The AIM promotes and encourages cooperation and solidarity among monasteries; contributes to the human, cultural, and spiritual formation of the communities; fosters and supports exchanges between communities; supports funding projects submitted by the communities; and publishes a newsletter and a Bulletin twice a year in six languages. A IM Let's put together Heaven on Earth ORA ET LABORA Since 1961 official joint solidarity platform O SB – C IB – O CIST – O CSO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AIM W elcome to A ssociatio I nternationalis M onastica We work for the growth and development of monastic life today around the world The Associatio Internationalis Monastica (AIM) is an Association of monasteries promoting cooperation, solidarity and mutual aid between communities. AIM contributes to the human, cultural and spiritual training of communities, encourages and supports exchanges between communities and supports the financing of projects presented by the communities. MONASTIC LIFE Monastic formation Regional monastic associations Reference texts: The Mirror of Monastic Life the monastic Dream... Read More >>> COMMUNITIES History of the Benedictine Confederation History of the International Communion of Benedictines Contact details of monasteries by continent and country. Read More >>> OUR PROJECTS Each semester, projects are presented here which are sent to AIM in order to support them. These projects concern: Formation at all levels, constructions, aid for new foundations, lucrative activities and development works (health, education, agriculture.) Read More >>> Request for financing 1,500 YEARS OF MONTE CASSINO - Places of Hope A Jubilee for the Entire Benedictine Family In 2029, the family of Orders living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict will celebrate a jubilee of exceptional significance: the 1,500th anniversary of the founding of Monte Cassino, the cradle of Western monastic tradition. This anniversary, commemorated at the initiative of the Benedictine Confederation on the site jubilee.osb.org, invites every community — Benedictine, Cistercian, and Trappist — to renew its fidelity to the Gospel and to monastic hospitality. The Associatio Internationalis Monastica (AIM), which has served the communion between monasteries throughout the world since 1961, is wholeheartedly joining this jubilee momentum. This milestone coincides with a moment of institutional renewal within AIM itself: revision of its statutes, strengthening of its governance structures, and the deployment of new digital tools in the service of its members. The jubilee of 2029 is therefore not merely a commemoration: it is an invitation to work together to build an international monastic alliance that is even more vibrant and united, so that we may bring together a little of Heaven down to earth. ABOUT RECENT NEWS 1 2 3 4 5 OSB Order of Saint Benedict The news presented here are those of the male and female monasteries belonging to the Benedictine Confederation. Read the news OCSO Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance This Order brings together the monasteries of the reform of the Order of Cîteaux by Abbot de Rancé in the 17th century. Read the news OCist. Cistercian Order The monasteries represented here belong to the Cistercian Order. Read the news SPECIALS Special news and events Here you will find news about various communities or specific events. Read the news OTHER NEWS BULLETIN NEWSLETTERS LETTER FROM THE AMTM A IM around the world 1,157 COMMUNITIES FEMININE 1,762 COMMUNITIES AND MISSIONS OSB - OCSO - OCIST See more > 605 COMMUNITIES MASCULINE

Please use the form provided to submit any inquiries or comments you may have. We will respond as soon as possible. C ONTACT US Please use the form below to submit any inquiries or comments you may have. We will respond as soon as possible. First Name Last Name E-mail Name of the monastery Language Choose a language Message Sent Thank you for what you sent ! Requests for financial aid from monasteries Note: All requests for financial aid from monasteries must be sent via the form above

