The Aga Khan; The Singing Monks of Norcia

LUCKY SEVERSON HAD A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE LEADER OF 15 MILLION ISMAILI MUSLIMS, WHO IS MUCH REVERED FOR HIS WORLDWIDE EFFORTS TO FIGHT POVERTY.

>>> ALSO, THE ENORMOUSLY POPULAR SINGING BENEDICTINE MONKS OF NORCIA, IN ITALY.

JUDY VALENTE TALKED WITH THEIR AMERICAN LEADER ABOUT CHANTS, PRAYER, MORTALITY AND BREWING BEER.

>>> WELCOME.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

AMERICA ENDED ITS BAN ON GAY ADULT TROOP LEADERS, TWO YEARS AFTER DECIDING TO ADMIT OPENLY GAY YOUTH AS MEMBERS.

THE POLICY WILL NOT FORCE CHURCH-SPONSORED TROOPS TO ACCEPT GAY LEADERS.

BUT SOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS WERE CRITICAL, INCLUDING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY-SAINTS, THE MORMONS.

THEY ARE THE LARGEST BOY SCOUT SPONSOR IN THE COUNTRY.

CHURCH OFFICIALS SAID THE DECISION CONFLICTED WITH THEIR DOCTRINE AND HINTED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING A SEPARATE SCOUTING GROUP.

ABOUT 20% OF ALL BOY SCOUTS ARE MORMONS, AND 70% OF ALL BOY SCOUT SPONSORS HAVE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS.

>>> AT THE VATICAN, POPE FRANCIS APPEALED FOR THE RELEASE OF ITALIAN JESUIT PRIEST PAOLO DALL'OGLIO, WHO WAS KIDNAPPED IN SYRIA TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.

FOR MANY MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OR NO CREDIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT DALL'OGLIO'S STATUS OR WHEREABOUTS, ALTHOUGH HE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED BY ISLAMIC MILITANTS.

FRANCIS ALSO URGED PRAYERS FOR TWO MISSING EASTERN ORTHODOX BISHOPS WHO WERE ALSO KIDNAPPED IN SYRIA SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE DALL'OGLIO.

>>> THERE WAS NEWS THIS WEEK ABOUT THE FORMER CATHOLIC BISHOP OF LIMBURG, IN GERMANY, WHO EARNED THE NICKNAME BISHOP BLING BLING FOR APPROVING A $34 MILLION MAKEOVER OF HIS OFFICE AND RESIDENCE SIX TIMES THE ESTIMATE.

AMONG THE ITEMS HE APPROVED WERE A $27,000 CONFERENCE TABLE AND A $16,000 BATHTUB.

HE WAS REMOVED AND REASSIGNED AFTER IT WAS REVEALED HE HAD PAID FOR HIS LUXURIES FROM A SECRET CHURCH FUND ONLY HE CONTROLLED.

THE LIMBURG DIOCESE WANTS ITS MONEY BACK, AND IS TALKING WITH THE VATICAN ABOUT HOW THE BISHOP CAN BE MADE TO PAY.

>>> IN ILLINOIS, THE EVANGELICAL WHEATON COLLEGE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT WILL STOP PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS BLAMED THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S CONTRACEPTION MANDATE, SAYING THAT PROVIDING COVERAGE WOULD FORCE THEM TO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPLY THEIR STUDENTS WITH THE TYPES OF CONTRACEPTION THAT VIOLATE WHEATON'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

THE DECISION AFFECTS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE SCHOOL'S 3,000 STUDENTS WHO WERE ON THE HEALTH PLAN.

>>> NOW, THE AGA KHAN, WHO TRACES HIS ANCESTRY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.

LUCKY SEVERSON HAD A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE REVERED LEADER OF 15 MILLION ISMAILI MUSLIMS, A SECT OF THE SHIA BRANCH OF ISLAM.

THE AGA KHAN IS AN ENORMOUSLY WEALTHY AND LITTLE-KNOWN PHILANTHROPIST WHO BELIEVES HIS DUTY IS TO FIGHT POVERTY, WORLDWIDE, WITH SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, THE ARTS -- AND HOPE.

HE SPOKE WITH LUCKY IN CANADA.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL MUSICAL RENDITION OF THE ISLAMIC CALL TO PRAYER.

