Benedict of Nursia lived from about 480-547 A.D. After trying the life of a hermit-monk as a young adult, he founded a new type of monastic life, based on the concept of community and family life. Benedict's monastery, Monte Cassino, was established about 80 miles south of Rome. To govern his monks and lead them in their search for God, Benedict wrote his famous Rule, an enduring and influential document and way of life that helped shape much of Western civilization. The Rule is still used as the basis for Benedictine life by men and women, both inside and outside of monasteries. Some spiritual concepts that are central to the Rule of
Benedict and the Benedictine way of life include "Ora et Labora"
(prayer and work), Stability, and "Conversatio Morum" (ongoing
conversion of life).

The History of Mount Michael Abbey

Mount Michael, as a Benedictine Monastery, shares in a rich monastic history. It's helpful to look at the development of Benedictine monasticism as one would look at the diagram of a family tree. The base or trunk of the tree would be St. Benedict, his Rule and his monastery at Monte Cassino; the root of the tree would be the Scriptures, especially the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. Each branch on the tree represents some aspect of Benedictine history. What follows is a brief sketch of the "branches" that lead from St. Benedict to Mount Michael.

By the time of St. Benedicts death, monasticism was firmly rooted in the Western World, and during the Middle Ages, monastic life flourished in Europe. IN the year 1120, in Switzerland, Engelberg Abbey (Mount of the Angel) was founded. Engelberg flourished for centuries and became known for its schools and scholarship, but by the year 1870, the rapidly changing political climate of Switzerland made it necessary for the monks of Engelberg to look to America as a possible refuge in case of religious persecution.

One of the two monks sent from Engelberg to the United States to seek for a new
site was Father Frowin Conrad. On December 8, 1873, Father Frowin founded
Immaculate Conception Abbey in Nodaway County, Missouri. Following the traditions of Engelberg, the monks of the new abbey remained faithful not only to
the Benedictine tradition, but they also carried on the apostolate of education in
their schools, as they do to this day.

    
In 1952, Abbot Stephen Schappler of Conception
Abbey began looking for a place to relocate Conception's
minor seminary; he looked to Omaha, with its heavily
Catholic population, and Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan.
Father Dominic Lavin of Conception was sent to find a
suitable site for a new monastic foundation. While in Omaha, Father Dominic met Rex Olson, an Omaha businessman who owned Journey's End Farm near Elkhorn, Nebraska. Through Father Dominic's persistence and Mr. Olson's generosity, Journey's End Farm was to become Mount Michael Abbey.

The first car load of monks arrived at Journey's End on May 14, 1953; they lived in the Olson farmhouse. The monastic life and the liturgy of the new monastery began on their arrival. They immediately began the daily recitation of the Divine Office and daily celebration of the Mass, integral parts of monastic life which continue to this day in the abbey chapel.

 In 1956, Mount Michael (named after St. Michael the Archangel, defender of the Church on earth) was raised to the status of "priory," and classes began in the newly completed school, St. John's Seminary. By 1964, the monastic community was vibrant enough to become an independent abbey. Father Raphael Walsh was appointed the first abbot of Mount Michael. During his 25 year term as abbot, the seminary and monastery continued to grow, as did the work of the monks, both within and outside the community.

By 1970, there were no longer enough seminary students to make continuation of the seminary school viable. At that time, the monks decided to keep education as the primary apostolate of the abbey, and Mount Michael Benedictine High School was born. Today, over forty years after its founding, Mount Michael and its various apostolates continue to flourish and grow.

So, while Mount Michael Abbey has its own unique history, it is also part of the great tradition of Benedictine monasticism which began at Monte Cassino. This Benedictine tradition is one which has empowered and enlivened the Church for over 1500 years.