February 3, 2023

Saint Meinrad monk professes solemn vows in Jan. 25 liturgy

Benedictine Brother Michael Reyes kneels in prayer during a Jan. 25 Mass at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln during which he professed solemn vows as a member of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad. He also shows the traditional haircut, known in Latin as “corona” (“crown”) given to monks at the monastery when they enter the novitiate and profess solemn vows. (Photo courtesy of Saint Meinrad Archabbey)

Benedictine Brother Michael Reyes kneels in prayer during a Jan. 25 Mass at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln during which he professed solemn vows as a member of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad. He also shows the traditional haircut, known in Latin as “corona” (“crown”) given to monks at the monastery when they enter the novitiate and profess solemn vows. (Photo courtesy of Saint Meinrad Archabbey)

Benedictine Brother Michael Reyes professed solemn vows on Jan. 25 as a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad during a Mass in the monastic community’s Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.

Brother Michael, 46, is a native of Manila, Philippines. He is currently receiving priestly formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, which is a ministry of the monastery.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of the Philippines, a master’s degree in music composition and theory from the University of Nevada and a doctorate in music composition from the University of Illinois in 2019.

He has received international recognition and awards in his work in music composition.

Before Brother Michael entered Saint Meinrad’s novitiate in 2019, he was a member of St. John Catholic Newman Center in Champaign, Ill.

In professing solemn vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community at Saint Meinrad, he becomes a full and permanent member of the Benedictine community.

 

(For more information on Saint Meinrad Archabbey, visit www.saintmeinrad.org.) †

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