words – but the word “hope” comes to mind
most clearly. As children, many of us of a certain age
had to memorize the prayer the Act of Hope, and this
short text gives us the one sole motive of our Hope
– God and His promises. The difficulties of nations
come and go, economies burgeon or wither, even
church life has its ebbs and flows throughout history,
but God’s promises are a bulwark – quite literally the
foundation of our lives.
The year of Our Lord 2009 had many challenges in
it, but through it all, the Lord’s promises sustained us
and even made us grow. Beginning in June last and
continuing until June, 2010, our Holy Father, Pope
Benedict has declared a special observance, the Year
of the Priest, and its focus makes me think on how
God’s promises are manifest to me and my brethren at
the abbey: through the hours we pray daily, through
the Mass which sustains us and through the common
life which flows from them.
This liturgy and the Mass have provided a backdrop
for much of the hope I have contemplated in 2009.
I started the year, unable to speak above a whisper,
and am now almost fully recovered and can even join
my fellow Norbertines in chanting the hours and
Mass. The beauty of these prayers forms the daily yet
liberating task of our life at the abbey. It is my hope
that each of you reading these words will join us in
prayer this new year 2010, not only from the distance
of your homes, but actually and bodily in our abbey
church. You are especially welcome at our observance
of the Year of the Priest, during Lent. Please come
pray with us. Come let us adore Christ the Lord.
May the Lord bless you for your unfailing friendship
and generosity,
Pope Benedict recently talked about the importance of architecture
in one of his audiences: “The Christian faith, profoundly rooted
in the men and women of the Middle Ages not only gave rise to
masterpieces of theological literature, it also inspired some of the
most exalted artistic creations of all civilization: the cathedrals.” The
monasteries, abbeys and cathedrals of the age of Christendom reflected a culture
that was oriented to the following of Christ. But the Holy Father underscored
that the architectural masterpieces created in Europe over previous centuries
are “incomprehensible to us if we do not take account of the religious spirit that
inspired them. When faith, especially as celebrated in the liturgy, encounters art,
a profound harmony is created because both wish to speak of God, to make the
Invisible visible.”
The Holy Father’s observations are very much to the point, because apart from the
more favorable historical conditions of Medieval Europe, such as greater political
stability, the artistic fervor Europe witnessed over three centuries from the year
1000 was due also to “the ardor and spiritual zeal of monasticism,” thanks to which
the abbeys were built. At these places, “the faithful could remain in prayer, drawn
by the idea of venerating the relics of saints, which led to incessant pilgrimages.”
So a style of architecture can remain perennially a valid vehicle to express the
transcendent and to lead us to contemplation thereof. In the contemporary desire
for perpetual innovation, it is easy
to forget how strong the influence
of a building is upon those who
live within its confines, and how
an architectural style can help
transform a culture.
Photo: R. Belcher
Eugene J. Hayes, O.Praem.
3D graphic or proposed Abbey
seen from the northeast
(Drawing: Jean-Louis Pagès and
Bernard Lacourte)

Life at St. Michael’s
Abbey Life
Letters from Rome
Dear Family and Friends,
The winter months bring freezing temperatures
and grey skies to Rome, but Advent, Christmas
and New Year give the city a warmth and
energy that radiates from its core. Colored
lights illuminate the skyline in the center of the
city and vendors roast chestnuts on busy street
corners. Thousands huddle around the life-size
nativity scene in the piazza at St. Peter’s Basilica
in anticipation of the Christmas liturgies. The
birth of the Christ Child draws pilgrims from
our abbey and the family of confreres to fill the
Norbertine Generalate House with a solace and
joy proper to warmer climates.
It has been a tradition and part of the curriculum
at the abbey’s preparatory school to offer the
junior class an opportunity to visit Rome over
the Christmas vacation. Accompanied by Frs.
Gabriel and Claude, headmaster and vice dean,
the students’ religion, history and Latin classes
are brought to life. Seated in St. Peter’s Basilica
for Mass with the Holy Father, looking down
upon the floor of the Coliseum and reading
ancient Latin inscriptions on the Arch of Titus
as they enter the Roman Forum give students
a new appreciation and context for their long
hours of study.
I have been privileged to join the students over
the past few years as they discover Rome for the
first time and as I am reintroduced to her. It is
an occasion to pass on to them the knowledge
that I have received from others who have lived
and studied here. At the same time, we few
Americans are able to be caught up on events and
happenings at the abbey as the students scrape
the last drop of nutella (a chocolate spread that
is a staple of the European diet) from the bottom
of the jar at the breakfast table.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
fr. Brendan Hankins, O.Praem.