S UPPORT A IM Your donation helps the Associatio Internationalis Monastica to promote and encourage cooperation and solidarity between monasteries. It contributes to the human, cultural and spiritual formation of communities and supports the exchange of ideas and experiences. We thank you for your contribution to support all of our actions. Support our missions A ssociatio I nternationalis M onastica The AIM supports the projects selected by the Executive Committee and in particular those which have a religious character (training, constructions, etc.). You can make a donation to AIM, but you will not be able to receive a tax receipt. If you would like a tax receipt, see opposite with the Benedictus Foundation. THANKS. Learn more B enedictus F oundation It is a Foundation sheltered by the Caritas France Foundation. The Benedictus Foundation, in close connection with the AIM, supports the social works of monasteries . You can make a donation to support them and receive a tax receipt. Learn more Make a donation to A IM No tax receipt Head office: AIM, 7 rue d'Issy, 92170 Vanves President: Father Bernard LORENT Donate through AIM By bank check to the order of: Associatio Internationalis Monastica to be sent to the address: Associatio Internationalis Monastica, Secretariat, 7 rue d'Issy - 92170 Vanves Wire Transfer If you wish to make a donation and receive a tax receipt , you must send this donation to Fondation Benedictus, as indicated opposite Make a donation to the Foundation With tax receipt You can help the Benedictus Foundation by making a donation • By credit card Online fondationcaritasfrance.org/fondations/fondation-benedictus/ By bank check to the order of: Benedictus Foundation to be sent to the following address: Fondation Benedictus c/o AMTM 7 rue d'Issy - 92170 Vanves Tax advantages The Benedictus Foundation works under the aegis of the Caritas France Foundation, founded by Secours Catholique. The Caritas France Foundation, recognized as being of public utility, allows you to benefit from tax deductions for the IFI and IR, on your donations and generosity. Our work Associatio Internationalis Monastica's mission is to promote and encourage cooperation and solidarity among monasteries. Our work includes supporting community-led projects and facilitating exchanges between monastic communities to foster spiritual, cultural, and human development. Explore our gallery to learn more about our work and the communities we serve.

The statutes of the AIM were established in 1966 and revised in 1996, 2002, and 2003, and submitted to the Council and Congress of Abbots for approval in 2004. In 2025, new statutes were drafted, reflecting greater fraternity among the communities of the three monastic orders (OSB, OCist, OCSO). O rganization The statutes of the AIM were established in 1966 and revised in 1996, 2002, 2003 and submitted to the approval of the Council and the Congress of Abbots in 2004. In 2025, new statutes were drawn up, reflecting a better fraternity between the communities of the three monastic orders (OSB, OCist, OCSO). Organisation The Statutes of AIM were established in 1966, revised in 1996, 2002 et 2003 and submitted to the approval of the Council and the Abbots’ Congress in 2004. In 2025, following the Synod on Synodality, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder (OSB), Sister Lynn Mc Kenzie, Moderator of the CIB, Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori (OCist), Abbot General Bernardus Peeters (OCSO) drafted new statutes reflecting more structured links between the communities of the three monastic Orders. President of the AIM: Father Bernard LORENT TAYART, OSB. The President is appointed by the Moderating Council for a renewable five-year term. He represents the AIM and is responsible for its operation. Secretary General of the AIM: Father Charbel PAZAT DE LYS, OSB. The Secretary General assists the President in his responsibilities. He heads the General Secretariat. The Secretary General coordinates the committees, convenes their meetings and sets their agendas. The Secretary General is appointed by the President after consultation with the Moderating Council. The term of office is five years, renewable. The Moderating Council: The Moderating Council is the highest authority of the Alliance. It provides guidance for the work of the AIM, oversees the governance and activities of the Alliance, receives reports, appoints the President, and consults with the President before he appoints the Secretary General and the heads of the committees. The President of the AIM is usually invited to its meetings. Members : Abbot Primate Jeremias Schroeder, OSB; Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, Moderator of the CIB; Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, OCist; Abbot General Bernardus Peeters, OCSO. Guest: Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB, President of the AIM. The Assembly of AIM: This is an advisory body that connects the work of AIM with monastic families, shares information and ideas, discusses developments in the monastic world, and proposes projects. Members: Abbot Primate Jeremias Schroeder, OSB; Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, Moderator of the CIB; Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, OCist; Abbot General Bernardus Peeters, OCSO; Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB (President of AIM); Fr. Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB (Secretary General of AIM); Sister Ann Hoffman, OSB (Executive Director of AIM-USA); Fr. Ignasi Fossas, OSB (Abbot President of the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation); Fr. Javier Aparicio Suárez, OSB (Abbot President of the Congregation of Sankt Ottilien); Fr. Maksymilian Nawara, OSB (Abbot President of the Congregation of the Annunciation); Sr. Rosann Ocken, OSB (Prioress General of the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing); Fr. Lluc Torcal, OCist (delegate of the Cistercian Order); Fr. Clement Ettaniyil, OSB (ISBF delegate); Sr. Cristina Lavinhati (EMLA delegate); Fr. Peeter Eghwrugjakpor, OSB (delegate for Africa); Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB (Secretary General of DIMMID); Fr. Emmanuel Cottinau, OCSO (Projects Committee); Fr. Brendan Thomas, OSB (Formation Committee); Sr. Isabelle (Communication Committee). The Assemby of AIM, november 2025. Committees: 1- Finance Committee The Finance Committee oversees AIM's finances, investments and fundraising, organises audits, approves the budget and submits an annual report to the Moderating Council and the Assembly. Members: Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB (President of AIM); Fr. Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB (Secretary General of AIM); Fr. Javier Aparicio Suárez, OSB; Fr. Emmanuel Cottinau, OCSO. 2- The Projects Committee The Projects Committee evaluates project applications, allocates project funds, approves disaster relief, and prepares an annual report for the Moderating Council and the Assembly. Members: Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB (President of AIM); Fr. Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB (Secretary General of AIM); Fr. Javier Aparicio Suárez, OSB; Fr. Emmanuel Cottinau, OCSO; Fr. Lluc Torcal, OCist; Sr. Sylvia Kilongo, OSB. 3- The Communication Committee The Communication Committee oversees all communications activities, in particular the newsletter, website and social media presence. Members: Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB (President of AIM); Fr. Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB (Secretary General of AIM); Sr. Isabelle; Fr. Andrea Serafino Dester, OSB; Fr. Jean-Pierre Longeat, OSB. 4- The Formation Committee The Formation Committee supports training activities in the monastic world by sharing information, organising or assisting with workshops, courses and meetings, developing guidelines, resources and training materials, liaising with the Sant'Anselmo Scholarship Committee, the MFP, the CFM (OCist), ICBE/BENET, and other monastic educational organisations. Members: Fr. Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB (President of AIM); Fr. Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB (Secretary General of AIM); Fr. Brendan Thomas, OSB (AIM Coordinator for Formation); Br. Colman O Claibaigh, OSB and Sr. Marie Johann Heo, OSB (MFP coordinators); Fr. Lluc Torcal, OCist (Director of OCist Formation); Fr. Marco Antonio Monaldo, OCSO (Director of OCSO Formation).

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F riends of Monasteries Around the World The association Friends of Monasteries Around the World (AMTM) is closely linked to the AIM. The AMTM was born from the intuition of the father of Floris (OSB), former abbot of En Calcat and president in 1969 of the AIM to involve the laity in the action of the AIM V ISION The AMTM is the secular arm of the AIM. People who feel concerned by the work of monasteries come together to support this action and thus participate in the development of the communities and populations around them. A CTION The efforts of the AMTM aim to promote projects supported in close connection with the Benedictus Foundation, sheltered by Caritas France as a legal support allowing all the advantages of tax recognition. M EANS The AMTM is an awareness association. She publishes a letter to present the projects of the monasteries which are supported in particular by the Benedictus Foundation. She would also like to organize conferences and meetings. H istory of the A MTM The AMTM was created in the great breath of renewal sparked by the Second Vatican Council and its constitution Lumen Gentium which insists on the participation of the people of God. From its inception, our association has aimed to participate for more than 50 years in monastic development through the prayer of its members and the collection of donations. It is a tremendous explosion of foundations that emerged from the 1960s on various continents. Between 1969 and today, more than 600 monasteries have been founded. Sometimes they are tiny communities and develop very