Belmont at 100: The Papal Bull Praeclara Gesta

We were able to announce some time ago that the Benedictine monastery at Belmont had been raised to the dignity of an Abbey. The Papal Bull effecting this has now been published. A translation of part of the Bull is given below. By its terms Belmont ceases "to be a Cathedral Priory and becomes an Abbey with all canonical rights and privileges."

The Benedictine monastery at Belmont was not, until recently, an independent monastery of the normal Benedictine type, nor was it a dependent priory, that is a house still subject to the abbey from which it was founded. It was built as a common novitiate and house of studies for the English Benedictine Congregation.

Then, by permission of the Holy See, its church became a pro-cathedral for the diocese of (at that time) Newport and Menevia. The community included a diocesan chapter of canons who were monks and whose Provost was the Superior of the monastery. He was appointed to the office of cathedral prior by the General Chapter for a period of years, He was not an abbot, though he enjoyed most of the privileges of an abbot, including the use of Pontificalia. This type of foundation was common in England before the Reformation, many of our old cathedrals having a Benedictine priory with community, chapter and prior attached. 

 Then, as in the modern case of Belmont, the church being a cathedral in which was set up the chair of the Bishop, the ruler of the monastery did not assume the title of Abbot, but was known as the cathedral prior. He did not receive the abbatial benediction, nor did he have a throne in the church. Except for these few points of difference, however, his duties and privileges were identical with those of an abbot. Belmont was an interesting revival in modern times of the once familiar cathedral priory.

But the march of time has again brought changes. Various abbeys of the English Benedictine Congregation having opened independent novitiates, a common house was no longer needed. The erection of the archdiocese of Cardiff with its Secular chapter, and St. David’s, Cardiff, as Metropolitan church, opened the way for the monks to relinquish the duty of maintaining a diocesan chapter. This renunciation has at last been accepted, and the Holy See, while desiring that the English Benedictines shall continue to be represented in the Hierarchy of England, has granted the petition of the monks and made Belmont a normal and independent Benedictine Abbey. 

THE TEXT OF THE PAPAL BULL

Having in view these services of the Benedictine Order, by our Apostolic Letter “Cambrica Celtica,” dated the 7th day of February, 1916, in the second year of Our Pontificate, We, having translated the episcopal see of Newport to the city of Cardiff and raised it to Metropolitan dignity, thereby, at the same time constituting a new ecclesiastical province in the principality Of Wales, decreed that “the monastic chapter at Belmont, near Hereford, and the episcopal chair there erected, should be maintained as heretofore so that the Archbishop of Cardiff should have two Chapters, one secular and one regular, and two cathedral Churches.” 

While, however, the Apostolic Letter was being put into effect, and while measures were being taken to draw up statutes for both chapters, Our beloved son Cuthbert Butler, Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation, together with other Abbots 'of the same Congregation, was of opinion. that he would promote the good of the Church were he to renounce the privileges of a cathedral and cathedral chapter which had been conceded to the Belmont community. Wherefore, with the consent of both of the aforementioned Abbots, and of the community of Belmont, in a letter dated the fourth day of January of this year, 1920, he signified to Us that he was prepared, should it be pleasing to the Apostolic See, himself to surrender the said privileges, adding, however, at the same time that he would count it a favour if, in, order to keep in remembrance the dignity of Cathedral rank now surrendered, the monastery of Belmont were raised to be a true and proper Abbey of the Benedictine Order. 

We, therefore, perceiving the suggestion of the Abbot President of the said Congregation to be founded on just and solid reasons, have decided to grant, and have granted, his petition. Therefore by this Apostolic Letter, sub plumbo, We accept the renunciation of the aforementioned privileges of cathedral rank and chapter conceded to the said monastic church and religious house, and at the same time We erect and constitute the Benedictine monastery of Belmont, in accordance with the petition, as a true, proper and independent Abbey like to the other English Benedictine Abbeys, with all rights, privileges and obligations belonging to them according to the canonical laws and constitutions of the said Order, approved by the Holy See, with, further, an independent Familia under an Abbot to be elected by the same Familia according to the constitutions of the said Congregation. 

Recognizing also that the Benedictine Order has deserved so well of the Church and Religion in England, from the time of Our Predecessor, Gregory the Great, and at the same time bearing in mind that the present renunciation itself has been made with no other intention than this, namely, to promote the greater good of the Church, We declare that the Holy See will ever be mindful of so many services of the Benedictine Order, and in remembrance of these benefits will willingly provide, so far as circumstances permit, that among the Bishops of England there shall always be one of the sons of St. Benedict who shall undertake the government of a diocese, and, as in times past, enlighten it with learning and virtue…