Abbey of Regina Laudis facts for kids

The Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis is a special place where Benedictine nuns live and pray. It was started in 1947 by two nuns, Mother Benedict Duss and Mother Mary Aline Trilles de Warren. They came from a Benedictine Abbey in France called Notre Dame de Jouarre.

This abbey in Bethlehem, Connecticut, was one of the first places in the United States for contemplative Benedictine nuns. Contemplative means they focus on prayer and quiet reflection. Mother Benedict had studied medicine in Paris before becoming a nun. For a while, the Abbey of Regina Laudis was connected to the Jouarre Abbey in France.

History of the Abbey

How the Abbey Started

A kind man named Robert Leather, who was an industrialist, gave the nuns the land for the abbey. He loved a pine-covered hill on the property and wanted it to be a sacred place forever. The land is about 400 acres (1.6 square kilometers).

In 1949, a movie called Come to the Stable was made. It was based on the story of the nuns setting up their abbey in Bethlehem. The movie showed how a local artist named Lauren Ford helped the nuns when they first arrived.

The abbey's website explains that the nuns faced many challenges. But they received support from important church leaders. These included the Papal Nuncio to Paris, who later became Pope John XXIII, and Cardinal Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI. Pope Paul VI gave them wise advice. He suggested that for American women to join the monastery, they should have a professional way of life alongside their prayers.

Growing and Changing Over Time

Since it began in 1947, the monastery has grown. Today, it is home to about 40 nuns. In 1976, the Monastery of Regina Laudis became an independent abbey. This meant it was no longer dependent on the French abbey.

On February 10, 1976, Mother Benedict Duss was chosen as the first Abbess of the Abbey. She was the first nun in America to receive this special blessing.

In the late 1960s, some people had concerns about how the community was run. The Abbey was featured on TV shows like 20/20 and West 57th. The Vatican looked into these concerns in the early 1990s. As a result, a spiritual adviser named Francis Prokes left the Abbey in 1994.

On May 13, 2001, Mother David Serna became the second Abbess of Regina Laudis. Later, on February 1, 2015, Mother Lucia Kuppens was chosen as the third Abbess. Mother Lucia loves Shakespeare and has a Ph.D. in English from Yale University. She has worked for many years with the abbey's study programs. She also managed the abbey's property and buildings. Mother Lucia is leading the abbey's "New Horizons" project to improve its spaces.

Life and Arts at the Abbey

Music and Theater

The nuns at the Abbey are known for their love of the arts. They are especially famous for performing Gregorian Chant, which is a type of ancient church music.

One of the nuns, Mother Dolores Hart, used to be an actress. Because of her background, the abbey now hosts summer theater shows. Mother Dolores Hart has worked with other artists to create The Act Association. This group performs at The Gary-The Olivia Theater. It is an outdoor theater that can seat about 200 people. The theater was built in 1982 with help from actress Patricia Neal. They have performed plays by Shakespeare, operas, and musicals.

Special Nuns at the Abbey

The Abbey is also home to Sister Noella Marcellino. She is an amazing cheese maker with a special degree in microbiology. She has studied cheese in great detail! She was even featured in a TV show called The Cheese Nun.

Another nun, Mother Maria Immaculata Matarese, is a lawyer. She used to serve in the Connecticut House of Representatives, which is part of the state government.

Mother Jerome von Nagel Mussayassul was also a longtime member of the community. She was a well-known poet and translator. Before joining the Abbey, she was a German baroness and an artist's wife.

Monastic Art Shop

Near the main entrance of the abbey, there is a store called the "Monastic Art Shop." It is open to the public all year. The shop sells many handmade items and foods made by the nuns.

You can find pottery, candles, and knitted goods. They also sell wool from the abbey's sheep. Other products include granola, iron work made in the abbey's blacksmith shop, cheese, honey, and herbs. You can also buy perfumes, skin creams, books, and other religious art. The abbey also sells CDs of the nuns singing Gregorian chant.