slowly, other times monasteries develop and can in turn found a new community. We are happy to participate in this development. AMTM Newsletter: No. 179, Summer 2026: AMTM 179 .pdf Download PDF • 1.27MB No. 178, Lent 2026: AMTM 178 .pdf Download PDF • 1.77MB No. 177, Advent 2025: AMTM177 .pdf Download PDF • 1.19MB No. 176, Autumn 2025: AMTM176 .pdf Download PDF • 1.63MB No. 175, Easter 2025: AMTM175bon .pdf Download PDF • 629KB No. 174, Lent 2025: AMTM174 .pdf Download PDF • 451KB No. 173, Advent 2024: AMTM173 .pdf Download PDF • 990KB No. 172, Autumn 2024: AMTM172 .pdf Download PDF • 1.23MB No. 171, Easter 2024: AMTM171 .pdf Download PDF • 1.74MB No. 170, Lent 2024: AMTM170 .pdf Download PDF • 1.13MB No. 169, Advent 2023: AMTM169 .pdf Download PDF • 518KB Become a member Head office: AMTM, 7 rue d’Issy, 92170 Vanves President: Jérôme de Leusse Make a donation through Fondation Benedictus Make a donation If you wish to make a donation and receive a tax receipt , you must send this donation to Fondation Benedictus, as indicated below: • By credit card Online fondationcaritasfrance.org/fondations/fondation-benedictus/ By bank check to the order of: Benedictus Foundation to be sent to the following address: Fondation Benedictus c/o AMTM 7 rue d'Issy - 92170 Vanves Tax advantages The Benedictus Foundation works under the aegis of the Caritas France Foundation, founded by Secours Catholique. The Caritas France Foundation, recognized as being of public utility, allows you to benefit from tax deductions for the IFI and IR, on your donations and generosity.

We are committed to ensuring that our websites and products are accessible to all users, regardless of their physical abilities, including people with disabilities such as blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disorders, photosensitivity and combinations thereof. A ccessibility statement Last updated on May 1, 2024 This Accessibility Statement applies to the Associatio Internationalis Monastica (AIM) association. Company recognizes the importance of providing its users with accessible websites and web and non-web applications (“Products”). We are committed to ensuring that our websites and products are accessible to all users regardless of physical abilities, including people with disabilities such as blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movements, speech disorders, photosensitivity and combinations thereof. We have and will continue to design our websites and products with accessibility in mind, following the recommendations made by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) in its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) . We also ensure that third-party content providers are aware of our accessibility statement and the Alliance InterMonastères (AIM) association, third-party providers and partners based on their compliance with the W3C WAI recommendations. If you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our websites or products, please contact us at contact@aimintl.org We will review this statement on an ongoing basis no later than May 1, 2025, and annually thereafter.

C ommunio I nternationalis B enedictinarum ( C IB) The Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB) The Communio Internationalis Benedictarum (CIB) was born in 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya, during a meeting of representatives of female Benedictine communities from around the world. It had been about thirty years since efforts had been made to bring together through a fraternal bond the nuns and sisters affiliated with the Benedictine Confederation. If each of the communities has its own charisma and particularity, the sisters have learned to recognize and appreciate their unity in the rule of Saint Benedict and in the Benedictine tradition, which has spread across the cultures and countries of the world. The CIB allowed the sisters to experience in depth and in a concrete way all the richness of the Benedictine charism, which is expressed in the life of their communities. Brief history of the CIB The Benedictine Confederation Between 1886 and 1893 Pope Leo XIII took steps towards the establishment of the Benedictine Confederation, the structure for the network of male congregations existing at the time, with the Abbot Primate for unity at the head of the community at Sant'Anselmo in Rome. The aim of the Confederation was to create and consolidate international contacts between male Benedictine monasteries in order to promote the common tradition of Western monasticism and to prepare monks through serious study for their service in the Church in the 20th century. There was no parallel foundation for the Benedictines. Gradually monasteries and women's congregations were admitted by