The Federation of Saint Scholastica, a monastic
congregation of pontifical right, is a union of autonomous monasteries of
pontifical right which are related essentially to the universal Church,
but juridically and practically to the Federation. The function of the Federation
is to preserve and interpret the tradition as it is embodied in this Constitution
and ratified by the Apostolic See. In this regard, the primary objective
of the Federation is to help member monasteries maintain their spiritual
heritage and extend the Benedictine charism. It fosters the expressions
of the charism present within member monasteries and creates an environment
in which diverse expressions may be shared on the Federation level.
In all matters governed by ecclesiastical law, this Constitution is binding.
Both the Rule of Benedict and the Constitution and Specific Norms of the
Federation express that form of monastic life which the Benedictine women
of the member monasteries of the Federation are bound to observe because
of their profession.
In matters not governed by ecclesiastical law, the authority of the Federation
is that of moral suasion. The Federation, through its Chapter, President
and Council, exercises a role of leadership by setting forth an ideal or
goal toward which individual monasteries should strive to lead their members.
However, it is recognized that each monastery has its own unique capacity
to respond.
In its relationship to the member monasteries, the Federation functions
according to the principle of subsidiarity. It facilitates communication
among the monasteries and between the individual monasteries and the Apostolic
See, thus maintaining the ecclesial relationship of the Benedictine tradition.
Each Benedictine monastery, however, exercises the cenobitic authority present
within it when the prioress and the community deliberate together, in the
light of the Holy Spirit, on the Rule, tradition and their own experience.
The Federation through its Chapter and Council also serves its member monasteries
by attending to the prophetic voices heard within the Federation, and by
challenging the monasteries to respond concretely and compassionately to
the call of the Spirit heard in the injustices of human life and crises
of contemporary culture.
The Federation of Saint Scholastica traces its roots to a group of three
Sisters from Saint Walburg Convent, Eichstaat, Bavaria, who came to the
United States in 1852 at the invitation of Rev. Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B.,
later Archabbot of Saint Vincent Abbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Led by Sister
Benedicta Riepp, the little band settled in Saint Marys, Pennsylvania, the
place from which missions and convents developed rapidly over the next fifty
years.
Attempts to join these separate houses into a congregation began as early
as 1878. It was not until February 25, 1922, however, that the Apostolic
See approved the Constitution and granted official approbation to the Congregation
of Saint Scholastica, which then consisted of ten monasteries in seven states.
In 1986 there were twenty-three member monasteries in sixteen states and
Mexico. (In 1974 the "Congregation" was designated the "Federation"
of Saint Scholastica to reflect more accurately the actual nature of this
monastic structure.)
Following the Second Vatican Council, the deliberations of the Federation
Chapters of 1968, 1969 and 1971 led to the first extensive revision of the
Constitution which was published in 1974 under the title CALL TO LIFE. Revised
in 1978, 1982, and 1986, this Constitution was given formal approval by
the delegates to the Federation Chapter of 1986.
Return to Call to Life
Index
© Federation of St. Scholatica, 1997