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PERPLURIMAS GRATIAS
OMNIPOTENTI DEO EXHIBENTES
CANONIÆ S. MICHAELIS ARCHANGELI
ORDINIS PRÆMONSTRATENSIS
CONFRATRESVOS FACIUNT CERTIORES
REV.MUM D. IOANNEM CARONAN
TERTIUM PRÆLATUM EJUSDEM CANONIÆ
BENEDICTIONEM ABBATIALEM
RECEPTURUM ESSE
APUD ECCLESIAM B.M.V. IN CÆLUM ASSUMPTÆ
QUARTO KALENDAS OCTOBRIS
ANNO REDEMPTIONIS MMXXVI
With hearts full of gratitude to Almighty God,
the confreres of
St. Michael’s Abbey
of Orange in California
are pleased to announce that
the Right Reverend John Caronan,
third abbot of this canonry,
will receive the abbatial blessing
in the Abbey Church of
Our Lady of the Assumption,
on the twenty-eighth day of September,
in the Year of Redemption 2026.
5:00 p.m. – Solemn Vespers
followed by The Abbatial Blessing Gala (*Ticketed Event*)
in honor of The Right Reverend John Caronan, O.Praem.
in the presence of His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
*Note* Solemn Vespers is open to the public.
The Gala is the only ticketed event for this day.
12:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical Mass
celebrated by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Mass No. 2 in G Major, D. 167
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Pacific Chorale
Carl St. Clair, conductor
5:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical Vespers
*Note* No RSVP or tickets required for this day's events.
10:00 a.m. – Solemn Mass of the Abbatial Blessing
of The Right Reverend John Caronan, O.Praem.
followed by a reception with refreshments
5:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical First Vespers of Michaelmas
*Note* No RSVP or tickets required for this day's events.
10:00 a.m. – First Pontifical Mass of The Right Reverend John Caronan, O.Praem. for the Solemnity of Saint Michael the Archangel
5:00 p.m. – Solemn Vespers of Michaelmas
followed by a Solemn Te Deum before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed
Te Deum, H. 146
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)
Pacific Chorale
Carl St. Clair, conductor
*Note* No RSVP or tickets required for this day's events.
The Abbatial Blessing is a rare and solemn moment in the life of an abbey. As St. Michael’s Abbey prepares for the blessing of its third Abbot, the faithful are invited to join the community in prayer and thanksgiving and to learn more about the meaning of this ancient rite.
The Abbatial Blessing is the solemn rite by which the Church invokes divine grace upon a duly elected and confirmed abbot for the faithful exercise of his office. It is ordinarily conferred by a bishop, who, in the name of the Church, blesses the new abbot and solemnly commends him to the responsibilities of spiritual fatherhood, governance, and liturgical presidency entrusted to him within his abbey.
The blessing does not confer Holy Orders, nor does it make the abbot a bishop. The abbatial office has already been received through election and confirmation according to law. Rather, through the prayers and ceremonies appointed by the Church, divine assistance is solemnly invoked upon the new abbot as he assumes the full exercise of his sacred charge.
In the course of the blessing, the bishop presents the new abbot with the pontifical insignia, traditionally called the pontificalia: the ring, miter, and pastoral staff.
The ring signifies the abbot’s fidelity to the Church and the spiritual bond uniting him to the community entrusted to his care.
The miter signifies the dignity of his office and the solemn responsibility entrusted to him to guard faithfully the things of God and to lead his brethren in the observance of their religious life.
The pastoral staff, or crozier, is the visible sign of his pastoral authority and spiritual fatherhood, by which he is charged to guide, strengthen, correct, and govern the brethren committed to his care.
For St. Michael’s Abbey, this moment gathers into itself the providential history of the community: from its roots in Hungary, through exile and sacrifice, to the flourishing of Norbertine life in California. Now, with the blessing of its third abbot, a new spiritual father has been provided for the community, to receive this inheritance, guard it faithfully, and hand it on to another generation.
The customary form of direct address is “Father Abbot,” expressing the spiritual paternity proper to his office.
When greeting him, the traditional practice for the laity is to reverence the abbatial ring by kissing it.
The gesture is not directed merely to the person of the Abbot, but is a sign of reverence for the ecclesiastical office, spiritual fatherhood, and authority represented by the ring.
Yes. All liturgical celebrations in the Abbey Church during the days surrounding the Abbatial Blessing are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.
The only ticketed event of the celebrations is the Gala Reception and Dinner on September 26th.
Yes. The principal liturgical celebrations will be livestreamed on the St. Michael’s Abbey YouTube channel and through The Abbot’s Circle, allowing those unable to attend in person to unite themselves with the community in prayer.
All are asked to dress modestly and appropriately for the sacred character of the occasion.
Yes. Families and children are warmly welcome at all of the liturgical celebrations. Because these will be particularly solemn occasions, we kindly ask parents to be attentive to restless or crying children and, when necessary, to step outside the Abbey Church until they are ready to return. This helps preserve the prayerful atmosphere of the sacred liturgy for all who are present.
Additional parking and traffic assistance will be provided on the principal days of the celebration. Abbey staff and volunteers will be present to direct traffic, assist guests upon arrival, and help ensure the orderly flow of vehicles and parking.
Sunday, September 27th:
12:00 p.m Solemn Pontifical Mass (Usus antiquior)
Monday September 28th:
10:00 a.m Abbatial Blessing of Abbot John Caronan
Tuesday September 29th:
10:00 a.m. Solemnity of St. Michael -Pontifical Mass
5:00 p.m. Michaelmas Vespers and Te Deum
(Coming Soon)
Join thousands of friends and faithful around the world as they rally in prayer around the abbey during these historic days—asking Our Lady to obtain the graces needed as the abbey prepares to enter a new chapter.
Please fill out the form to take part in the daily novena leading up to the Abbatial Election. You will receive daily emails for the duration of the novena, as well as communications from St. Michael's Abbey and the Abbot's Circle.
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God,
who alone work great wonders,
pour forth upon your servant John
and upon the congregation entrusted to his care
the Spirit of saving grace;
and, that they may truly be pleasing to you,
pour down upon them the everlasting dew of your blessing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the same Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
The Abbot's Circle is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of God.
Hidden in the stillness of southern California’s desert mountains, St. Michael’s Abbey goes about a timeless and supernatural mission: the common worship of God. This is a place for all to encounter the unfathomable beauty of God and to enter into the mystery of His unrelenting love.
Against a culture in ever desperate need for beauty, St. Michael’s Abbey stands as a refuge for reverent liturgy, inspiring art, and captivating sacred music and chant. Through our work, we are laying the foundation for the sanctification of our society and a renewal in our Church.
