This beautiful place is also known as the motherhouse of the Olivetans. These monks are a monastic order that follow the Rule of St. Benedict. They were founded here in 1313 by Bernardo Tolomei and are today members of the Benedictine Confederation.
They are slightly distinguished from the Benedictines in a few keys ways. They shave their heads and wear a white habit, symbolic of purity. After their names their post-nominals are not OSB, but rather OSB Oliv. Their name is in reference to the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem and their devotion to the Passion of Our Lord.
After their order was founded in 1313, construction of this monastery began in 1320. In 1344 the new congregation was approved by Pope Clement VI. For centuries the abbey was one of the main land owners in the region of Siena, making it quite wealthy.
Visitors come here in search of peace and are enamored by the sound of Gregorian Chant in the main chapel. After a period of partial oblivion, Gregorian Chant has been making a slow comeback in many places. Here the monks recognize the chant as 'proprio della liturgia romana,' proper to the Roman liturgy.
Gregorian plainchant is powerful for many reasons. It has a unique modality that has been admitted for centuries. And it is expressly fitting for the sung liturgy, opening the door for unequalled spiritual growth in the in the life of monks. Music is the quickest channel to the soul.
As pilgrims and curious visitors enter the chapel, they first hear the plainchant and find they have found what their soul has been yearning for - transcendence.
To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a French writer, poet, and journalist: "There is only one problem, just one, in the world. To give people spiritual meaning. Spiritual concerns. To rain down on them something resembling Gregorian Chant."
Visitors arrive at the monastery property after driving through the picturesque hills of Tuscany. As they approach, they follow through an alley of cypresses, a typical Tuscan scene. On the way they the botanical gardens that have for centuries provided medicines and natural remedies. After the fish pond, they arrive at the church.
This lovely structure, stands strong with its Gothic facade and Romanesque-Gothic bell tower reaching into the sky. Then visitors cross a drawbridge, as the monastery is is still accessed this way, leading to the late medieval structure, begun in 1393. The red brickwork is from local stone. The building is surmounted by a large quadrangular tower, evidence of a fortified defense perimeter from a bygone era.
Over the entrance is a terracotta image of the Blessed Mother with the Christ Child and two angels, attributed to the Della Robbia family.
As with other similar monasteries, there are more than one outdoor cloisters. Designed with a typical rectangular plan, the largest is called the chiostro grande (the 'grand cloister.'). It has a two-story loggia and dates from the year1439.
Inside the cloister walk can be seen a cycle of frescos that depict the life of St. Benedict. They are by Luca Signorelli and il Sodoma, considered masterworks of the Italian Renaissance. The images illustrate the account of St. Gregory of the life of St. Benedict, depicting many miraculous stories. They date from 1497-1505.
Of course the chapel, a single nave interior that takes the form of a Latin cross, was renovated in the late Baroque style in 1772. Nevertheless, it has an austere interior of white, in a more north-European look.
The wooden inlaid choir is a gem, dating from 1503-1505. The chapel houses a canvas painting of the Assumption by Jacopo Ligozzi, of significant artistic merit. And behind the altar is a fourteenth century polychrome wooden crucifix, displayed in the Blessed Sacrament chapel.
Gregorian Chant continues to flourish here and fascinate believers and non-believers alike. Evoking the true Benedictine spirit, it soothes the soul and converts the heard of heart. This monastery's use of Latin is in sharp contrast to similar monastic communities that have sought to infantilize the sacred liturgy by purging it of any Latin.
Visitors flock here to hear the monks sing chant and they are not disappointed. The monks sing daily their Conventual Mass in Latin, along with some of the hours, including part of Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. All of this is done in the Novus Ordo. CDS are available for purchase int the gift shop.
The monks can also be seen in Rome. They have a monastery attached to the Basilica of San Francesca Romana, located in the Roman Forum. From their monastery attached to the church, they have a stunning view of the Colosseum. Here they pray and maintain the Benedictine tradition, with little fanfare, in the center of ancient Rome.