IT'S PERFORMED BY SALIM AND SULAIMAN MERCHANT, INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED COMPOSERS OF OVER 100 BOLLYWOOD FILMS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS.

>> WE'VE MADE ALL OUR OTHER HITS, AND THEY COME AND GO, BUT THESE DEVOTIONAL SONGS, THEY STAY ON.

>> WE MIGHT NOT BE MISSIONARIES IN ITS TRUEST FORM, BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS WE GO OUT THERE AND SPREAD OUR LOVE THROUGH OUR MUSIC.

>> Reporter: SALIM AND SULAIMAN ARE MUSLIMS, ISMAILI MUSLIMS, A SHIA SECT OF ABOUT 15 MILLION SCATTERED AROUND THE GLOBE.

ISMAILIS ARE UNIQUE, THEY SAY, BECAUSE THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY ARE THE ONLY SHIA COMMUNITY LED BY A LIVING HEREDITARY IMAM IN DIRECT DESCENT FROM THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.

HIS HEREDITARY TITLE IS AGA KHAN, AND IT WAS THE AGA KHAN WHO INSPIRED THEM TO MAKE DEVOTIONAL MUSIC.

DO YOU LOOK AT THE IMAM AS A HOLY MAN?

>> YES, HE'S LIKE A SPIRITUAL LEADER, YES.

>> WE PRAY TO HIM TO PRAY FOR US, AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT IS WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S GUIDING US THROUGH OUR DAYS.

>> Reporter: IS THAT A HEAVY WEIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDERS?

>> EVERY DAY, EVERY SECOND.

>> Reporter: IT IS VERY RARE FOR THE AGA KHAN TO GRANT INTERVIEWS.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN TORONTO.

YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL LEADER, A BUSINESSMAN, TREATED LIKE A HEAD OF STATE.

I THINK YOU WERE JUST WITH THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY.

WHICH OF THOSE HATS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> THE INSTITUTIONAL HAT, WHICH IS THE HAT I INHERITED FROM MY GRANDFATHER.

>> Reporter: AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER?

>> AS THE IMAM OF THE ISMAILI COMMUNITY, BY FAR.

>> Reporter: HE WAS ONLY A 20-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT HARVARD WHEN HIS GRANDFATHER BEQUEATHED THE TITLE AGA KHAN TO HIM, BYPASSING HIS FATHER WHO WAS KNOWN AS A RICH PLAYBOY WHO WAS ONCE MARRIED TO THE ACTRESS RITA HAYWORTH.

THE AGA KHAN IS BOTH A BILLIONAIRE WHO OWNS PRIVATE JETS AND YACHTS, AND IS WELCOMED INTERNATIONALLY AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER AND FOR HIS WORK IN SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> HE IS INTERESTINGLY A VERY SHY PERSON, HE DOESN'T LIKE TOO MUCH PUBLICITY.

HE SEEMS TO BE A PERSON WHO JUST WANTS TO DO HIS WORK QUIETLY.

>> Reporter: PROFESSOR ALI ASANI TEACHES ISLAMIC RELIGION AND CULTURE AT HARVARD.

>> ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS HISTORY AND LOOK AT WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED, I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY MUSLIM LEADER IN THE WORLD TODAY WHO HAS SUCH A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> Reporter: THE AGA KHAN IS THE FIRST FAITH LEADER TO ADDRESS A JOINT SESSION OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.

>> WE ARE ACTIVE IN THE FIELDS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT CULTURAL INITIATIVES.

OUR WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN PEOPLE-DRIVEN.

>> Reporter: WITH THE HELP OF TITHES FROM ISMAILIS, THE AGA KHAN PRESIDES OVER ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, ALTHOUGH ISMAILIS DON'T SEE IT AS CHARITY, THEY SEE IT AS THEIR MORAL DUTY.

THE AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, THE AKDN, IS HUGE.

IT OPERATES AROUND THE WORLD, BUT PRIMARILY IN THE POOREST REGIONS OF AFRICA AND ASIA.

THE NETWORK HAS A SIMPLE MANDATE -- TO RELIEVE DISEASE, DEPRIVATION, AND IGNORANCE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, NO MATTER THEIR FAITH.

THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE NETWORK'S MANY THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, WHO COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT FAITHS.

>> FOR ISMAILIS, FAITH CONSISTS OF TWO DIMENSIONS.

THERE ARE OBLIGATIONS TO GOD, WHAT WE SAY, WORSHIP AND PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SO ON, AND THEN THERE ARE OBLIGATIONS TO LARGER SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, THE SICK, THE NEEDY.

ONE HAS TO BE ENGAGED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK.

IT'S NOT ONLY PART OF FAITH, BUT IT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF ONE'S SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT AS A PERSON.

>> ISLAM BELIEVES FUNDAMENTALLY THAT THE SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL WORLDS ARE INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED.

FAITH IS A FORCE THAT SHOULD DEEPEN OUR CONCERN FOR OUR WORLDLY HABITAT, FOR EMBRACING ITS CHALLENGES, AND FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY THE AKDN IS AT WORK IN SOME OF THE POOREST REGIONS OF THE WORLD, PLACES, THE AGA KHAN SAYS, THAT ARE RIPE FOR VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM.

>> NOT ONLY DOES IT COME FROM POVERTY, BUT FRANKLY IN MANY AREAS IT'S PREDICTABLE.

THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DID THAT BECOME EXPLOSIVE, AND HOW DO YOU STOP IT FROM BECOMING EXPLOSIVE?

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU?

>> PREEMPTING IT.

CHANGING THE BASICS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND GIVING PEOPLE, REPLACING DESPAIR BY HOPE.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN BY HOPE.

>> Reporter: AND IN HIS VIEW, HOPE BEGINS WITH EDUCATION, ONE REASON HIS NETWORK OPERATES ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, LIKE THIS ONE IN MOMBASA.

>> EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS SOCIETY, AND THE PURPOSE OF SOMEONE BEING EDUCATED IS TO, ONE DAY, TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR SOCIETY AND HELP IMPROVE THEIR SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: THE AKDN OVERSEES PROJECTS RANGING FROM A CARDIAC SURGERY AND CANCER CENTER IN NAIROBI AND A HYDROPOWER PLANT IN UGANDA.

THE ISMAILIS ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS AND ISLAMIC CULTURE, LIKE THE NEW AGA KHAN MUSEUM IN TORONTO, THE FIRST ART MUSEUM IN NORTH AMERICA DEVOTED TO ISLAMIC ART AND CULTURE.

RUBA KANA'AN IS THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND SCHOLARLY PROGRAMS.

>> OUR CORE MISSION IS EDUCATION, IS BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN CULTURES THROUGH ART, THROUGH INTERACTION AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND ART.

>> Reporter: THIS NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENT, CALLED AN ASTROLABE, KIND OF LIKE AN ANCIENT GPS, IS AN EXAMPLE THAT ISLAMIC, CHRISTIAN, AND JEWISH SCHOLARS WORKED ON TOGETHER.

>> FOR MUSLIMS THEY NEEDED THIS TO FIND THE DIRECTIONS FOR PRAYER TOWARDS MECCA AND THE TIMES OF PRAYER.

WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC INSTRUMENT IS THAT IT HAS ON IT INSCRIPTIONS IN BOTH ARABIC, LATIN, AND HEBREW.

>> THE EMPIRES WHICH FUNCTIONED BEST, YOU HAD INTELLECTUAL PLURALISM, NOT ONLY ETHNIC PLURALISM.

YOU HAD INTELLECTUAL PLURALISM.

THAT IS, THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN SOCIETY, IN MEDICINE, IN LAW, IN SPACE SCIENCES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

THEY CAME TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE CREATES JOBS BY RESTORING ANCIENT HOLY PLACES, LIKE THE BLUE MOSQUE IN CAIRO AND HUMAYUN'S TOMB IN DELHI.

>> FOUNDED BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KAHN IN 1977, THE AWARD HAS ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND COVETED PRIZES IN ITS FIELD.

>> Reporter: THE AGA KHAN OFFERS $1 MILLION PRIZE FOR REVITALIZING ARCHITECTURE.

