Pennington, M. Basil
Dates
- Existence: 1931 - 2005
Biography
M. Basil Pennington was born on July 28, 1931, in Brooklyn, NY and died on June 3, 2005, in Worcester, MA. He received degrees from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, 1951; Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, S.T.L. (cum laude), 1959; Pontifical University of the Gregorianum, J.C.B. (summa cum laude), 1962, J.C.L. (summa cum laude), 1963 and did graduate work at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Benedictine International College of St. Anselm. He held memberships with Studies in Formative Spirituality (international board of consultants), Canon Law Society of America, Catholic Theological Society of America, and Association of Cistercian Scholars.
Pennington was a writer, educator, and Cistercian monk and abbot. He entered the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO; also known as Trappists) in 1951 and ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, in 1957, at St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, MA. There he served as a professor of moral theology, from 1959-61, a professor of theology and church law, 1963-2005, a pastoral counselor at Retreat House, 1959-61 and 1963-2005, librarian at Institute of Monastic Studies, 1960- 61, a lecturer at institute, 1971-72, assistant director of novices, summer 1962, and vocation director, 1978-81. He was the head of Monastic Council on Church Law, 1964-2005, a member of the Commission of Law, Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, 1969-2005, and the head of Interreligious Monastic Colloquium, 1977. He was also a member of advisory board, Center for Contemplative Studies, North American Board for East-West Relations, and a member of board of directors of the Lilly Foundation, the John Paul II Center for Prayer and Study for Peace and Food for the Poor, the Mastery Foundation, and a member of Ecumenical Institute of Spirituality and Academie Nationale de Reims. He also served as the founding editor of Cistercian Publications, 1968-73, and was chairperson, 1973-76. Additionally, he was the organizer and director of ecumenical conferences and symposia, a guest lecturer at conferences, institutes, and universities all over the world and a consultant to the Second Vatican Council.
Citation:
"M. Basil Pennington." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.Found in 136 Collections and/or Records:
"12. Fr. Pennington with two babies", 1988-10
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"18. Fr. Pennington dining in the evening"
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"31. Fr. Pennington dining with the Cardinal", 1988-10
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"32. Fr. Pennington seated with above ladies", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
A Matter of Love, by Basil Pennington (Videocassette), 1984
This series contains mainly audiocassettes and videocassettes. They are some commercially published sets on religious issues, but the bulk contains recordings of M. Basil Pennington speaking, often on centering prayer.
"A2. Fr. Pennington at supper", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"A12. Fr. Pennington dining with two ladies", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"A18. Fr. Pennington signing books", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"A22. Fr. Pennington signing books", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.
"A27. Fr. Pennington officiating", 1989-11
This series contains photographs, picture postcards, slides and negatives from M. Basil Pennington's worldwide travels to summits, conferences and symposiums. Also included are snapshots from his visits to abbeys and monasteries around the world and the buildings and people seen there.