On last night’s edition of the EWTN news program The World Over, anchor Raymond Arroyo interviewed by telephone Fr Cassian Folsom, prior of the Benedicine Monks of Norcia, about the recent earthquake in central Italy. The epicenter of the 6.2 magnitude quake was fairly close by, but Norcia itself saw no casualties; other communities in the area were hit much harder, and the death toll is now over 270 persons. Fr Cassian explains that his community has temporarily transferred to the Benedictine house of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, and gives an account of the damage to the church and monastery; the basilica of St Benedict will be unusable for the next year, but there has been as of yet no definitely assessment of the condition of the monastery. (The brewery has not been damaged.) The reportage on the earthquake begins at 6:06.
Click here to visit the monks’ website, where you can find also information about supporting the repair efforts.
Click here to visit the monks’ website, where you can find also information about supporting the repair efforts.