08-01-2024, 07:19 AM
First Time: Layman Elected Abbot in USA
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gloria.tv | August 1, 2024
Isaac Murphy was elected the sixth abbot of St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire (June 17).
NcrOnline.org reports that he is the first layman elected as abbot in the USA. Pope Francis announced in 2022 that lay brothers can lead religious communities of priests with Vatican approval.
The positive decision by the Dicastery for Religious took six weeks.
"I'm happy and proud to be the abbot," said Murphy, who will also serve as chancellor of St. Anselm College and chair of the members of the St. Anselm College Corporation.
The newly elected abbot has a Ph.D. in political science, joined the abbey in 1993 and served as prior from 2005 to 2013.
St. Anselm Abbey is part of the American Cassinese Congregation, a group of Benedictine monasteries located primarily in the United States.
The abbey is now figuring out how to handle liturgies like its Christmas Eucharist, which the abbot presides over.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre