What is new on the website:

• Austrian Constitution  <click here>
  The constitution of the Austrian Congregation of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine
   

• Introduction to the Canonical Life  <click here>
  By the Confederation of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine
   

• Photo Gallery of all the Canons of Klosterneuburg  <click here>

What is new at Klosterneuburg:

• The Juniors Have Returned!
  Lukas, Hugo, and Jakob have returned from England for Christmas Break.
  Lukas and Hugo are in their second year of theological studies at Heathrop College, and Jakob is in his first year at Oxford. It is great to have the whole Juniorate together again for a little while!
  
   

• First Snow!!!
  We got our first snow this week and, as always, the snow makes everything more beautiful!
  Here are a few pics:

• Statistics
  The annual figures on the houses of the Austrian Congregation is now out.  The statistics offer an interesting picture.  There are 164 member of the congregation.  This includes 6 provosts, 145 chorherren (priests), 6 chorfrater or canons net yet ordained priests, 8 juniors and 6 novices.
  
  (see charts below)

While we do not know the future, there are signs that next year promises to be another good year for vocations at Klosterneuburg.  A number of perspective candidate have already visited. 

Your and our prayers are being answered.  Let us continue to pray for more vocations to the canonical life!
 

• Rorate Masses
  From December 16th through the 23rd, Austrians try to attend the Rorate Masses in preparation for Christmas.  At these celebrations is music and a homily and is often followed by a common breakfast. 
  
  "Rorate" comes from the Latin hymn "Rorate Coeli."  This hymn recalls the prayer found in Isaiah 45:8  "Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down."  This is the way in which the New American Bible translates it from the Hebrew text.  The prayer expresses Israel's longing for salvation from its exile after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and its hope that the Lord would return them to their home and give them justice.
  
  However, the meaning of this prayer goes beyond a people's desire for restoration to embrace the destiny of the human race.  There is a profound messianic sense to this prayer, a yearning for God to sanctify this world, casting out sin and evil and filling it with justice, peace and joy. 
  
  For this reason St. Jerome translated this prayer in a more precise Christological sense when he translated the Old Testament into Latin (Latin Vulgate Bible).  St. Jerome did not invent this meaning.  His rendering merely witnesses to the Sacred Tradition through which the Church came to understand the meaning of many obscure passages of the Old Testament.
  
  The Vulgate translates this same verse as "You heavens, open from above, that clouds may rain the Just One."  Here justice is no longer an abstraction or a concept, but something, or better, some one.  The Just One is tangible, visible, audible, in a word sensible; He is the Incarnate Word of God, the baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ.
  
   

  Rorate Coeli Antiphon: You heavens, open from above, that clouds may rain the Just One. Do not be Angry, Lord our God, No longer be mindful that we have sinned before you. See how Zion, your city, now is left abandoned. Zion is left unguarded now, Jerusalem is desolate: City that claimed your loving blessing and worked for you glory, City where our fathers sang your praises. Antiphon We now our sin, and we are burdened as with some loathsome thing, and have fallen down just like leaves in the blast of winter: and the sins we have committed just like winds have blown us all about. You have taken from us your brightness and comfort, And you have broken us by laying the debt of our sins upon us. Antiphon Lord, now turn to us and see your chosen people's affliction And send down him who is to come, The One promised, the Lamb and yet Lord of all lands, From the rock in the desert to the mount of Zion, your daughter, That he may bring pardon, freeing us captives of our burden. Antiphon Be you comforted, be you comforted, hear me, my people: Soon shall come to you Christ, your Savior. Why do you give way to sorrowing: Has this grieving ended your sadness? Your Savior comes, do not be fearful, for it is I, your God and your mighty Ruler, Zion's Holy One and your Redeemer. Antiphon  (from The Liturgy of the Hours, Volume 1, p. 127)