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New pope's name choice significant for Benedictines

By Michelle Samartino
Of The Michigan Catholic
Published April 29, 2005

OXFORD — The installation of Pope Benedict XVI held special significance for a local Benedictine monastery, as well as a group of black-robed monks in the throng celebrating the event in St. Peter's Square.

Fr. Dan Homan, OSB, prior of St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, said he doesn't know much about Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, but he is happy he took the namesake of their religious order.

"I'm glad he took Benedict's name," he said.

St. Benedict lived from 480 to 547, "and he was born into a time much like ours.

"The Roman empire had just fallen and the world and the Church were in chaos," he said.

"People were looking for something to hang onto."

It was St. Benedict who shined forth as the voice of peace and moderation, Fr. Homan said.

"He was a real reconciler. He emphasized the importance of Scripture, prayer and Mass. He stood for wisdom.

"He respected that there was wisdom in all people — in both the very young and in the very old," Fr. Homan said.

"If he can be a reconciler like St. Benedict, then we would be thrilled."

Abbot Notker Wolf, abbot primate of the Order of St. Benedict, said that when he heard that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had chosen the name Benedict, "I was very happy. I felt recognized," he added.

In further recognition, U.S. Benedictine Bro. Gregory Gresko of Mary, Mother of the Church Abbey in Richmond, Va., sang the Gospel in Latin during the Mass. The 34-year-old monk, a songwriter who sings in a Christian rock band called Mary's Men in Black, is studying at St. Anselm University in Rome.

— Barbara J. Fraser of Catholic News Service contributed to this story.