The present main abbey building was completed in 1955 to designs by Manchester architects
Koehler & Isaak in the
Colonial Revival style.[4] The same architects added the adjacent abbey church in 1965 and designed much of the college campus.[5]
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a
Catholicliberal arts college in
Goffstown, New Hampshire. The monks of Saint Anselm Abbey are involved in the life and operation of the college. Serving as administrators, as faculty and staff members, and on the college's Board of Trustees, the monastery's approximately 30 monks work in the university.[6]
Abbots
From the time of its founding in 1889 until 1927, when it became an independent abbey, Saint Anselm was a dependent priory of Saint Mary's Abbey in
Newark, New Jersey. The abbots of Saint Mary's were also the spiritual superiors of Saint Anselm. Those abbots were Abbot Hilary Pfraengle and Abbot Ernest Helmstetter.[7]
Since its elevation to the status of an independent institution, Saint Anselm has been led by five men:
Abbot Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. - In 1927, Saint Anselm
Priory was elevated to an abbey by
Pope Pius XI. Abbot President Ernest Helmstetter, president of the
American-Cassinese Congregation, conducted the first
abbatial election, and the monks in
solemn vows elected Fr. Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. as first abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.[8]
Abbot Gerald McCarthy, O.S.B. - Abbot Gerald was elected coadjutor abbot in 1963 at Abbot Bertrand's request. Following the death of Abbot Bertrand in 1968, Abbot Gerald became the Abbot of Saint Anselm. His abbatial blessing was celebrated on September 3, 1963, by Bishop
Ernest John Primeau of Manchester. Abbot Gerald retired from his abbatial duties due to declining health shortly before Christmas of 1971.[7][9]
Abbot Matthew K. Leavy, O.S.B. - Abbot Matthew, a native of
the Bronx, New York, took vows as a monk in 1968. Ordained to the priesthood in 1975, and having held various responsibilities in the
monastery and at Saint Anselm College, he was elected the fourth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on March 4, 1986, at the age of 35, after Abbot
Joseph John Gerry's elevation to Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester.[14] Before being elected Abbot, he was the Prior of the Abbey. Abbot Matthew retired from his position as Abbot and Chancellor of
Saint Anselm College on June 5, 2012.
Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. - On June 5, 2012, Abbot Mark Cooper was elected as the fifth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey. By virtue of his election, he consequently becomes Chancellor of Saint Anselm College. Previous to his election he managed Saint Anselm College's finances for 33 years and was set to retire as the treasurer and vice president of financial affairs. Abbot Mark professed vows as a member of the Benedictine community at Saint Anselm in 1972 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1971 from Saint Anselm College. He earned an M.S.A. in business administration from the
University of Notre Dame. He studied at
Saint John's Seminary in
Boston and St. Albert's Seminary in
Oakland, California. He taught at
Woodside Priory in California and received an Alumni Award of Merit in 2003 for his contributions to the growth of Saint Anselm College.[15] Abbot Mark was officially blessed as the Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on September 10, 2012 by his uncle
BishopJoseph Gerry, O.S.B. in the presence of the Bishop of
Manchester,
Peter Libasci.[16]
Community song
On feast days and at the graveside during burial of members of the community, the monastic community sings the hymn of the
American-Cassinese Congregation known as the "Ultima". The hymn is sung
a cappella in Latin through once, then the final two lines are repeated.[17]
Latin Text
English text
German text
Ultima in mortis hora,
Filium pro nobis ora,
Bonam mortem impetra,
Virgo, Mater, Domina.
When death's hour is then upon us,
To your Son pray that he grant us,
Death, both holy and serene,
Virgin Mary, Mother, Queen.
Wenn wir mit dem Tode ringen,
Wollst, Maria, uns beispringen,
Dass wir selig scheiden hin,
Jungfrau, Mutter, Königin.
Gallery
College Dedication, October 11, 1893
Saint Anselm College's Alumni Hall, rebuilt in 1893 after a devastating fire, was the first monastery complex for Saint Anselm Abbey
South Entrance into the abbey's cloister garden
Abbey Church Exterior
Abbey Church Interior
Geisel SAC Library
Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B. (left) and Abbot Matthew Leavy, O.S.B. (right) walking into Saint Anselm College's 2010 commencement
Coat of arms of Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B.
References
^Parts I and II of "The American-Cassinese Congregation: Origins and Early Development (1855–1905)" by Jerome Oetgen appear in The American Benedictine Review 56:3 (Sept. 2005) 235-264 and 56:4 (Dec. 2005) 418-454.