THE CRANE ABBEY CONS TITUTION

31.03.2016

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 CONTENT
Forword........................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
The Rule of Saint Columba .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Daily office................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Membership ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4
The Synod .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
The Abbot .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
The Prior ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Episcopal Supervision ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
The Fellowship of the twelve Apostles of Ireland .................................................................................................... 5

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 FORWORD

The Crane Abbey is an ecumenical Celtic Christian Order following the Rule of Saint Columba
(Colum Cille) applied to a contemporary secular life style.

Our community offers different spiritual paths according to the individuals call in the Celtic
Christian, Arthurian and Druidic tradition. This can be the path of the cleric and priest/ess, the
monastic and hermit, the druid, the artist and poet, the shaman and healer, the dame and the
knight, the seeker and priest/ess of the Holy Grail and the Divine Feminine, or as laity. The Crane
Abbey may constitute subordinated communities and work out grade systems to facilitate the
spiritual paths.

The Crane Abbey aims to be a joyful, imaginative and visionary community who honour the
Divine Trinity, the Creation, the Saints and the Ancestors.

THE RULE OF SAINT COLUMBA

Every member shall read, reflect and be inspired by the Rule of Saint Columba1. Monastics living
together in communities shall strictly follow the Rule according to their vows.

Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if thy conscience is not prepared to be in
common with the crowd.
Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists.
Whatsoever little or much thou possessest of anything, whether clothing, or food, or
drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not befitting a
religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.
Let a fast place, with one door, enclose thee.
A few religious men to converse with thee of God and his Testament; to visit thee on days
of solemnity; to strengthen thee in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the
Scriptures.
A person too who would talk with thee in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at
what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress thee more should he be a
tattler between friends and foes, thou shalt not admit him to thee, but at once give him
thy benediction should he deserve it.
Let thy servant be a discreet, religious, not tale-telling man, who is to attend continually
on thee, with moderate labour of course, but always ready.
Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.
A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is death for the faith].
A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom. [that is ascetic practices]
Forgiveness from the heart of every one.
Constant prayers for those who trouble thee.
Fervour in singing the office for the dead, as if every faithful dead was a particular friend
of thine.
Hymns for souls to be sung standing.
Let thy vigils be constant from eve to eve, under the direction of another person.

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Three labours in the day, viz. , prayers, work, and reading.

1 From A. W. Haddan and W. Stubbs, Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents Relating to Great Britain and
Ireland II, i (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1873), pp. 119-121.
2 The abbreviation viz. (also rendered viz without a full stop) and the adverb videlicet are used as

synonyms for "namely", "that is to say", and "as follows".

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 The work to be divided into three parts, viz., thine own work, and the work of thy place,
as regards its real wants; secondly, thy share of the brethen's [work]; lastly, to help the
neighbours, viz., by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they
may be in want of, ut Dominus ait, "Non apparebis ante Me vacuus [as the Lord says,
"You shall not appear before me empty."].
Everything in its proper order; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit. [For
no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully.]
Follow alms-giving before all things.
Take not of food till thou art hungry.
Sleep not till thou feelest desire.
Speak not except on business.
Every increase which comes to thee in lawful meals, or in wearing apparel, give it for pity
to the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.
The love of God with all thy heart and all thy strength;
The love of thy neighbour as thyself
Abide in the Testament of God throughout all times.
Thy measure of prayer shall be until thy tears come;
Or thy measure of work of labour till thy tears come;
Or thy measure of thy work of labour, or of thy genuflexions, until thy perspiration often
comes, if thy tears are not free.

DAILY OFFICE

The members follow the practice of daily prayer according to The Glenstal Book of Prayer in the
Irish Benedictine tradition or other daily office they chose according to their personal
circumstances.

MEMBERSHIP

The community differentiates between companions and friends. Companions are full members
with the right to elect the Abbot and other leaders as well as the constitution of the Abbey. The
companionship is divided into the grades of postulant, novice and profess. The grades of
postulate and novitiate shall have duration of one year and a day each.

Friends are associated with the community without obligations and election rights.

THE SYNOD

The Synod consists of all companions and is the highest organ of the Abbey. The Synod elects the
Abbot and the Prior, approves the annual budget plan, the membership fees and decides on
constitution changes. The Synod is invited four weeks in advance. Only members present at the
gathering have the right to vote.

THE ABBOT

The Abbot is the lawful superior of the Abbey. The Abbot is elected by Synod for a term of five
years. The Abbot is ordained by a bishop of the Ancient Celtic Church and will be authorized to
ordain clerics into the minor orders. In case no Abbot is in office, then the Abbey is either
chaired by the old Abbot or the Prior until a new Abbot elected.

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 THE PRIOR

The Prior is the proxy of the Abbot and is elected by the Synod for a term of five.

EPISCOPAL SUPERVISION

The College of Bishops of the Ancient Celtic Church shall supervise the conduct of the Crane
Abbey and may intervene for just cause.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF IRELAND

The Fellowship of the twelve Apostles of Ireland is a prayer community within the Crane Abbey
of members and friends who honour the Celtic Saints especially the so called Apostles of Ireland.
The fellowship engages in a simple practice of daily prayer to the twelve apostles, remember the
saints days, creating works of art and follow the example of the Celtic Saints. The fellowship
meets at least once a year to the feast of the Holy Eucharist. Each fellow is remembered in a Holy
Eucharist when called to our Lord and granted full absolution. The Fellowship is chaired by the
Prior of the Crane Abbey.