Dom Guéranger - A Monk at the Heart of the Church

by Dom Guy Marie Oury, O.S.B. | Translated by Hope Heaney | Preface by the Rt. Rev. Dom Philip Anderson, OSB Abbot of Clear Creek

After the devastation of the French Revolution, the first abbot of Solesmes launched the ecclesial movement which invited all Christians to experience a spiritual participation in the liturgy, “the initial source of the true Christian spirit.” Dom Guéranger worked to instill knowledge and love for the origins of Christianity and the Church of the Fathers, thus preparing a fertile and fruitful “return to the sources” for the entire Church.

He defined himself as “a man of the spiritual order,” opposed in every way to the naturalism of his era. It seemed to him, and rightly so, that God’s mystery could not be treated as were the human sciences—He transcended them. Throughout his entire life, Dom Guéranger never stopped protesting against “the diminished truths” mentioned in Psalm 11:2.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface    
Introduction    
Chapter 1: Sablé During the Empire and Restoration    
Chapter 2: Adolescent Years in Angers    
Chapter 3: The Seminarian from Le Mans    
Chapter 4: Secretary to Bishop De La Myre-Mory    
Chapter 5: A Go-it-Alone Mennaisian    
Chapter 6: Administrator for the Foreign Missions Society
Chapter 7: The Three Glorious Days: the Revolution of 1830    
Chapter 8: The Young Priest from Le Mans    
Chapter 9: The Priory of Solesmes    
Chapter 10: Seeking Candidates and Resources    
Chapter 11: Final Preparations    
Chapter 12: July 11, 1833    
Chapter 13: A First Novitiate Under a Novice Prior    
Chapter 14: Initial Projects, Initial Guests    
Chapter 15: The Crisis of 1836    
Chapter 16: First Trip to Rome    
Chapter 17: Approval from Rome    
Chapter 18: Bishop Bouvier and the Abbey of Solesmes
Chapter 19: The Young Abbot Amidst his Monks    
Chapter 20: The Liturgical Institutions    
Chapter 21: The Liturgical Year    
Chapter 22: The Second Trip to Rome    
Chapter 23: The Fortunes And Misfortunes of the Saint-Germain Priory in Paris    
Chapter 24: Catastrophe    
Chapter 25: Triennial Abbatial Appointment Under Episcopal Control    
Chapter 26: In The Upheaval: a Father Amidst his Monks
Chapter 27: Revolution in France and in Rome    
Chapter 28: Friends and Guests of the Monastery    
Chapter 29: Plans for New Foundations    
Chapter 30: Third Trip to Rome (1851-1852)    
Chapter 31: Naturalism and Liberalism    
Chapter 32: The Failure of the Acey Foundation    
Chapter 33: Fourth Trip to Rome (1856)    
Chapter 34: In Defense of Mysticism and Philosophical Naturalism    
Chapter 35: Dom Gueranger and the English Congregation    
Chapter 36: Dom Couturier and Rules for the Novitiate
Chapter 37: The Spiritual Teachings of Dom Guéranger
Chapter 38: Dom Guéranger: Spiritual Director    
Chapter 39: Dom Guéranger and the Congregation of Beuron    
Chapter 40: The Foundation of Marseilles    
Chapter 41: The Foundation of Sainte-Cécile of Solesmes
Chapter 42: The Restoration of Gregorian Chant    
Chapter 43: The First Vatican Council    
Chapter 44: Solesmes in the Franco-Prussian War    
Chapter 45: An Abbess for Sainte-Cécile    
Chapter 46: Final Journeys    
Chapter 47: The Last Road