association into the Benedictine Confederation, but not with full rights. Their status in the Confederation did not give them the possibility of helping each other through regular meetings and international contacts. First steps to form a network between Benedictines after Vatican II In Paragraph 23 of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis , this conciliar document concerning the renewal of religious life, conferences and councils of major superiors are expressly encouraged as a means of bringing small communities out of isolation and sharing potential. Since 1893 the Congress of Abbots was such a conference of major superiors comprising all Benedictine monasteries. From 1965 it became clear that something had to be done to create a similar possibility for the Benedictines. 1968 The Synod of Abbot Presidents around Abbot Primate Rembert Weakland voted that the Primate would constitute a Commission for the nuns and sisters and that this Commission would be divided into two sections, one for the nuns and one for the sisters, but with the ( the ?) same secretary for both. It was also decided that these two consultative groups would be made up of an equal number of men and women (Circular letter to the Benedictines of October 28, 1968). These two Commissions met separately around the Abbot Primate a number of times over the following years. 1972 The Synod of Presidents decides to invite the Commission of Nuns and several prioresses general of Benedictine sisters as observers to the Congress of Abbots. 1980 The Confederation organized a centenary symposium to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict. Fifty-five abbesses and prioresses were invited to represent the women. It was the first time that Benedictine abbesses and prioresses, nuns and sisters from various traditions and from various parts of the world met in Rome, but then only as guests at the Congress of Abbots. 1984 The two Commissions meet together for the first time to discuss the possibility of a common meeting of nuns and sisters. 1987 The Benedictine sisters invite sixteen nuns and forty sisters for an assembly on the implications of the rule of Saint Benedict for the life of Benedictines, to the Casa Santo Spirito , general house of the Benedictine sisters of Tutzing in Rome. This first symposium organized by the sisters had a pioneering role for cooperation between nuns and sisters. 1988 The two Commissions merged around Abbot Primate Victor Dammertz. Members were to be representatives of eighteen regions of the world, international congregations and the AIM. An Executive Committee was to organize the following symposium, common to all. The Executive Committee wrote a first draft of the statutes with the help of Abbot Primate Victor Dammertz. For more details, see the CIB website: http://www.benedictines-cib.org/ List of Regions sending delegates to the CIB Conference 1. Italy, Malta 2. Spain, Portugal 3. France, Israel website 4. Great Britain, Ireland 5. Benelux 6. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia (AASS) 7. Poland 8. Croatia 9. USA, Canada (with 3 delegates) 10. ABECCA (Benedictine-Cistercian Association of the Caribbean and the Andes: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bahamas, Cuba, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Bolivia, Venezuela) 11. Brazil 12. Cono-Sur (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay) 13. Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam 14. Philippines 15. Oceania 16. East Africa 17. Central and West Africa, Madagascar 18. South Africa, Namibia, Angola 19. India, Sri Lanka Member communities of the European Benedictine Congregation of the Resurrection : Germany: Dinklage, Bonn-Steinfeld, Alexanderdorf France: Simiane-Collongue Belgium: Liège and Hurtebise Netherlands: Oosterhout and Egmond-Binnen Sweden: Omberg (Vadstena) Lithuania: Kaunas Spain: Montserrat Member communities of the Monastic Congregation of Saint Hildegard (Spain): Alba de Tormes, Algezares, Alzuza, Aranda de Duero, Barcelona, Burgos, Cuenca, Cuntis, El Tiemblo, Estella, Jaca, León, Madrid Encarnación, Madrid Natividad, Oñati, Oviedo, Palacio de Benaver, Sahagún, San Pedro de las dueñas, Santiago de Compostela, Trasmaño, Valfermoso de las Monjas, Zamora, casa San José Zamora, Zaragoza. C OMMUNITIES 6 There are numerous communities in the world today that follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are present on five continents. Here, presented country by country, the contact details of all these communities. Europe 0 Africa 0 North America 0 South America 0 Asia 0 Oceania 0 See all countries See all communities

