Monastic Order
Within the Polish National Catholic Church, constituted as a religious association “P.N.C.C. in Monaco”, duly registered at the Ministry of State of the Principality of Monaco on 14 September 2018, is constituted by a specific resolution of the Assembly: “the Monastic Order of Seborga” (abbreviated: O.M.S.).
First of all, this Order is organized in a first Chapter having its seat in Seborga and composed of monks, clerics, converts, lay people and novices, and intends to give itself a special Rule, recalling the need to know and scrupulously observe the commandments transmitted by God, so that, loving the Lord and the Most Holy Trinity with all our heart, mind, soul and all our strength, and loving our neighbour as ourselves, we may attain the fruit of eternal life. We have therefore come together to observe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to live in God our Lord. Therefore, since we must always observe this Rule, we will never try to escape from it, for “he who puts out his hand to the plough and turns around is not worthy of the Kingdom of God.
The Order has its headquarters in Monaco, in the building Palais de la Scala – 1, Avenue Henry Dunant, and its historic-liturgical abbey seat on Italian territory, in Seborga, in the heart of the ancient Principality, in Via Maccario 1.
The reconstitution of this Order, in communion with the Italian Orthodox Church Autocephalous Ancient – Oriental, aims at restoring the Ancient Order of Benedictine/Cistercian matrix that was established in Seborga by the Ancient Benedictine Fathers of the island of Lerino, according to the rule established by St. Bernard of Clairvaux and in homage to St. John of Matha, another monk and great spiritual Father, where in the countryside of Seborga was erected in his name the ancient Oratory of St. John of the Donkey. This act of reconstitution is intended to highlight ecumenical values to the Most Holy Trinity or the profitable and spiritually constant dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox Christians for the unity of all Christians.
It may also create other forums with specific deliberation by the Board of Governors and ratification by the Assembly.
The Order professes veneration and respect for all the Saints and Martyrs of the West and the East and for the dialogue between Catholic Christianity, in its various forms, and the Eastern traditions of the Orthodox Christian world, promoting an innovative union between the brothers and sisters of the respective Churches and their serene and fruitful coexistence, in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel of John “Ut unum sint”.
The theological-spiritual peculiarities of the Order are :
a) the tradition of Cistercian spirituality in the holy memory of St. Benedict and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, renewed in dialogue with modernity and ecumenical dialogue ;
b) the shining example of Saint John of Matha, founder of the Trinitarians, to whom the monastery of Seborga is dedicated and who fought against slavery and deportations, saving many Christians even abroad ;
c) the memory of the Assyrian-Chaldean tradition of the Very Reverend Adeodato Mancini (whose official liturgical hymn is “Adoro Te devote” by Saint Thomas) who always strove to make Roman Catholics and Orthodox Catholics live together in fraternity following the common Christological declaration of Pope John Paul II ;
d) the preaching of the Gospel with particular reference to the Gospel of John, the theological depth of John’s writings and the Prologue “En archè én tò lògos”. The liturgies adopted by the Order are the Catholic Rite of the PNCC and the Rite of St. James of the C.O.I.A.O. and other rites approved by the Chapter in the different local realities according to the needs of the faithful. Each member, whether cleric or lay, fully and unreservedly recognises that Catholics and Orthodox, with their own specificities, are Christians in eternal dialogue, in love and constant fraternity.
The following categories of members belong to the Order:
a) monks
b) clerics
c) converse monk
d) laity
e) novices
Within the clergy, the hierarchical functions are carried out by an Abbot.
The Superior must be a monk and a consecrated presbyter approved by the Chapter.
It is permissible, if the conditions are fulfilled by the Chapter, to ordain deacons or presbyters in the manner provided for in subsequent deliberations. Ecumenical novices and monks, of Catholic or Orthodox origin, in a spirit of total fraternity and unity, as well as those who are in a probationary period and who have undergone theological preparation in a university of theology recognized by the Chapter, or who have been instructed by a professor recognized by the Chapter, during their probationary period, must obey the Chapter and the respective Abbot.
The reconstitution of this Order, in communion with the Italian Orthodox Church Autocephalous Ancient – Oriental aims at restoring the Ancient Order of Benedictine/Cistercian matrix that was established in Seborga by the Ancient Benedictine Fathers of the island of Lerino, according to the rule established by St. Bernard of Clairvaux and in homage to St. John of Matha, another monk and great spiritual Father, where in the countryside of Seborga was erected in his name the ancient Oratory of St. John of the Donkey. This act of reconstitution is intended to highlight ecumenical values to the Most Holy Trinity or the profitable and spiritually constant dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox Christians for the unity of all Christians.
It may also create other forums with specific deliberation by the Board of Governors and ratification by the Assembly.
The Order professes veneration and respect for all the Saints and Martyrs of the West and the East and for the dialogue between Catholic Christianity, in its various forms, and the Eastern traditions of the Orthodox Christian world, promoting an innovative union between the brothers and sisters of the respective Churches and their serene and fruitful coexistence, in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel of John “Ut unum sint”.
The theological-spiritual peculiarities of the Order are :
a) the tradition of Cistercian spirituality in the holy memory of St. Benedict and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, renewed in dialogue with modernity and ecumenical dialogue ;
b) the shining example of Saint John of Matha, founder of the Trinitarians, to whom the monastery of Seborga is dedicated and who fought against slavery and deportations, saving many Christians even abroad ;
c) the memory of the Assyrian-Chaldean tradition of the Very Reverend Adeodato Mancini (whose official liturgical hymn is “Adoro Te devote” by Saint Thomas) who always strove to make Roman Catholics and Orthodox Catholics live together in fraternity following the common Christological declaration of Pope John Paul II ;
d) the preaching of the Gospel with particular reference to the Gospel of John, the theological depth of John’s writings and the Prologue “En archè én tò lògos”. The liturgies adopted by the Order are the Catholic Rite of the PNCC and the Rite of St. James of the C.O.I.A.O. and other rites approved by the Chapter in the different local realities according to the needs of the faithful. Each member, whether cleric or lay, fully and unreservedly recognises that Catholics and Orthodox, with their own specificities, are Christians in eternal dialogue, in love and constant fraternity.
The following categories of members belong to the Order:
a) monks
b) clerics
c) converse monk
d) laity
e) novices
Within the clergy, the hierarchical functions are carried out by an abbot. The Superior must be a monk and a consecrated presbyter approved by the Chapter.
It is permissible, if the conditions are fulfilled by the Chapter, to ordain deacons or presbyters in the manner provided for in subsequent deliberations. Ecumenical novices and monks, of Catholic or Orthodox origin, in a spirit of total fraternity and unity, as well as those who are in a probationary period and who have undergone theological preparation in a university of theology recognized by the Chapter, or who have been instructed by a professor recognized by the Chapter, during their probationary period, must obey the Chapter and the respective Abbot.