From a press release of the
Archdiocese of Hamburg

HAMBURG. Nütschau Priory in the Bundestag: On Thursday (16 April), Brother Lukas Boving OSB, from the Benedictine priory of Nütschau in Schleswig-Holstein, led a morning devotion in the Bundestag. The service was attended by numerous members of parliament, including Vice President of the Bundestag Bodo Ramelow (The Left), Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Alliance 90/The Greens), and Martin Plum of the CDU.

"We monks elect our own superior and are thus perhaps one of the oldest democracies in the world," Br. Lukas remarked at the beginning of the morning service. For the reading, the monk had selected an excerpt from The Rule of Saint Benedict, which he subsequently reflected upon in a short address.

In the text of Saint Benedict, it is noted that the abbot takes upon himself the difficult and arduous task of leading souls and serving the particular temperament of many. "To serve the temperament of many means to encounter the other in such a way that their dignity shines forth, their voice carries weight, and their place within the whole becomes recognisable," Br. Lukas explained. One who leads must accompany people and make decisions. "Whoever guides others must listen, weigh matters carefully and care for the whole," he concluded.

Before the devotion began, Br. Lukas presented a bound edition of The Rule of Saint Benedict to Bodo Ramelow. "Perhaps this Rule may serve as an incentive and inspiration for you here in the Bundestag to likewise serve the particular temperament of many, just as you serve the people," the Benedictine stated. Bodo Ramelow gratefully accepted the book on behalf of the president of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner.

The devotion was the result of an initiative Br. Lukas had started on Instagram several months ago. Beginning with the minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, various members of the Bundestag had joined together to sing individual lines of the well-known hymn "Holy God, we praise Thy name" (Großer Gott wir loben dich), uploading the videos to Instagram. This initiative brought the monk into contact with several politicians.