Abbot Primate Wolf visits SLU

October 17, 2006

The highest ranking Benedictine in the world, Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, O.S.B., who answers directly to Pope Benedict XVI, believes his job is to take care of the poor. Living a life of travel, he has taken a vow of mobility to visit Benedictine’s abbeys and monasteries and explain Pope Benedict’s quest to teach the liturgy and the Saint Benedict Educational Foundation.

Father Wolf visited Holy Name Monastery, the Saint Leo Abbey, met with the Benedictine and Saint Leo University communities, spoke with the press and toured Saint Leo University on Oct. 17.

Father Wolf believes that discipline will challenge people to think of different ways to structure monastic life for the future. “The world is my home,' he said.

Father Wolf spoke of his love for music, education and the arts. He plays guitar in a rock band and sees it as a way to stay in touch with young people. He also spoke of how to eliminate fear in your life. “We only fear what we can’t have or we think we can’t have,' he said.
   
His monastery is the Saint Anselmo Monastery in Rome, housing the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy.

Born in Unterallgäu, Bavaria on June 21, 1940, Father Notker Wolf has been an abbot for 27 years. For the last four years, he has served as the Primate. He is fluent in English, German, French, Spanish, Latin and Greek. He also studied Hebrew, can read Portuguese and Dutch and is now studying Croatian. He was elected top Abbot Primate four years ago.

Father Wolf is concerned about the role of adolescents in today’s society. Young people are concerned, he said. They know that something is happening. “Did you know that the Romans sent their youths to be educated with the Benedictines?' he asked. “We believe in educating the whole person.'