Fr. Claude celebrates his first Sunday Mass
During the weeks of Advent and especially at Christmas, there is a greater number of the
faithful who join us in the abbey church for our prayers and Mass, all of which are open to
the public. This is for you, our friends, the best way to experience that which we are involved
with for several hours each day. And the only way to experience this transforming experience is to
come to the abbey and join us.
A Norbertine community can
have many different apostolates –
schools, retreat work, publishing
– but the communal singing of
the office and Mass are essential
elements of the vocation, and
these are what draw the faithful
to abbeys.
The prayers at the abbey begin
each morning with Matins and
Lauds (the Office of Readings
and Morning Prayer) at 5:45
a.m., and the last notes are sung
at the end of Holy Hour at 9:15 p.m. Between those two times, the entire day is punctuated with
moments of sung prayer in the church, and this repetitive circular round of prayers each day gives a
monastery its special character. Time itself is transformed for Christ.
The theme of this year’s newsletters will be to strengthen the ties between the prayers in the
abbey church and you, our friends. Why not join us at Sunday Mass (11:00 a.m.) often this
year? Or make Vespers
at 5:00 p.m. part of
your monthly calendar.
These treasures are
available daily in our
church, and it is our
privilege to be able to
share them with our
friends.
Processing for Vespers
Photos: R. Belcher

The Pioneer Press
News from St. Michael’s Preparatory School • www.StMichaelsPrep.org
Joys of the Dorm Life
The St. Michael’s Preparatory experience begins in students’ life the dorms. It is this life in
common that helps to integrate faith, academics, and character. Through the common life
that the students share from the desks in the classrooms up to the desks in their dorm room,
these young men develop long lasting friendships as they aid each other in becoming “a man of God
for others.” Over the course of 4 years, students endure difficulties together and celebrate victories as
a team both on the field, in the classroom and in their dorm.
Rising very early every morning, the students share pledges to the flag
and to the Church. The reality of living in a dorm environment begins
the formation of friendships: everyone knows everyone else. No one
is unknown. From the incoming freshmen to returning sophomores,
juniors and seniors, students grow to know one another in such a way that
is not possible anywhere outside of the school gates. We the students share
laughter and resolve arguments in a mature and friendly manner. We
interact with our teachers not out of fear, but rather as though they
were our very friends; friends that are there to direct us toward
greater knowledge.
Photo: R. Belcher
Whether it is in a classroom studying for finals or up at the pool playing an
active game of “barbarian ball,” students walk together, recreate together,
and work together towards a common goal: success – a success measured
in a way that is unique to a Catholic world-view. “Looking ahead from the Vantage Point,” students see
true success each morning at the Mass they attend and each evening as they behold Him who is the
Lord of Life at Holy Hour. It is a life blessed and one that we students hear alumni from each class
missing when they come to visit.
Photo: R. Belcher
Photo: R. Belcher
Matthew Brooks & Josh Aacker
The level of singing on this program
was uniformly high, and soloist Jay
Hipolito (’10) distinguished himself
with fine solo baritone singing in
Thomas Morley’s setting of the Magnificat.
Congratulations to Kathleen Winters
and the choir for a job well done.
Photos: R. Belcher
Advent Lessons and Carols
The school choir presented their annual “Advent Lessons and Carols” on December 13 th in the abbey church. Ms. Kathleen
Winters, the current school music director, led the 18 man choir through a program of polyphonic works, and brought
the choir to a high level of excellence. The group was accompanied on the organ by fr. Cyprian Fritz (’04) who also
played the organ solos before and after the ceremony.
The practice of an Advent Lessons and Carols ceremony, within the context of a Eucharistic
Holy Hour and Benediction was first started about 10 years ago when Fr. Justin Ramos started
the preparatory school choir. This practice was continued by subsequent choir directors,
Ryan Tracy, Angela Rokpelne and most recently Fr. Jerome Molokie, who taught the
choir from 2001-2009.
Back row (left to right): Josh Aacker, Peter Goodwin, James Howard, Christopher
Nguyen. Front row (left to right): Jay Hipolito, Michael Haeuser, Charles Sandoval
Ms. Kathleen Winters

St. Michael’s Prep Alumni News
Beaver Kwei ’85 came to visit in November. Beaver, his wife, and two
daughters live in Beijing, China. He continues to pursue a career in the
movie industry. No longer with Warner Bros. Studio, Beaver recently
produced a romantic comedy starring actress Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon) for the Asian market. Beaver tries to instill an encouraging
message in his films that one can fulfill one’s dreams.
