Belmont Abbey, North Carolina facts for kids
The Abbey Basilica in 2009
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Monastery information | |
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| Full name | Abbey Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians |
| Order | Benedictines |
| Established | April 1876 |
| Mother house | Saint Vincent Archabbey |
| Dedicated to | Mary, Help of Christians |
| Diocese | Charlotte |
| Controlled churches | Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Dom Herman Wolfe, O.S.B. |
| Abbot | The Rt. Rev. Placid Solari, O.S.B. |
| Important associated figures | Abbot-Bishop Leo Haid, O.S.B. |
| Architecture | |
| Status | active |
| Heritage designation | National Register of Historic Places |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Site | |
| Location | Belmont, North Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°15′41″N 81°02′38″W / 35.2613°N 81.0438°W |
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Belmont Abbey Cathedral
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| NRHP reference No. | 73001343 |
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| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Belmont Abbey, is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery. A monastery is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. This one is located in Belmont, North Carolina, United States of America. It is also a Minor Basilica, which is a special church given a higher honor by the Pope.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is an important historical site. The monastery is managed by a group called the American-Cassinese Benedictine Congregation.
Pope Leo XIII officially made the monastery an abbey on December 19, 1884. An abbey is a type of monastery led by an abbot. Later, Pope Pius XII named Mary Help of Christians as its special protector in 1957. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made the church a Minor Basilica.
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History of Belmont Abbey
The story of Belmont Abbey began with a Catholic priest named Father Jeremiah O'Connell. He was a Christian missionary who had built a college in South Carolina. Sadly, this college was destroyed during the American Civil War.
In 1876, Father O'Connell bought a large piece of land, about 500 acres. He gave this land to the Benedictine monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania. He hoped they would start a new school in North Carolina.
Under the guidance of Abbot Boniface Wimmer, the Benedictines began to build a monastery and a college. They used red clay from the area to construct the buildings.
Becoming an Abbey
On December 19, 1884, Pope Leo XIII issued an order. This order changed the monastery from a "priory" (a smaller monastery) into the Abbey of Mary Help of Christians.
Father Leo Michael Haid was chosen as the first abbot. He led the abbey until he passed away in 1924.
In July 1886, the first three new monks made their promises to join the order. That same year, Abbot Haid started a seminary at Belmont. A seminary is a school for training priests.
On February 4, 1888, Abbot Haid was given another important role. He became the Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina. This meant he was a special representative of the Pope. On July 1, 1888, he became a bishop. He was the first American abbot to also be a bishop.
In May 1891, a special place called the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was opened. It became a place where people could go for spiritual journeys. Katharine Drexel, a kind person who helped the monastery and college with money, visited Belmont Abbey in 1904.
Changes in Responsibility
From 1910 to 1977, Belmont Abbey was a "territorial abbey." This meant it had some duties like a diocese, which is an area managed by a bishop. The abbey was responsible for churches in several counties in North Carolina.
In 1944, most of its territory was given to the Diocese of Raleigh. Later, in 1960, the last county under its care was also given to the Diocese of Raleigh. In 1977, its special status as a territorial abbey ended. Its duties were then fully taken over by the Diocese of Charlotte.
The Abbey Church
Construction of the Abbey Church of Mary Help of Christians began in 1892. It was finished in 1894 and officially opened on April 11, 1894.
The church is a large building with a cross shape. It is built in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals. It has a steep roof and two towers of different sizes at the front.
On July 27, 1998, the Vatican gave the abbey church a special honor. It was raised to the rank of a minor basilica. Inside the church, there is a baptismal font. This font was carved from a stone that has a unique history. It was once used as a place where people were sold in North Carolina.
Belmont Abbey College
The college part of Belmont Abbey started in April 1876. Father Herman Wolfe and two students were the first to arrive. The first students graduated in 1878.
In April 1886, the state of North Carolina gave Saint Mary's College permission to grant degrees. This meant students could earn official college degrees there. In 1900, a fire destroyed two-thirds of the College Building. But rebuilding started right away. In 1913, Saint Mary's College changed its name to Belmont Abbey College.
On June 20, 2011, Belmont Abbey College started building a new residence hall. This hall is for female students who are pregnant or have young children. It can house 15 babies, 15 women, and 8 toddlers. The students can stay for up to two years. This special residence is called "Room at the Inn."
In May 2020, the college announced a new nursing program. This program helps train nurses to meet healthcare needs in the area.
On July 14, 1993, the main campus of the college was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is known as the "Belmont Abbey National Historic District."
Belmont Abbey Today
Belmont Abbey is like a "motherhouse" to other Benedictine abbeys. These include Saint Leo Abbey in Florida and Mary Mother of the Church Abbey in Virginia.
The monks at Belmont Abbey also support Belmont Abbey College. This is a four-year Catholic liberal arts school. In 2020, there were about twenty monks living at Belmont Abbey.
See also
In Spanish: Abadía de María Auxilio de los Cristianos (Belmont) para niños
