ABOUT ABHISHIKTANANDA
Henri Le Saux called Swami Abhishiktananda (1910-1973) was born at Saint Briac, a small coastal village in Brittany. Sensing a vocation to the priesthood early in life, he began seminary studies in Rennes, entered the Benedictine monastery of Sainte-Anne de Kergonan in October 1929, and was ordained a priest in December 1935. His intellectual qualities were put to the service of the community as librarian and as a professor of church history and patristics. It is these same qualities that would prepare him for more exotic undertakings.
At the age of twenty-four, Le Saux felt a call (drawn) to India. He ardently desired to join Jules Monchanin, a diocesan priest from Lyons, who had arrived in India as a missionary in 1939. Le Saux's intention was to live as an Indian and, in this way, make it possible for Christianity to express itself in a life style, as well as in forms of prayer, that was proper to that part of the world. While his initial request to leave the Monastery was declined by his superior, Le Saux did not lose hope and he began studying Tamil. Finally, he was granted permission to leave and he arrived in India on August 15, 1948. Le Saux never doubted that a most extraordinary adventure awaited him and, through his experience, the entire Church.
At the age of twenty-four, Le Saux felt a call (drawn) to India. He ardently desired to join Jules Monchanin, a diocesan priest from Lyons, who had arrived in India as a missionary in 1939. Le Saux's intention was to live as an Indian and, in this way, make it possible for Christianity to express itself in a life style, as well as in forms of prayer, that was proper to that part of the world. While his initial request to leave the Monastery was declined by his superior, Le Saux did not lose hope and he began studying Tamil. Finally, he was granted permission to leave and he arrived in India on August 15, 1948. Le Saux never doubted that a most extraordinary adventure awaited him and, through his experience, the entire Church.