Vimal Bhanvadia ’96 called to see how Fr. Szanto was doing. Just having
returned from a business trip to China, Vimal also traveled to Africa and
India earlier this year. Vimal’s business as a coordinator to suppliers and
contractors of larger companies usually keeps him closer to Pasadena,
where he lives with his wife.
Hung Bui ’97 is working as a school counselor at Rancho Alamitos High
School in Garden Grove. He is now going by the name of “Victor” Bui.
Jonathan Brown (age 17) passed away on Sunday, November 22. Jonathan
was the youngest brother of alumni Nicholas ’99 and Ben Brown ’00.
Jonathan was born with a number of severe disabilities and was the constant
focus of the family’s love and service. Please keep Jonathan and the family
in your prayers.
Andrew Bowdish ’01 and his cousin, John Tuttle, came to visit Fr. Justin.
Andrew is playing golf with a handicap of +4. John is completing college at
Cal State San Francisco majoring in international business.
Ian Mochow ’01 has completed his Navy basic training and has arrived
safely at Pensacola Naval Air Station (Corry Point) on the Florida pan
handle to begin training in Information Technology (computers). His
parents attended his “pass in review” graduation ceremony. Ian thanks
everyone for their prayers and support.
Kyle Abramson ’06 stopped by to pick up a transcript. He is applying for
second semester at John Paul the Great. Kyle is interested in combining
media and business for his career, and is interested in developing a
corporation with his brother Jon ’08 (who is attending the Art Institute of
Southern California) to provide entertainment and clothing options to the
modern believer.
For more alumni news, go to www.StMichaelsPrep.org.
Do you want to stay in touch with teachers and friends from your days on the hilltop? Please send us news about and photos of yourself and your family.
You can do this by sending an email to alumni@StMichaelsPrep.org. Be sure to tell us whether you wish to make your contact information available to
others, so we can respect your wishes.
Justin Speier, Dale
and Ann Rincon
and Fr. Justin
Fr. Hugh with
Gerda and Dean
Koontz
The Fathers sang
the Ave Maria
before dinner

St. Michael’s Development
Photos: R. Belcher
Abbot Eugene with
Gala Honorees
David and Amy Zak
Fr. Abbot with
Dean and Gerda
Koontz
O
n September 26, 2009, at Mission San Juan Capistrano,
St. Michael’s honored David and Amy Zak at the Vantage
Point Gala. This gala had a record turnout with over 400 guests
joining in supporting the abbey and prep school in an evening that was beautifully set on
the historic grounds and beautiful gardens of the Mission.
Because of the extraordinary success of the Underwriters’ event the previous June, and
large donations at the gala itself, the evening raised more funds for the future abbey
and preparatory school than ever before. Amy and David Zak have been long time
supporters of the abbey and the Norbertine sisters
in Tehachapi, and many of their friends and family
were on hand to celebrate their kindness.
Sherry Van Meter and her daughter Casey Cook
worked wonders again in coordinating an evening
that was extraordinary. Fr. Prior, in his remarks,
spoke of the importance of even our smallest acts
of kindness, because the Lord, in His gratitude,
includes even the smallest act of kindness – even a
cup of cold water given in His name. Sherry Van Meter & Fr. Abbot
This gratitude naturally opens our own hearts to gratitude not only for
what we have received but for what we can do for others.
Headmaster
Fr. Gabriel Stack
announces the award
for the Zaks
There were notables in attendance who have befriended the abbey,
major league relief pitcher Justin Speier was there, as well as film
actor Eduardo Verastegui and suspense novelist Dean Koontz with
his lovely wife Gerda. In the weeks following the gala, so many of the
guests commented what a perfect evening it was, and this merely sets
our sights to do a great job next year. Thank you to all who helped our
cause so generously.
Gabriel Ferrucci
spiritedly bidding
at the live auction
Fr. Justin is joined
by Tim & Steph
Busch and Eduardo
Verastegui

From the Hilltop
News from St. Michael’s Abbey • www.StMichaelsAbbey.com
The following is the homily preached by Abbot Eugene J. Hayes
at the Midnight Mass of Christmas in the Abbey church.
