Anna Brennan OSB
Abbess, Stanbrook Abbey, UK

Every meeting of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum is, of course, important, but this year’s meeting, at Sant’Anselmo in September, was especially significant, for three reasons: 1) the conference of delegates voted to seek the approval of the Holy See to restructure CIB and to accept the new statutes which give form the restructuring; 2) the conference voted for a new moderator, assistant moderator and council of the CIB; and 3) finally, after a lapse of eight years due to the restrictions of Covid, it was possible to hold, once again, a symposium.

The vote of the conference of delegates to accept the new statutes and restructuring of CIB marked a wonderful end of eight years of hard work reflecting on, praying about, discussing the future of the CIB. After hearing the views of delegates, initially through two global Zooms (necessary because Covid prevented travel and in-person meetings), followed by full meetings of the delegates (with some hybrid attendance of delegates by Zoom) in Rome, Cullman, Alabama, USA, Assisi and Montserrat, Benedictine women from across the world truly understood and agreed to the new statutes and the restructuring which would better represent sisters in the many communities, federations, congregations in CIB.

Profound thanks have to go to the juridic commission Sr Lynn had set up under the brilliant leadership of Sr Scholastika Haring. The commission, having made proposals, truly responded to the delegates’ views, comments and suggestions. Synodality at its best!

The two key elements of the restructuring are: that the CIB itself become independent of the Confederation and equal to it, so that there be one Benedictine “Order”, with two “lungs”, as St John Paul II might have said; and that the conference of delegates now be formed of presidents and representatives according to congregations and federations, rather than by regions. This will give better worldwide representation of Benedictine women on the CIB.

The second significance of this conference was that as Sr Lynn McKenzie, the moderator, had come to the end of her (second) four-year term, there needed to be elections for a new moderator, assistant moderator and members of council. It was no surprise to anyone that Lynn was re-elected unanimously for a third term. Who else could carry these important projects forward? Sr Franziska Lukas, Dinklage Abbey, was re-elected assistant moderator, and the new councillors are now Sr Asha Thayyil, congregational leader of the Sisters of Lioba, India; Sr Simone Lee, a Tutzing sister based in Namibia; M. Alexandra Martinez Pabόn of Spain; and Irmã Escolástica Mattos of Brazil.

Finally, the symposium: the statutes, old and new, state that the CIB should, every four years, “run an international symposium of Benedictine women from around the world, to foster and signify communion of spirit among those who follow the Rule of Benedict”. As said earlier, it was not possible to run a symposium in 2022, so the symposium this year was the first in eight years.

Sr Catherine McCahill, congregational leader of the Good Samaritan Sisters, gave the first keynote speech, The Benedictine Response to the World Situation. The next day, Rob Riemen, married layman, philosopher and founder of the Nexus Institute, gave A Global View of the World Situation. Over two enlightening days we heard two people with different backgrounds and training respond to the terrible and frightening state of our world today. We had a lot to take in, which we must share with our communities. The tone of Rob Riemen’s talk was set by his opening words, “Veni, Creator Spiritus”. Indeed, this ancient hymn also provided his answer. He led us, through historical and philosophical analysis, to understand better today’s world. He left us with the memorable phrase - “the solidarity of the shaken”, which signifies those who are conscious that human beings need the power of love and faith to incarnate the Creator Spiritus. Sr Catherine, in her deep, comprehensive talk, stated at the very beginning that, as Benedictines, our prime response must be to follow the Gospel, that “all is grace”. She went on to show how living according to Benedict’s Rule is our response, from which many can learn.

So, although the talks were quite different, both speakers came to a similar conclusion: living according to the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict saves our world. Or as someone said decades ago, “God rules the world through our souls. Just as your own soul is, so will be the fate of the world”.

Fr Cyprian Consiglio, the Camaldolese monk now heading monastic interreligious dialogue (DIM-MID), gave a talk enlivened by his moving singing and expert guitar-playing. Expounding the teaching of Raimon Panikkar, Blessed Simplicity: the Monk as the Universal Archetype, among others, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist, we were once again drawn to see that monasticism unites all faiths as its spirit lies at the heart of authentic human living, and that recovering this spirit will save humankind.

Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder gave an illustrated talk to the symposium on his work as Primate and on the jubilee year of 2029. He strongly supports CIB going forward with all aspects of its restructuring, including its separation from the Confederation.

One short but important element of the meeting was the exhortation of the Catalogus team for all communities to submit the information needed for the new Catalogus of Benedictine Women. The CIB and Confederation alike, others too, need an up-to-date Catalogus soon.

One morning, we had an audience with Pope Leo. The meeting was short, but the Pope’s words were encouraging. He thanked us for the offering of our lives and stressed the “spiritual synodality” of all Benedictines, in which each person’s uniqueness becomes a “treasure for all”. Referring to the Rule, where a Benedictine’s heart is expanded by the unspeakable sweetness of love, Pope Leo spoke of how being deeply rooted in Christ, Benedictine communities bear abundant Gospel fruit.

On another day, many conference participants spent an enjoyable time at Subiaco, where they prayed in the Sacro Speco and were then welcomed for lunch at the monastery of St Scholastica, after which they were given a tour of the ancient monastery.

Special thanks must go to the liturgy team who prepared booklets for the Eucharist and Office in the key languages of the participants. This involved an immense amount of work. One thing was noticeable: while, inevitably, the volume of sound dropped occasionally when some members of the assembly did not know the language of the service, it increased exponentially at the end of each Office. We could all sing together Benedicamus Domino, Deo Gratias, to the Easter tone. How fitting that the Resurrection unites us, members from across the globe, in joy and praise!

The Tech Team and the group of translators also deserve special thanks for their hard work, patience and commitment.

Special mention must be made of the presentations given on the last afternoon of the symposium. Sisters from Ukraine, Poland and the Holy Land described the daily reality of living in lands torn by war and conflict. What most of us learn about through TV and the media - the loss of life and carnage, daily fear, destruction, grief, despair – is not “virtual” for these sisters. We could see, even feel, their courage, the practical compassion of their Gospel living, their fidelity to prayer and praise, and how victims (among whom they could count themselves) find God through prayer and praise, the Gospel. There were tears in the eyes of many, including in those of the translators, who, we could hear, were at times finding it difficult to continue translating.

The final event of the two-week meeting was a Zoom with the Abbot Primate and the Synod of Abbots President, who were having their annual meeting in Rwanda – a good moment of collaboration between the Communio and the Confederation.

The CIB meeting 2026 was truly joyful. We left greatly encouraged, promising Sr Lynn and her council, and all the initiatives they undertake, the support of our prayer.