Abbatial Blessing – A Living Tradition

We are pleased to share a short video of the Abbatial Blessing recently celebrated at Glencairn Abbey. The rite has ancient roots in the life of the Church. St Benedict himself describes the abbot or abbess as “holding the place of Christ in the monastery” (RB 2:2), an understanding reflected in the early Fathers who saw the blessing not merely as an appointment, but as a true consecration for service. St Gregory the Great, writing of abbots in his Pastoral Rule, emphasised that their authority is exercised above all through humility and care of souls.

Through this blessing, the abbess is formally entrusted with the spiritual leadership of her sisters, a ministry grounded in prayer, discernment, and the wisdom of the monastic tradition.

We also wish to thank photographer Valerie O’Sullivan, whose images and video bring these moments to life. Valerie has been coming to Glencairn over many years, recording our life with sensitivity and insight, and we are most grateful for her generosity in sharing her work with us again on this occasion.