“T
here has come from a virginal womb the one who is God and man, light and life, Him
who is the very creator of the world.” Throughout the Church’s liturgy yesterday and
into this night, this new day which is Christmas itself, indeed right up until this Mass,
one finds a repeated admonition and exhortation: to be awake from, to be awakened to. Yesterday,
early on Christmas Eve, during morning prayer here at the Abbey at about 6:00 AM, we heard the
cry of the prophet Isaiah: “Awake, awake! To your feet, Jerusalem!” Then shortly thereafter, we heard
words from St. Augustine, from a sermon on the Nativity of the Lord: “Awake, mankind! For your
sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten
you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.” Then again this night one hour ago once more
words of the prophet plaintively chanted in this abbey church: “Awake, Awake put on your strength O
Sion… all the day my name is constantly reviled … therefore on that day my people shall know my renown…
Here I am.” Here I am – this is the message of this Christmas night. From darkness, not only of night,
but darkness of gloom, the message comes loudly and clearly that something is happening, something
wonderful, and therefore we are to be awakened: awakened from sadness and resignation, from lethargy
and malaise, from despair and disappointment. We are to awaken to something, a reality ever-new and
transforming, and a reality which touches everyone whether they realize it or not.
Almost four weeks ago, in the opening days of Advent, the period of preparation for this night, we
heard, as we do so each year, we heard explained the significance of an annual celebration of the events
which touch our hearts. “Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the
Photo: R. Belcher
memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power
has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for
us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ. (St. Charles Borromeo)”
IN MEMORIAM
The grace of this night and this season (and it is a season, a season of several weeks even though
the Christmas songs have stopped playing on the radio and decorations disappear from the malls)
is not something of the past, not something of long ago, not something of personal childhood
memories which can both console and wrench the heart, this is about tonight, here and now, for
the grace of God is appearing. We, all of us, are contemporaries of the Christmas mystery and
invitees to share in the power which is Christ’s now in this year, the year of the Lord, 2009. For
while the world’s great ones preside, and wars rage and economies falter, the angel of the Lord
appears once more, the bearer of God’s word announces: “Do not be afraid, for behold I proclaim
to you, right here and right now good news of great joy for all people.”
Where do we find ourselves in the new Christmas story being woven and told and lived this
evening? Are we among the shepherds vigilant in their fields or among the wise seeking advice
of others as to how to arrive while others, the courtiers and rulers, fear what this night means for
those who are powerful in the world’s eyes? Maybe some of us feel more attuned to the message
and song of the angels themselves, taking part with them in announcing good news. In every
case the story is new and renewing, for this night: “There has come from a virginal womb the
one who is God and man, light and life, Him who is the very creator of the world.”
S
Rt. Rev. Ladislas Parker, O.Praem.
(1915-2010)
As this newsletter was going to press, our founding abbot, Ladislas Parker,
went to his eternal reward. We will cover his life in detail in the next issue
of the St. Michael’s Messenger.

Lives of the Saints
Norbertine Saints
St. Dismas – from the Bedford Book of Hours,
15th Century
Question and Answer
St. Dismas the Good Thief
March 25th
There is a long history behind the reason
that the Roman Church’s Martyrology
gives the 25 th of March as the commemoration
of the Good Thief. As early as the end of the A.D. 100’s
St. Hippolytus of Rome first gave the date of the
Lord’s birth as December 25 th . Naturally this meant
the celebration of His Incarnation in the womb of
Mary would be nine months earlier on March 25 th .
Thus the Church celebrates each year on this day
the Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Mother
by the angel St. Gabriel. Another tradition from
the same early century is first given by the Latin
Christian writer Tertullian. He held that the 25 th
of March was also the day of Our Lord’s death on the
Cross, the first Good Friday. When ancient Christians
combined these traditions about Christ with the fact that the Hebrews held the day of Man’s
creation to be the Spring Equinox which was in ancient times the 25 th of March also, or very near
it, a rich and beautiful picture appeared to them. We may still get a happy glimpse of this picture
in our own time. In St. Luke’s Gospel the Good Thief, the one crucified on the Lord’s right, cries
out “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The Lord replies “This day you will
be with Me in Paradise.” In this brief conversation the ancient Latin Christian heard that the New
Adam on the day of His miraculous Incarnation and Saving Death restores the lost Paradise to
fallen Man in the person of the Good Thief on the day of his death and the day of his original creation.
