Catholic Vancouver September 22, 2022
Crozier from ‘grandparent’ abbey in Switzerland among new abbot’s symbols of office
By Judith L. Watt
United with the whole Church, Father Alban Riley, OSB, received an abbatial blessing by Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, on Sept. 14, the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross at Westminster Abbey.
Oblates of St. Benedict – men and women who support the religious community – and the wider Catholic community joined the seminary and monastic community to listen and witness a rare event in the life of the community.
Westminster Abbey is fondly referred to as the “granddaughter” of Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland and the “daughter” of Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. Tradition and the Rule of St Benedict outlined the day as the eighth-century rite was followed. As with many sacraments and sacramentals, the blessing takes place within the framework of the Mass.
After the homily by Archbishop Miller, the abbot-elect stood before the archbishop and was examined. At the conclusion of the examination, the archbishop prayed, “May the Lord strengthen your resolve, give you every grace, and keep you always and everywhere in his protection.”
Following the Litany of the Saints chanted in Latin using Gregorian chant, the abbatial blessing was conferred upon Father Abbot Alban.
He was then presented with the Rule of St Benedict and the symbols of his office: the ring, mitre, and crozier. The ring symbolizes both the “sign of the spousal relationship between the abbot and the monastic community.” The peak of the mitre is a reminder of the “helmet of salvation (Eph 6:17, I Thes 5:8). The two folded peaks symbolize the Old and New Testaments, and the two lappets (hanging down the back) are reminders to keep both the spirit and letter of the Bible.”
The crozier, or bishop’s staff, the abbot received was a gift to the abbey decades ago from “grandmother” Engelberg and is symbolic of Christ the Good Shepherd upon whom “the abbot must model himself and whom he must strive to imitate for his flock.”
Considering the Rule of St Benedict that the abbot follows, it’s easy to see why in his closing remarks he thanked Jesus and the monastic community for “giving me this cross” that he now bears in his new role.
His role is an onerous one, but as he alluded to in a casual conversation during the reception afterward, it is not one not one he takes on alone but with Jesus Christ.