Extract from the Annals of Glenstal Priory for 18th and 19thDecember, 1927:
‘He [Father Superior, Dom Gérard François] came back [from Belgium] during the night before December 18th. The next day, it being a Sunday, the six members of the new foundation being assembled in Sir Charles Barrington’s former smoking-room, at the bottom of the main staircase, Dom Gérard declared that the Lord Abbot of Maredsous and the Lord Abbot President of the Belgian Congregation had delegated him to erect canonically the new priory. Consequently, the regular community-life was to start this afternoon.
From the next morning onwards, Matins were said in choir at 5.20 in the morning – one hour later than in Belgium. In that first community conference, Father Prior pointed out that our work was going to be a long an arduous one; and that we were not likely to reap ourselves the full fruit of the seeds we were sowing…’
- 18th December 1927 – Glenstal Castle erected as a Simple Priory.
- 19th December 1927 – Conventual life begins with the recitation of Matins.
- December 2027 marks 100 years of sowing the seed of monastic life at Glenstal.