Dom M. Basil Robert Pennington was born on July 28, 1931. He attended the Minor Seminary of Brooklyn, the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, from 1945 till 1950.
In February 1951, he paid his first visit to St. Joseph's Abbey and was convinced that this was the place he wished to make his home. He entered on June 18, 1951, and after two years of novitiate made his profession on July 26, 1953. After the completion of priestly studies he was ordained a presbyter on December 21, 1957.
The following year he was chosen to go to Rome for studies. After a scholastic year at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he received a licentiate in theology and returned to Spencer in 1959, where he was appointed professor of theology.
In September 1961, he was once again sent to Rome, this time to study canon law at the Gregorian University. In 1962, he received a baccalaureate and in 1963, a licentiate in canon law, on both occasions with the highest honors. Returning to Spencer, he was appointed professor of canon law and of spirituality. Apart from his teaching commitments he was active in the Law Commission of the Order, of which he was chosen a member in 1967.
In March 1968, at his suggestion a project was discussed for a series of publications that was to include translations of the Cistercian Fathers into English and other studies in the area of Cistercian life and spirituality. In May of the same year plans for "Cistercian Publications" were accepted by the superiors of the American Cistercian Monasteries of the Strict Observance at their Regional Meeting, and in January 1969, a first volume was published.
The following year the First International Cistercian Studies Symposium was held at Spencer. This was destined to be the first of a series of similar meetings which have continued down to the present time. These are currently hosted each year in conjunction with the annual International Medieval Studies Congress at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
During the 1970's, Fr. Basil's commitments both within the United States and abroad increased considerably. These included visits to other monasteries around the world for conferences.
His growing interest in the spirituality of Eastern Orthodoxy during the 1970's, brought him to Greece and to Mount Athos for an extended visit. This led to the publication of "O Holy Mountain" in 1978, which added to the already impressive list of his published works.
In 1978, he became vocation director at Spencer, an important office which he filled for a number of years. In 1981, his travels extended even farther to India for a seminar on monasticism in World Religions and for lectures at the Cistercian monasteries in the Philippines and on Lantao Island near Hong Kong.
It was also during the 1970's, that he became increasingly interested in Centering Prayer, which had first been taught at Spencer by Fr. William Meninger. This was to become one of his most cherished interests during the last decades of his life. His frequent sessions and workshops throughout the world in the 80's and 90's, made a lasting impression upon those who participated in them.
Pennington's book "Centering Prayer", first published in 1980, had sold more than a million copies by 2002. Translations of the book have been published in Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Italian.
In 1991, he went to assist the monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong. Apart from yearly attendance at the Cistercian Studies Conferences at Kalamazoo, his activities during these years were largely limited to the Orient. On July 12, 1999, he returned to the United States, where a new type of work awaited him - on February 14, 2000, he was named temporary superior at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, an appointment that was to last only a short time, for on August 4, of that year he was elected Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.
On May 12, 2002, he resigned this office and returned to his home at Spencer, where he was finally able to find some rest from his many labors, without forgetting, however, all those whose hearts he had touched in his many workshops and days of recollection. Indeed they would always occupy a special place in his own heart alongside his own Spencer brethren.
Just as the monks were chanting second vespers for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Father Basil breathed his last, reposing in the Lord on the bright and mild day of June 3, 2005. The Feast of God's Love and Mercy was one of his favorite devotions. So it is consoling that after sustaining the weighty injuries of a very serious car accident, sixty seven days before, he yielded the battle accepting the Lord's welcome into his eternal home on that very special day.
In February 1951, he paid his first visit to St. Joseph's Abbey and was convinced that this was the place he wished to make his home. He entered on June 18, 1951, and after two years of novitiate made his profession on July 26, 1953. After the completion of priestly studies he was ordained a presbyter on December 21, 1957.
The following year he was chosen to go to Rome for studies. After a scholastic year at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he received a licentiate in theology and returned to Spencer in 1959, where he was appointed professor of theology.
In September 1961, he was once again sent to Rome, this time to study canon law at the Gregorian University. In 1962, he received a baccalaureate and in 1963, a licentiate in canon law, on both occasions with the highest honors. Returning to Spencer, he was appointed professor of canon law and of spirituality. Apart from his teaching commitments he was active in the Law Commission of the Order, of which he was chosen a member in 1967.
In March 1968, at his suggestion a project was discussed for a series of publications that was to include translations of the Cistercian Fathers into English and other studies in the area of Cistercian life and spirituality. In May of the same year plans for "Cistercian Publications" were accepted by the superiors of the American Cistercian Monasteries of the Strict Observance at their Regional Meeting, and in January 1969, a first volume was published.