M ONASTIC LIFE Formation places and programs § Regional monastic associations § Statistical developments § Reference texts T raining Read more Training as a priority element of AIM Formation is a priority element of AIM. It intervenes at all levels: Superiors, formaters, young monks and nuns. We provide here the main formation materials: International formation, programs and places. In the different regions of the world, associations have gradually emerged with the support of the AIM which bring together both Benedictine and Cistercian superiors. They work together to share the concerns of their communities, to initiate training modules, and to consider the evolution of monastic life in general. These organizations are really a great opportunity for all these monasteries which need to support each other in a fragile world. R egional associations Read more S tatistical trends Read more Since the time of Saint Benedict, monastic life has experienced varied situations. One aspect of this reality is statistical evolution. To take recent history, the 19th century was a time of renewal, which allowed the 20th century to be triumphant at least in number of monks and nuns. This gave the possibility of numerous foundations on all continents, starting in the 1960s. Recent years have seen a decline in the number of monks and nuns but a maintenance of the number of communities. We give on this page some figures of this evolution. The AIM International Team has been working for several years on texts that can help the life of communities. These texts are given on this page, as well as others proposed by one or another regional association. R eference texts Read more

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T he B enedictus F oundation The Benedictus Foundation was created in 2022. It is a Foundation sheltered by the Caritas France Foundation. It supports projects in favor of social works which benefit the populations living around the monasteries in continents outside of Western Europe and North America. V ISION Monasteries are engaged in development projects that benefit the surrounding populations. By participating, donors are assured of contributing effectively to the transformation of the regions in which the monasteries are located. P ROJECTS The latest projects supported by Benedictus concern: educational support around the Koubri monastery, a health bus in the Philippines, a dispensary in Cameroon, tree plantations in Madagascar, etc. S USTAIN THE FOUNDATION The Benedictus Foundation collects donations made to it to support the projects it validates. contact.benedictus@gmail.com www.fondationcaritasfrance.org/fondations/fondation-benedictus/ Example of projects financed by the Benedictus Foundation: BABETE (Cameroon) – Dispensary to care for displaced populations on the Anglo-French fault line The fifteen Benedictines of Babete are rooted in the diocese of Bafoussam, in Cameroon. Their life is organized between prayer, work and hospitality. Due to the crisis in the English-speaking North-West part of Cameroon, reception has taken up much more space than before. The community opened an orphanage for 25 children aged between 2 months and 15 years old. In addition to care, food, health and education, the sisters are looking for host families to ensure the future of these children. The sisters also run a health center. People coming from villages in the North-West region are fleeing violence and abuses. Some were injured by bullets; they are taken to the hospital. Less severely affected people are treated at the health center (small injuries, fevers, headaches, malaria). Formerly the center was open for a few hours during the day; now it is open 24 hours a day. In such a context, juvenile delinquency develops with its share of serious consequences. Thus, many single mothers give birth at the age of 17, without having had any prenatal visit. Parents arrive at the health center with more diverse expectations: request for consultations, laboratory analyses, request for medications, dressings, prenatal visits, vaccinations, etc. The first objective is the reduction of infant mortality; it is necessary to acquire good equipment for ultrasound scans. For this dispensary project the sisters are requesting financial aid of €8,000. Make a donation You can help the Benedictus Foundation by making a donation • By credit card Online fondationcaritasfrance.org/fondations/fondation-benedictus/ By bank check to the order of: Benedictus Foundation to be sent to the following address: Fondation Benedictus c/o AMTM 7 rue d'Issy - 92170 Vanves Tax advantages The Benedictus Foundation works under the aegis of the Caritas France Foundation, founded by Secours Catholique. The Caritas France Foundation, recognized as being of public utility, allows you to benefit from tax deductions for the IFI and IR, on your donations and generosity.

