As we remember today Saint Benedict's passing into eternal life, we recall also the disastrous fire at our first American monastery, Our Lady of the Valley, in what is now Cumberland, Rhode Island on 21 March 1950. The remains of the original buildings eventually became what is now the town's public library and senior center. Every few years those in formation make a pilgrimage to the site.
The original gate house of the monastery.
The remains of the front entrance of the Abbey church.
The cloister with its original rib vaulting.
Detail of botanical corbel at the base of the rib vaulting.