“St. Benedict, monasticism and the Christian roots of Europe” is the theme of the course for students of theology to be held at the Benedictine abbey of Santa Scolastica at Subiaco (near Rome), from 28 to 31 August. Promoted by the national Office for social problems and work of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, the course will be wide-ranging and include reports, times for prayer, meditation and art with visits to the monasteries of the Sacro Speco of St. Benedict and Montecassino. The introductory address will be given by Monsignor Paolo Tarchi, director of the Office of the Italian episcopate promoting the event. This will be followed, during the ensuing four days, by addresses given by the abbot of Subiaco, dom Mauro Meacci, on “the primacy of God in the life of St. Benedict”, Father Giuseppe Picasso, head of the Faculty of Humanities at the Catholic University of Milan, on “St. Benedict, the value of work and the use of time”. More particularly linked to monasticism and the construction of Europe will be the reports of Father Innocenzo Gargano, prior of the monastery of San Gregorio al Celio in Rome, and by the journalist and correspondent of SirEurope to the European institutions, Gianni Borsa. On the final day Msgr. Tarchi will present the conclusions, while Monsignor Aldo Giordano will also give a report on “The role of the Church and Christians in the future of Europe”.
