Thanks, Abbot Marcus Voss, O.S.B.!

My sisters and brothers, clergy, religious, third order members, and lay faithful, what a joy it is to be here today on this first Friday of February, surrounded by brother monks, Benedictine Sisters, priests, religious, and so many faithful from across our diocese to give thanks to God for the ministry and Benedictine witness of Abbot Marcus Voss. This is a deeply happy moment for us to be here with you, marked by gratitude, and, in no small measure, of incalculable joy to surround you, my dear Abbot, with the embrace of fraternal affection for your ministerial service.

Abbot Marcus, on behalf of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, I say what so many here are thinking and feeling, “Thank you!” And not just once, but, as we say today with full hearts, “Thanks! A thousand times, thanks!” 

Allow me to ground this moment of gratitude in the Sacred Scripture readings we have just heard proclaimed. After all, the Word of God helps us understand better the “why” – “why” this moment matters for us.

From the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, we hear these incisive words: “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding… Then you will understand what is right and just and fair.”

I’d like to linger for a moment on this word wisdom. Wisdom, in the biblical sense, is not mere intelligence or skill. It is the fruit of listening: listening to God, to one another, and to the rhythm of life shaped by faith. - and the monastic horarium. That wisdom has marked Abbot Marcus’ leadership: a wisdom rooted in prayer, steadiness, discernment, and a deep love for the monastic vocation. Guided by the Holy Spirit, your ministry pursued what is just and fair, what is right, and it was based on your years of life in addition to a lot of common sense.

Psalm 16, our responsorial psalm today, is one of my personal favorites and touches me so much. I look forward to reciting it every Thursday night for Compline. The psalmist puts these timeless words into the heart of every priest and religious who has staked their lives on God:

“O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup … I keep the Lord always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall not be disturbed.”

Here the telling words are: “I keep the Lord always before me!” How many times has that psalm been prayed within the abbey walls, chanted in choir, whispered in moments of fatigue or challenge, and lived out day by day? It captures the heart of monastic life, the center of priestly life, so beautifully and perfectly: God is our portion, our inheritance, our joy. Abbot Marcus, your life has reflected that truth with quiet confidence and joyful fidelity and an infectious smile.

Similarly, St. Paul, in the Letter to the Ephesians, urges us to “draw strength from the Lord and from His mighty power… and stand firm.”

Here the words “stand firm” stand out. The steadfastness, calm, resolute, and faithful, has been evident in Abbot Marcus’s life: in prayer, in leadership, in careful and reverent celebration of the Holy Mass, and yes, in all aspects of monastic life, from the wood shed, the farm, the byre, and even overseeing the baking department, where ora et labora becomes something you can actually taste! Bread, cookies, and all the fruits of monastic labor remind us that holiness is lived not only in choir stalls, but in kitchens, fields, classrooms, and workshops - really in the midst of people; in the midst of life itself! For you, my dear Abbot, the Word of God, living life as a monastic, is much like the grains once scattered on the hillside that will grow and mature into what the Lord has in mind.

And then the Gospel from Matthew: “Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters … for the sake of My name will receive a hundred times more.”

What a fitting few words for a monk, a Benedictine from this abbey. The promise of Christ is not abstract, not merely an idea in passing. We see it fulfilled right here in Cullman, Alabama: in vocations fostered, lives shaped, hospitality extended, and faith strengthened.

The Rule of St. Benedict also gives us language for what we celebrate today. St. Benedict reminds the abbot that he is to “teach more by example than by words,” and that “nothing is to be preferred to the work of God.” Of course, we know that the word “abbot” is derived from “Abba” which means father. You have been a father here and for all of us! 

Abbot Marcus, you have embodied that spirit. Your leadership has been marked not by noise, but by presence; not by haste, but by faithfulness; not by self-importance, but by service. You have guided this community in prayer, stability, and joy—always pointing beyond yourself to Christ.

As Bishop of Birmingham, I rightly add that the Diocese of Birmingham is profoundly blessed by its relationship with St. Bernard Abbey, not merely because of the historical connection. Perhaps better, it is a living communion. Together, we love this land and the people of northern Alabama, and together - monks, sisters, priests, and faithful - we have given our lives for it. The Benedictine witness of ora et labora has shaped souls throughout our diocese and far beyond it: through the Abbey, through St. Bernard Prep School, and through the countless men and women whose lives have been touched here from across the nation and, indeed, the world.

Your mission of hospitality has been legendary, welcoming priests in need of rest, retreat groups seeking renewal, pilgrims searching for God. And yes, even a German team for the World Games spent time here a few years ago! That joyful openness is pure Benedictine spirituality: “Let all guests be received as Christ.” Because of my own background from Italian and Polish ancestry, let me add that not only is mealtime a special occasion here, but also that welcome that I’ve experienced over and over again. In speaking about welcome and hospitality, the Poles have a saying. It’s simple enough: “Gość w dom; Bóg w dom!” (A guest in the home is God in the home!) Anyone who has come here experiences that and more!  

We are equally grateful for the collaboration with the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, a partnership that has been a Christian example of hope and healing in Cullman and beyond. Together, you have offered sacred spaces where people can find peace, encounter Christ, and rediscover the authenticity of their vocation, the hope to which God calls them.

Abbot Marcus, today we honor your generous service, your wisdom, your steadfastness, your fidelity, your ardent love for the Church, and your selfless love for the abbey and all those you have graciously welcomed over the years. We trust that your continued prayer, guiding wisdom, and gentle presence will continue to enrich Cullman, this monastery, and our entire diocese.

So today, with joyful hearts and profound gratitude, we say again, clearly, warmly, fraternally, affectionately, and prayerfully: “Thank you. Grazie infinite; ¡Muchas gracias! Obrigado! Merci beaucoup! Vielen Dank! Deo gratias!Thanks! A thousand times, thanks!”

May the Lord, Who has been your portion and your cup all these many years, in the days ahead, abundantly bless you with peace, joy, and the quiet strength that comes from a life so well given for glory of God and the love of His Church! Amen!