The following year the First International Cistercian Studies Symposium was held at Spencer. This was destined to be the first of a series of similar meetings which have continued down to the present time. These are currently hosted each year in conjunction with the annual International Medieval Studies Congress at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
During the 1970's, Fr. Basil's commitments both within the United States and abroad increased considerably. These included visits to other monasteries around the world for conferences.
His growing interest in the spirituality of Eastern Orthodoxy during the 1970's, brought him to Greece and to Mount Athos for an extended visit. This led to the publication of "O Holy Mountain" in 1978, which added to the already impressive list of his published works.
In 1978, he became vocation director at Spencer, an important office which he filled for a number of years. In 1981, his travels extended even farther to India for a seminar on monasticism in World Religions and for lectures at the Cistercian monasteries in the Philippines and on Lantao Island near Hong Kong.
It was also during the 1970's, that he became increasingly interested in Centering Prayer, which had first been taught at Spencer by Fr. William Meninger. This was to become one of his most cherished interests during the last decades of his life. His frequent sessions and workshops throughout the world in the 80's and 90's, made a lasting impression upon those who participated in them.
Pennington's book "Centering Prayer", first published in 1980, had sold more than a million copies by 2002. Translations of the book have been published in Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Italian.
In 1991, he went to assist the monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong. Apart from yearly attendance at the Cistercian Studies Conferences at Kalamazoo, his activities during these years were largely limited to the Orient. On July 12, 1999, he returned to the United States, where a new type of work awaited him - on February 14, 2000, he was named temporary superior at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, an appointment that was to last only a short time, for on August 4, of that year he was elected Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.
On May 12, 2002, he resigned this office and returned to his home at Spencer, where he was finally able to find some rest from his many labors, without forgetting, however, all those whose hearts he had touched in his many workshops and days of recollection. Indeed they would always occupy a special place in his own heart alongside his own Spencer brethren.
Just as the monks were chanting second vespers for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Father Basil breathed his last, reposing in the Lord on the bright and mild day of June 3, 2005. The Feast of God's Love and Mercy was one of his favorite devotions. So it is consoling that after sustaining the weighty injuries of a very serious car accident, sixty seven days before, he yielded the battle accepting the Lord's welcome into his eternal home on that very special day.
Dom M. Basil Robert Pennington was born on July 28, 1931. He attended the Minor Seminary of Brooklyn, the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, from 1945 till 1950.
In February 1951, he paid his first visit to St. Joseph's Abbey and was convinced that this was the place he wished to make his home. He entered on June 18, 1951, and after two years of novitiate made his profession on July 26, 1953. After the completion of priestly studies he was ordained a presbyter on December 21, 1957.
The following year he was chosen to go to Rome for studies. After a scholastic year at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he received a licentiate in theology and returned to Spencer in 1959, where he was appointed professor of theology.
In September 1961, he was once again sent to Rome, this time to study canon law at the Gregorian University. In 1962, he received a baccalaureate and in 1963, a licentiate in canon law, on both occasions with the highest honors. Returning to Spencer, he was appointed professor of canon law and of spirituality. Apart from his teaching commitments he was active in the Law Commission of the Order, of which he was chosen a member in 1967.
In March 1968, at his suggestion a project was discussed for a series of publications that was to include translations of the Cistercian Fathers into English and other studies in the area of Cistercian life and spirituality. In May of the same year plans for "Cistercian Publications" were accepted by the superiors of the American Cistercian Monasteries of the Strict Observance at their Regional Meeting, and in January 1969, a first volume was published.
The following year the First International Cistercian Studies Symposium was held at Spencer. This was destined to be the first of a series of similar meetings which have continued down to the present time. These are currently hosted each year in conjunction with the annual International Medieval Studies Congress at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
During the 1970's, Fr. Basil's commitments both within the United States and abroad increased considerably. These included visits to other monasteries around the world for conferences.
His growing interest in the spirituality of Eastern Orthodoxy during the 1970's, brought him to Greece and to Mount Athos for an extended visit. This led to the publication of "O Holy Mountain" in 1978, which added to the already impressive list of his published works.
In 1978, he became vocation director at Spencer, an important office which he filled for a number of years. In 1981, his travels extended even farther to India for a seminar on monasticism in World Religions and for lectures at the Cistercian monasteries in the Philippines and on Lantao Island near Hong Kong.
It was also during the 1970's, that he became increasingly interested in Centering Prayer, which had first been taught at Spencer by Fr. William Meninger. This was to become one of his most cherished interests during the last decades of his life. His frequent sessions and workshops throughout the world in the 80's and 90's, made a lasting impression upon those who participated in them.