THE AKDN HELPED TRANSFORM THE AL AZHAR PARK IN CAIRO FROM A 500-YEAR-OLD GARBAGE DUMP TO AN OASIS OF BEAUTY.

THE AGA KHAN SAYS THE ETHICS OF HIS FAITH GUIDES EVERYTHING HE DOES.

>> ISLAM SAYS THAT WE AS MUSLIMS HAVE TO LEAVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN WE FOUND IT, WHEN WE WERE BORN.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALLAH HAS ENTRUSTED TO THE HUMAN RACE THE DUTY TO IMPROVE, WORK WITH HIS CREATION.

AND THAT'S WHY THE AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE IS CALLED A TRUST, AND THAT'S HOW THE ETHIC OF THE FAITH COMES INTO THE WAY YOU WORK.

>> Reporter: HIS TITLE MEANS "GREAT KING," AND HIS FOLLOWERS DO TREAT HIM LIKE ROYALTY.

IN FACT, THEY SEEM TO ADORE HIM.

LISTEN TO 13-YEAR-OLD PEACE ACTIVIST ALYNA NANJI.

>> HE TEACHES US HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL, HE TEACHES US HOW TO CARE, HE TEACHES US MORAL VALUES OF KINDNESS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK WE CAN ALL LEARN A LOT FROM HIM, BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE PERSON THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY SAY "HE WALKS THE TALK."

>> Reporter: HAVE YOU MET HIM?

>> YES.

>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO KIND OF DESCRIBE THAT BECAUSE HE HAS SO MUCH DIVINITY.

IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO TALK IN FRONT OF HIM, AND SINGING IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE ARE THOSE WITHIN ISLAM WHO DO NOT REVERE THE AGA KHAN OR THE ISMAILIS.

>> DURING THEIR HISTORY, THE ISMAILIS SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL OF PERSECUTION AT THE HANDS OF THE CALIPHS, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO HOLD OTHER INTERPRETATIONS OF ISLAM.

ISMAILIS IN SYRIA HAVE BEEN ALSO ATTACKED OR HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY ISIS, ON THE ONE HAND, AND AL QAEDA ON THE OTHER, BECAUSE THESE ARE GROUPS THAT GENERALLY DON'T TOLERATE THE SHIA, BUT PARTICULARLY THE ISMAILIS.

SO THIS HISTORY OF PERSECUTION CONTINUES TODAY.

>> Reporter: ARE YOU GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC?

>> NO, FRANKLY NO.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD SEE A GREATER TOLERANCE AND GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF THE DIVISIONS IN SOCIETY, BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE SEEING FORMS OF POLARIZATION WHICH ARE VERY, VERY UNHEALTHY, INDEED.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY THE AGA KHAN, WHO IS 78 THIS YEAR, TRAVELS THE GLOBE, DOING HIS BEST TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND PRACTICE TOLERANCE.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M LUCKY SEVERSON.

>>> BRITISH CHURCH HISTORIAN OWEN CHADWICK DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 99.

HE TAUGHT AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS KNOWN FOR HIS INFLUENTIAL WORKS ON THE VICTORIAN CHURCH AND THE REFORMATION.

HE WAS ALSO AN ORDAINED ANGLICAN PRIEST.

>>> SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS HAVE ANNOUNCED A MAJOR DISCOVERY IN JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA AMONG THE RUINS OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN THE AMERICAS.

THEY SAID THEY IDENTIFIED THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF FOUR MEN, ONE OF WHOM HISTORIANS SPECULATE MAY HAVE BEEN A SECRET CATHOLIC.

THE JAMESTOWN COLONY WAS TOTALLY WIPED OUT BY DISEASE, STARVATION, AND INDIAN ATTACKS.

>>> WE HAVE A REPORT TODAY FROM JUDY VALENTE ABOUT THE AMERICAN BENEDICTINE FATHER CASSIAN FOLSOM.

HE IS THE PRYOR OF THE BENEDICTINE MONASTERY IN NORCIA, ITALY.

THE MONKS THERE ARE WIDELY KNOWN FOR THEIR MUSIC -- THEIR RECORDED CHANTS HAVE LED THE BILLBOARD CHARTS.

FATHER CASSIAN SPOKE WITH JUDY ABOUT CHANTS, PRAYER, BREWING BEER AND FACING DEATH.

