Fifty years ago three monks sought renewal. They established Cascina dei Santi. This monastery near Milan was a bold experiment. It blended traditional Benedictine life with the spirit of Vatican II. The location was a near-derelict farmhouse. It belonged to the Ambrosian Library. Friends of Abbot Bernardo Cignitti suggested the site. It was far from ideal but it was chosen.
Cascina dei Santi was more than just bricks and mortar. It became a beacon. It drew in vocations aligned with Comunione e Liberazione. Don Giussani embraced the project. Sadly Abbot Cignitti died soon after the 1971 inauguration. The monastery faced challenges. For a decade it struggled without a superior.
Cardinal Martini intervened in 1981. He formed the remaining monks into a Pia Unione. A miracle followed. In 1990 the Holy See recognized Cascina dei Santi. It became a Priorato sui iuris of diocesan right. A unique status worldwide.
Today Cascina dei Santi thrives. Twenty-three monks live there. They follow the Rule of St Benedict. Their days are filled with prayer and work. They rise at 5 am concluding their day at 9 pm. Initially they farmed the land. They even had a dairy. Around 1990 they diversified. Fifteen years ago they learned brewing techniques in Belgium. Cascina dei Santi became Italy’s first beer-producing monastery.
The monastery itself includes a church a chapter house monks’ rooms and a library. The library holds volumes used for courses they host. Expansion is underway to accommodate guests. Cascina dei Santi’s story is one of faith resilience and adaptation. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of monastic life. It’s a story woven into the fabric of Milan itself.