Our History (abbrev.)
The community at Arcadia follows the ancient spiritual tradition of monasticism as established in the West by St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (ca. 480-548 AD), in the radical footsteps of the desert monks of Egypt. His short Rule of only 12,000 words interpreted the teachings of the earlier monastic tradition for his own troubled times. One of the main reasons for the Rule’s subsequent influence
was the emphasis it placed on “discretion”, a built-in flexibility or freedom to adapt its provisions to changing times and places.
The essence of Benedictinism is a Christian community formed by prayer and work. Medieval monks were involved in many activities – for example, they helped the spreading of the Christian gospel in Central Europe during the eighth century, and contributed to the literary, artistic and general intellectual development of Western civilization.
After the Reformation and the suppression of religious houses in many countries, Benedictines were greatly reduced in number. During this period many monasteries grouped into congregations on a national or reform basis, forming today the Benedictine Confederation.
The 19th century saw both a slow revival of monastic life within Europe, and the beginnings of a great Benedictine expansion outside the continent. Thus Spanish (Abbot Salvado) and English (Archbishop Polding) both established monasteries in Australiain the 1840′s.
St. Benedict’s Monastery at Arcadia belongs to the Sylvestrine Congregation. This originated as a monastic reform movement in Italy in the early 13th century. St. Sylvester Guzzolini (1177-1267) a
canon of the cathedral at Osimo, decided in late middle age to withdraw from society and to adopt an eremitical life of prayer and asceticism. He was soon joined by a number of disciples and founded a series of small communities based on the Rule of St. Benedict.
These developed into the “Order of St. Benedict of Montefano’ (later the Sylvestrine Congregation) which was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1248, and which took its name from a mountain-top monastery just outside the town of Fabriano. St. Sylvester and his followers tried to avoid the feudal entanglements and decadence of the older Benedictine houses, and to live a monastic life notable for its simplicity and poverty.
For most of its history, the Sylvestrine Congregation was confined to Central Italy. In the first half of the 19th century, however, a number of Sylvestrines went as missionaries to Sri Lanka, where a monastery was eventually established. There are now two Priories in Italy (Montefano, Bassano,), three in India plus one each in Sri Lanka, United States, and Australia and foundations in the Philippines and Congo (DRC). It was from Sri Lanka, in 1949, that an Italian Sylvestrine (Fr. Peter Farina) arrived in Sydney, where he was entrusted with the new parish of Smithfield on the city’s south-western outskirts. This parish was served by the monks until 2003.
The monastery at Arcadia was founded in 1961, and the first wing of the present building constructed in the following year. Since then, one further wing and a monastery chapel and library have been added. The present community (2022) comprises seven monks. Arcadia is a member of the Benedictine Union of Australia and New Zealand. Other members are the Benedictine Nuns (Jamberoo NSW and Tanby Qld), Tyburn Nuns (Riverstone NSW and Bombay NZ),
Good Samaritan Sisters, New Norcia WA, Anglican Benedictines (Camperdown Vic.) and Cistercians (Tarrawarra, Vic. and Kopua NZ).
The community is also a member of Catholic Religious Australia.
For information on Benedictine monasteries worldwide see the Atlas OSB.
“Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God.” RB Prol 9
Address
St Benedict’s Monastery
121 Arcadia Rd, Arcadia, NSW, 2159
monks@benedictine.org.au
Phone
+61 2 9653 1159