February 11, 2005

Saint Meinrad welcomes new monk; novice professes his temporary vows

Benedictine Novice Daniel Raab professed temporary vows as a Benedictine monk on Feb. 2 at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad. As is customary, he was assigned the religious name of Brother Christian.

He had completed his novitiate, which is a year of prayer and study of the Bene­dictine way of life.

Brother Christian earned a bachelor’s degree in ­religious studies from Indiana Univer­sity in 1997 and a master’s degree in ­pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago in 2003.

He worked for four years as a high school religion teacher in Chicago before coming to Saint Meinrad. He currently performs various tasks associated with the monastery, including work in the Archabbey Library.

Brother Christian will remain under his temporary vows for three years of continuing discernment.

Joseph von Hazmburg was clothed in the Benedictine habit during a brief ceremony on Feb. 1 at the entrance of the monastery. He now begins a year of formation, including study of the Rule of St. Bene­dict and monastic history.

Novice Joseph was born in Albuquerque, N.M., and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, Calif.

He was briefly a member of the Dominican community in Oakland, Calif., and was studying courses in the area of communications shortly before he entered the monastery.

As a novice, he will take a year off from formal studies and/or trades. Novice Joseph will spend time in discernment and at the end of the year may be permitted to profess temporary vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community of Saint Meinrad. †

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