The ancient iconography of the Eastern Church shows the Good Thief already in Paradise as the
just who died before Christ wait outside to be admitted after him. Sometimes his image appears
on the side doors of their sanctuaries, as though he is poised to slip in to Paradise. We know from
the Gospel that this man was a model of deep sorrow for sin and humble faith in Jesus, two things
which we find hard to have when we are suffering at the hands of others. We have to begin where
he did, by admitting our own faults and refusing to blame others. May his prayers obtain for us
the same true repentance and love for Jesus in the midst of trials that will lead us to join him in the
kingdom of heaven after the day of our own death.
Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or
guardians over areas of life that are important to
us. The saints listed are either Norbertine saints or
patrons of the confreres of St. Michael’s.
January 7 St. Raymond of Penafort
Patron saint of lawyers
January 14 St. Godfrey, O.Praem.
Patron saint of benefactors
January 14 St. Gerlac
January 20 St. Sebastian
Patron saint of athletes
January 25 Conversion of St. Paul
Patron saint of public relations personnel
February 4 St. Frederick, O.Praem.
February 10 Blessed Hugh of Fosses
1 st - Abbot of Premontre, Abbot General of Norbertines
February 15 St. Claude de la Colombiere
Patron saint of toy makers
February 15 Blessed Jordan of Saxony
February 27 St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
Patron saint of seminarians and students
March 17 St. Patrick
Patron saint of Ireland, against snake bites
March 19 St. Joseph
Patron saint of peaceful death, the Church, husbands &
working men
April 5 St. Vincent Ferrer
Patron saint of builders, construction workers
April 25 St. Mark
Patron saint of notaries
April 26 St. Ludolph, O.Praem.
Q How could Our Lord have perfect knowledge of His Father all His life and never make an error in judgment and still be a man just like us? I don’t mean to
be irreverent but, He seems super-human, not just human.
A
If by human you mean something merely statistical or “for the most part,” then it is easy to see why Our Lord would not seem so human to
you. But if you mean by human the ideal and perfection of human nature, then it is clear that Christ is more perfectly human than any of us.
Most of us fall short a great deal from what is truly human, in favor of being, as we say “only human.” We are sinners. The kind of humanity we
ascribe to Our Lord is the sort we refer to when we describe certain ways of acting as “humane” that is, worthy of human nature at its best. He
is not a sinner. In anything we experience we recognize that a more perfect specimen of something more adequately represents its kind that an
imperfect one: for us a crisp, juicy, ripe apple is not less of an apple than a mealy, bruised one; it is more perfectly an apple, a perfect score in
golf is not less of a golf game, it is more of one. Now Our Lord’s human nature did have the natural limits of a human nature; He felt tired and
thirsty and experienced fear and sadness, but these only show how perfectly He was a Man and how great was His love to take a nature, as the
apostle tells us “like ours in all things but sin.” We should never hold that being human necessarily means to be sinful and ignorant as we are.
Our Lord and Our Lady and the saints after their struggles show us otherwise. Let us seek to follow their ideal path with their help and prayers.

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Calendar of Events
January
1 New Year’s Day
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 11: 00 a.m. Mass
3 The Epiphany of the Lord
10 The Baptism of the Lord
11 Classes Resume (Prep School)
16 Prep School Open House 3:30 p.m.
30 Prep School Entrance Exam *8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
February
2 Solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord 11:00 a.m. Mass
15 Presidents’ Day Holiday
17 Ash Wednesday 7:00 a.m. Mass**
March
14 Prep School Open House 3:30 p.m.
Daylight Saving Starts
17 St. Patrick’s Day
19 Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin
Mary 11:00 a.m. Mass
25 Solemnity of the Annunciation
Holy Week**
28 Palm Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass
April
1 Holy Thursday – Sacred Triduum
Mass of the Lord’s Supper with procession to the Altar of
Repose 5:30 p.m.
2 Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday 2:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m.
3 Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil 10:00 p.m.
4 Easter 11:00 a.m. Mass, 3:30 p.m. Paschal Vespers
5 Easter Monday 11:00 a.m. Mass, 5:00 p.m. Paschal Vespers
12 Classes Resume (Prep School)
*Registration for Entrance Exam is required. Testing fee is $60.
Please contact: admissions@StMichaelsPrep.org
**For more information on Lent and Easter schedules,
please visit www.StMichaelsAbbey.com
Mass is celebrated each day at 7:00 a.m. and on Sunday at
11:00 a.m.
For further information on calendar of Liturgies and events,
please visit www.StMichaelsAbbey.com.
Photo: R. Belcher