St Benedict Patron of Europe Association

St Benedict Patron of Europe Association (Latin: Associatio Sancti Benedicti Patroni Europae, ASBPE) is a Catholic International association of the faithful in the Benedictine spirituality.

The association was founded by abbots and bishops from various European countries, including Abbot President Sighard Kleiner O. Cist. and Dom Jean Roy, Abbot of Notre-Dame de Fontgombault,^[1] Bishop Jean Rupp of Monaco and Bishop François Charrière of Fribourg in Switzerland. It was founded in 1967 after Paul VI in his Apostolic Letter Pacis Nuntius (1964)^[2][3] proclaimed Benedict of Nursia as the Patron of Europe. The aims of the association were further confimed in John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Sanctorum Altrix (1980)^[4] on relevance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, calling attention to a new evangelisation. On 11 July 1988 the Pontifical Council for the Laity established ASBPE as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right. Considering the influence of Saint Benedict of Nursia on the peoples of Europe, to help to shape the Christian spirit of Europe and its spiritual unity, the main purpose of the association is to promote and spread Christian culture in a spiritually united Europe. An abbot of a Benedictine or Cistercian abbey is the spiritual advisor of the ASBPE. The association organises yearly international congresses open to all, and in addition an annual pilgrimage to a monastery. The national groups organise days of study and prayer. The association has members also in North America.^[5][6] The ASBPE seat is Triors Abbey.^[7]

See also

• The Benedict Option