Benedictine Confederation

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This article is about the organizational structure of the Order of Saint Benedict within the Roman Catholic Church. See also Rule of Saint Benedict and Benedictine.

The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict, in Latin, Confœderatio Benedictina Ordinis Sancti Benedicti, is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.

[edit] Organization of the Benedictine Confederation

Most Roman Catholic Benedictine Houses are loosely affiliated in twenty-one national or supra-national congregations. Each of these congregations elects its own Abbot President. These presidents meet annually in the Synod of Presidents. Additionally, there is a meeting every four years of the Congress of Abbots, which is made up of all abbots and superiors, both of Houses that are members of congregations, as well as of those unaffiliated with any particular congregation. The Congress of Abbots elects the Abbot Primate, who serves a four-year term as the Confederation's representative and administrative head.

The Confederation has its headquarters at Sant'Anselmo in Rome, which is the seat of the Abbot Primate and hosts the quadrennial Congress of Abbots. Sant'Anselmo is also home to the Benedictine Pontifical Athenaeum.

Communities of Benedictine women are joined in sixty-one congregations and federations that are associated with the Confederation, although they do not have full membership.

The English Benedictine Congregation (founded 1216) ranks as the oldest Congregation, whilst primacy of honour is given to the Cassinese Congregation (founded 1408). The only congregation with Houses in every Continent is the Subiaco Congregation.

Since the time of the Reformation, there have been independent Benedictine communities in the Protestant (especially Anglican) traditions which maintain official friendly relations with the Benedictine Confederation, although they are not formally linked with it or its congregations. Throughout the Benedictine confederation and its subdivisions, independence and autonomy among communities are uniquely valued; too highly for Pope Pius XI, who complained that the largely nominal confederation was "an order without order." The price paid for the special Benedictine priority placed on autonomy over federation includes overworked members in independent communities whose small numbers over-engage many of them in multiple tasks. Other costs encompass insularity from surrounding human communities and projects; lack of efficiency and mobility in the service of others; and an ensuing loss of morale. Positive aspects seen in the unique Benedictine valuing of autonomy include cultivating models of closely knit communities and contemplative life-styles.

[edit] Congregations of Benedictine monks

The present Benedictine Confederation of Monastic Congregations of monks, consists of the following congregations in the order given in the "Catalogus OSB" (dates in brackets are those of the foundation of the congregations):