Re-arranging Abbey Churches: The Renewal of the Monastic Liturgy and the Re-arrangement of Abbey Churches

T renewal of the liturgy that took shape in the last century and that is attributed mainly to the Second Vatican Council, where it received its formal foundation, was in fact a long time coming. Opinions differ regarding where exactly the renewal’s first beginnings can be traced. There had long been a liturgical movement or liturgical movements, but the intention was not always liturgical innovation; sometimes the aim was liturgical restoration. Depending on one’s perspective, the beginnings can be can be traced to Lambert beauduin (1873-1960) of the Abbey of Mont César in Louvain at the beginning of the twentieth century, or to Prosper Guéranger (18051875), who restored benedictine monastic life in France from the abbey of Solesmes.1