Father Abbot M. Basil Pennington, O.S.C.O.

Father Abbot M. Basil Pennington, o.c.s.o (website)

Father M. Basil (Robert) Pennington was born on July 28, 1931. He attended the Minor Seminary of Brooklin, then the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, from 1945 to 1950. In February of 1951, he paid his first visit to Saint Joseph's Abbey and was convinced that this was the place he wanted to make his home. He entered on June 18, 1951 and two years after, on July 26, 1953, he made it his profession.

He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1957. He went to study theology in Rome at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Returning back to Saint Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts to be a professor of theology.

He returned again to Rome to study Canon Law at the Gregorian University. In March of 1968, at his suggestion, a project was discussed for a series of publications that was to include translations of the Cisterian Fathers (Historical writings of the Trappists Monks). His efforts lead to the founding of Cisterian Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan where yearly meetings still take place and many publications are released.

During the 1970's Father Basil's commitments within the United States and abroad increased considerably. These commitments included visits to other monasteries and world conferences. His growing interest in Eastern Orthodoxy took him to Greece and Mount Athos for an extended visit and lead to the writing of a book entitled O' Holy Mountain. He became the Vocational Director at Spencer in 1978 and his travels extended even farther in 1981, visiting India and Mother Teresa. He also spent some time in the Philippines and on Lantao Island near Hong Kong.

It was also during the 70's that Father Basil became increasingly interested in Centering Prayer, which had first been taught at Spencer by Father William Meninger. This was to become one of his most cherished interests during the last decades of his life. Beginning in 1991, he spent many years in China assisting at the Monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong. Apart from yearly attendance at the Cistercian Studies Conferences at Kalamazoo, his activities were largely limited to the Orient.

He returned to the United States in July of 1999 and on February 14, 2000 he was named the temporary superior of Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri. Shortly after this, he was elected Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. He resigned his post as Abbot in May of 2002 to return to Spencer to retire and write. Unfortunately on March 29, 2005 he was in a terrible automobile accident and he remained in the hospital for a period after that. On June 3, 2005 he gave his soul back to the Lord.

Father Basil will be remembered always for his writings of faith and peace, his kindly deeds and his great contributions to humanity.