Pennington's book "Centering Prayer", first published in 1980, had sold more than a million copies by 2002. Translations of the book have been published in Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Italian.
In 1991, he went to assist the monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong. Apart from yearly attendance at the Cistercian Studies Conferences at Kalamazoo, his activities during these years were largely limited to the Orient. On July 12, 1999, he returned to the United States, where a new type of work awaited him - on February 14, 2000, he was named temporary superior at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, an appointment that was to last only a short time, for on August 4, of that year he was elected Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.
On May 12, 2002, he resigned this office and returned to his home at Spencer, where he was finally able to find some rest from his many labors, without forgetting, however, all those whose hearts he had touched in his many workshops and days of recollection. Indeed they would always occupy a special place in his own heart alongside his own Spencer brethren.
Just as the monks were chanting second vespers for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Father Basil breathed his last, reposing in the Lord on the bright and mild day of June 3, 2005. The Feast of God's Love and Mercy was one of his favorite devotions. So it is consoling that after sustaining the weighty injuries of a very serious car accident, sixty seven days before, he yielded the battle accepting the Lord's welcome into his eternal home on that very special day.
In February 1951, he paid his first visit to St. Joseph's Abbey and was convinced that this was the place he wished to make his home. He entered on June 18, 1951, and after two years of novitiate made his profession on July 26, 1953. After the completion of priestly studies he was ordained a presbyter on December 21, 1957.
The following year he was chosen to go to Rome for studies. After a scholastic year at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he received a licentiate in theology and returned to Spencer in 1959, where he was appointed professor of theology.
In September 1961, he was once again sent to Rome, this time to study canon law at the Gregorian University. In 1962, he received a baccalaureate and in 1963, a licentiate in canon law, on both occasions with the highest honors. Returning to Spencer, he was appointed professor of canon law and of spirituality. Apart from his teaching commitments he was active in the Law Commission of the Order, of which he was chosen a member in 1967.
In March 1968, at his suggestion a project was discussed for a series of publications that was to include translations of the Cistercian Fathers into English and other studies in the area of Cistercian life and spirituality. In May of the same year plans for "Cistercian Publications" were accepted by the superiors of the American Cistercian Monasteries of the Strict Observance at their Regional Meeting, and in January 1969, a first volume was published.
The following year the First International Cistercian Studies Symposium was held at Spencer. This was destined to be the first of a series of similar meetings which have continued down to the present time. These are currently hosted each year in conjunction with the annual International Medieval Studies Congress at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
During the 1970's, Fr. Basil's commitments both within the United States and abroad increased considerably. These included visits to other monasteries around the world for conferences.
His growing interest in the spirituality of Eastern Orthodoxy during the 1970's, brought him to Greece and to Mount Athos for an extended visit. This led to the publication of "O Holy Mountain" in 1978, which added to the already impressive list of his published works.
In 1978, he became vocation director at Spencer, an important office which he filled for a number of years. In 1981, his travels extended even farther to India for a seminar on monasticism in World Religions and for lectures at the Cistercian monasteries in the Philippines and on Lantao Island near Hong Kong.
It was also during the 1970's, that he became increasingly interested in Centering Prayer, which had first been taught at Spencer by Fr. William Meninger. This was to become one of his most cherished interests during the last decades of his life. His frequent sessions and workshops throughout the world in the 80's and 90's, made a lasting impression upon those who participated in them.
Pennington's book "Centering Prayer", first published in 1980, had sold more than a million copies by 2002. Translations of the book have been published in Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Italian.
In 1991, he went to assist the monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong. Apart from yearly attendance at the Cistercian Studies Conferences at Kalamazoo, his activities during these years were largely limited to the Orient. On July 12, 1999, he returned to the United States, where a new type of work awaited him - on February 14, 2000, he was named temporary superior at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, an appointment that was to last only a short time, for on August 4, of that year he was elected Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.
On May 12, 2002, he resigned this office and returned to his home at Spencer, where he was finally able to find some rest from his many labors, without forgetting, however, all those whose hearts he had touched in his many workshops and days of recollection. Indeed they would always occupy a special place in his own heart alongside his own Spencer brethren.
Just as the monks were chanting second vespers for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Father Basil breathed his last, reposing in the Lord on the bright and mild day of June 3, 2005. The Feast of God's Love and Mercy was one of his favorite devotions. So it is consoling that after sustaining the weighty injuries of a very serious car accident, sixty seven days before, he yielded the battle accepting the Lord's welcome into his eternal home on that very special day.
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