Head Benedictine from Rome Visits the Mount

Abbot Primate Notker Wolf OSB recently stopped by to visit with the students and monks of Mount Michael. The title Abbot Primate designates his role as 1st among all Abbots. He was recently re-elected to this post at the Congress of Abbots in Rome.

He is visiting Nebraska to give a presentation at Creighton University about the Benedictine Missions in North Korea and to visit Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska. The Benedictines in Schuyler belong to the same Federation as Wolff’s home Abbey which is St. Ottilien Archabbey in Germany. As Abbot Primate he currently resides at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome.

During his visit to Mount Michael the Abbot Primate reminded the monks and staff at Mount Michael that educating young people is the best investment that can be made in the future. It is an investment that won’t fade like on Wall Street.

He also encouraged the students to work hard on their studies because it will provide them with the assets they need for the future. He made a special mention of the importance of learning languages because it opens you to other cultures.

The Abbot Primate also said that in the world we must approach relationships and diplomacy with others as we would like to be approached ourselves. In particular he mentioned the special relationship his branch of Missionary Benedictines has to North Korea. That with all the difficulties with North Korea, the love of the people is what needs to be foremost in our relationship and progress will grow out of that.

At the conclusion of his visit the Abbot Primate played his flute for the assembly. A few pieces by Mozart, and some rock pieces. According to Wikopedia he plays guitar with a a christian rock group called Feedback and counts the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top as influences.

There are several YouTube videos of him playing rhythm guitar with Feedback. Recently he played with Deep Purple in a live concert; the classic piece they performed was Smoke on the Water.

Everyone enjoyed the visit and are thankful for the time the Abbot Primate took out of his schedule to visit the Mount.