H istory of m onastic c ongregations The Benedictine Confederation At the present moment all Benedictine monasteries belong to an organisation called the Benedictine Confederation, whose head, the Abbot Primate, resides in Rome. It is a relatively young organisation, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. Originally St Benedict did not foresee any organisational structure between monasteries: each lived in complete autonomy under the vigilant eye of the local bishop. For various reasons, in the course of centuries, monasteries formed groups, often because of geographical proximity or because they were founded from the same monasteries and followed the same rule of life. Thus in the ninth century, under the aegis of the Carolingian Kings and Benedict of Aniane, monasteries achieved a certain union with similar usages. A century later a large number of monasteries grouped together under the aegis of Cluny, a grouping which would later lead to the regular ‘Orders’. In the twelfth century, under the leadership of St Bernard, Cistercian monasteries constituted themselves a real structured Order on hierarchical lines. Seeing the advantages of this, various Benedictines tried to follow their example by making regional associations. However, this movement was far from being general. As a second stage Pope Benedict XII attempted in the fourteenth century to apply the principles of unification and centralisation to the Benedictines, with only partial success. However, a number of abbeys did group themselves together by countries and set up national Congregations. That was how the English, Italian, Hungarian Congregations, etc, came to be formed in the face of all political changes of fortune. Pope Leo XIII in his desire for unity decided to federate the Congregations into a single organisation, and in 1893 decreed the ‘Benedictine Confederation’. Nevertheless, the Congregations, jealous of their privileges and their traditions, retained their own structures and internal organisations. Some of them preferred an abbacy for a limited time while others retained life abbacies. One congregation had a single noviciate for all the monasteries, while others had as many noviciates as monasteries; for some congregations parish ministry was the norm, for others the exception; for one congregation the missionary apostolate was a specific aim, while for others it was categorically excluded. Thus each retained its own rights and specificity. In short, each Benedictine Congregation (and at present there are twenty of them) was organised as an autonomous religious Order, with its own instruments of government (Abbot President, Abbot General or Archabbot), its own General Chapter (with the supreme right of legislation) and its own Constitutions, and so on. The Congregations are of different sizes; some of them consist of a thousand monks, others barely a hundred. The same disparity exists in the number of monasteries: the Hungarian Congregation numbers only one great monastery in Hungary and another recent creation in Brazil. By contrast, the Congregation of Subiaco is spread over several European countries, in Africa, the Philippines and Vietnam, to the extent that it is divided into several provinces. Some Congregations can boast of several centuries of history, such as those of Vallumbrosa or Camaldoli, while others are quite young, such as the Congregation of Cono-Sur (Latin America), created in 1976. If the Congregations differ from one another by their structure and their activity, nevertheless they are all deeply marked by the Benedictine spirit, eager to put into practise what St Benedict envisaged in his Rule. They have sufficient common resemblance to make it possible to come together as one Benedictine family. At the head of the Confederation there is an Abbot Primate, elected for a fixed term by the body of superiors; he resides at the Abbey of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, and represents the Confederation to the Holy See. CONFEDERATED BENEDICTINE CONGREGATIONS • Cassinese Congregation, stemming from the ancient Congregation of Santa Justina founded in 1408. This Congregation was incorporated into the Congregation of Subiaco on 7th February, 2013. The Subiaco Congregation became the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation • English Congregation, founded in 1336 and restored in 1619 • Hungarian Congregation, founded in 1514 and restored in 1639 • Swiss Congregation, founded in 1602 • Austrian Congregation, established in 1625 • Bavarian Congregation, founded in 1684 • Brazilian Congregation, stemming from the Portuguese Congregation and set up in 1827 • Congregation of Solesmes, established in 1837 • American Cassinese Congregation, set up in 1855 • Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, set up as the Subiaco Congregation in 1872 and divided into 9 geographical provinces. At the incorporation of the Cassinese Congregation in 2013 it acquired its present name. • Congregation of Beuron, set up in 1873 • Swiss-American Congregation, set up in 1881 • Congregation of St Ottilien, founded in 1884 • Congregation of the Annunciation, founded in 1920 • Slavonic Congregation, set up in 1945 • Congregation of Vallumbrosa, set up in 1036 • Congregation of Camaldoli, set up in 1113 • Silvestrine Congregation, founded in 1231 • Congregation of Cono-Sur, set up in 1976 A few monasteries, belong to no Congregation, are directly under the Abbot Primate. COMMUNITIES 6 There are numerous communities in the world today that follow the rule of saint Benedict. They are present on five continents. Here, presented country by country, the contact details of all these communities. Europe 0 Africa 0 North America 0 South America 0 Asia 0 Oceania 0 See all countries See all communities