Sylvestrines
Encyclopedia
The Sylvestrines are an order of monks under the Benedictine rule forming the Sylvestrine Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation
. The order was founded in 1231 by Saint Sylvester Gozzolini
.
He was born at Osimo
near Ancona
and held a canonry there. About 1227 he resigned it to lead an austere eremitical life. Disciples came to him and in 1231 he built a monastery at Montefano
.
The rule was the Benedictine, but as regards poverty in external things, far stricter than the Benedictines. The order was approved in 1247 by Innocent IV
, and at Sylvester's death in 1267 there were eleven Sylvestrine monasteries.
At a later date there were 56, mostly in Umbria
, Tuscany
, and the March of Ancona. In 1907, there were nine Sylvestrine houses, one in Rome
, and about 60 choir monks. Since 1855 they have had a house and a mission in Sri Lanka
. Their habit
is blue.
They also have a house in Australia
at Arcadia
, Sydney. In September 2007, a priest, Fr Michael Kelly OSB, from that monastery was elected as the new Abbot General of the Congregation. He holds that position in Rome
for twelve years.
Benedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
. The order was founded in 1231 by Saint Sylvester Gozzolini
Sylvester Gozzolini
Sylvester Gozzolini was an Italian saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Sylvestrines....
.
He was born at Osimo
Osimo
Osimo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the province of Ancona, 15 km south of that town by rail. It is situated on a hill near the Adriatic Sea.Silk-spinning and the raising of cocoons are carried on.-History:...
near Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
and held a canonry there. About 1227 he resigned it to lead an austere eremitical life. Disciples came to him and in 1231 he built a monastery at Montefano
Montefano
Montefano is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 25 km southwest of Ancona and about 13 km north of Macerata...
.
The rule was the Benedictine, but as regards poverty in external things, far stricter than the Benedictines. The order was approved in 1247 by Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
, and at Sylvester's death in 1267 there were eleven Sylvestrine monasteries.
At a later date there were 56, mostly in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, and the March of Ancona. In 1907, there were nine Sylvestrine houses, one in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and about 60 choir monks. Since 1855 they have had a house and a mission in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Their habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
is blue.
They also have a house in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Arcadia
Arcadia, New South Wales
Arcadia is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Arcadia is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, Sydney. In September 2007, a priest, Fr Michael Kelly OSB, from that monastery was elected as the new Abbot General of the Congregation. He holds that position in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for twelve years.