>> Reporter: THE CITY OF NORCIA IN CENTRAL ITALY, A QUIET TOWN OF STONE STREETS, TILED ROOFS, AND SPECTACULAR SCENERY BENEATH THE MOUNTAINS OF UMBRIA.

NORCIA, OR NURSIA AS IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED, IS FAMOUS FOR ITS PORK SAUSAGES AND TRUFFLES -- AND AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF ST. BENEDICT, FOUNDER OF WESTERN MONASTICISM.

NOW NORCIA WILL BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING ELSE, TOO, THESE SINGING MONKS.

>> WE SING THE PRAISES OF GOD NINE TIMES A DAY.

SO IF YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, IT'S PROBABLY FIVE HOURS, MAYBE, EVERY DAY, RAIN OR SHINE, 365 DAYS A YEAR, ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: THE MONKS' RESPLENDENT SOUND IS NOW ON CD, ONE THAT'S TOPPED THE BILLBOARD CHARTS IN TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN A ROW.

THEIR RECORDING INCLUDES THE GREGORIAN CHANT THEY SING DAILY AT THEIR COMMUNITY PRAYER, AND IT HAS CAPTIVATED LISTENERS FAR BEYOND THIS MONASTERY'S WALLS.

>> THERE'S A GREAT HUNGER AND THIRST THAT PEOPLE HAVE, EVEN NON-BELIEVERS.

THERE'S A HUNGER FOR SOMETHING MORE, AND BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T GET THAT SOMETHING MORE IN EVERYDAY SOCIETY, THEY LOOK FOR IT IN SPECIAL MOMENTS, AND IF THE CD CAN RESPOND TO THAT NEED, THEN WE'LL BE VERY PLEASED.

>> Reporter: FATHER CASSIAN FOLSOM IS THE PRYOR, OR LEADER, OF THE MONASTERY IN NORCIA.

HE SAYS THIS FORM OF SUNG PRAYER IS AS ESSENTIAL TO MONKS AS THEIR DAILY BREAD.

>> IT'S A WAY OF EXPRESSING OUR LOVE FOR GOD.

WHEN A MONK GIVES HIS LIFE TO GOD, HE HAS TO EXPRESS THAT IN A PHYSICAL WAY, NOT JUST AN INTELLECTUAL WAY, AND SINGING INVOLVES THE WHOLE BODY AND THE MIND AND THE SOUL.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE U.S., MONASTIC MUSIC IS EXPERIENCING A RENAISSANCE.

THESE BENEDICTINE SISTERS LIVING ON THE PLAINS IN GOWER, MISSOURI, TOPPED THE BILLBOARD CHART THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH CDs OF THEIR CHANT.

THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY FROM ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, HAVE ALSO RECORDED THEIR COMMUNITY PRAYER.

WOULD IT BE THE SAME IF OTHER SINGERS WERE PERFORMING THIS MUSIC, SAY, AN OPERA SINGER, OR VERY GOOD POP SINGER?

WOULD IT BE THE SAME?

>> WELL, PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE SINGING.

WE SING THIS ALL THE TIME.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION, AND SO IT COMES WITH A SORT OF NATURALNESS, ALMOST EFFORTLESSNESS, THAT COMES FROM LONG EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE MONKS' CD IS CALLED "BENEDICTA" AND IS BASED ON SCRIPTURE TEXTS, ANCIENT PRAYERS, AND THE GUIDE FOR MONASTIC LIVING KNOWN AS THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT.

CHRISTOPHER ALDER IS THE GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER WHO TRAVELED TO NORCIA TO SUPERVISE THE MONKS' RECORDING.

>> THE CHANT FOR THEM THAT WE RECORD MEANS SOMETHING TO THEM, AND YOU CAN HEAR THAT IN THE SINCERITY OF THEIR SINGING.

IT DOES HAVE SOMETHING, IN THE BEST SENSE, THAT'S HYPNOTIC OR MEDITATIVE.

IT HAS SOMETHING ETERNAL TO IT.

ONE FEELS ONE IS IN TOUCH WITH THE PAST.

>> Reporter: FATHER CASSIAN'S JOURNEY TO NORCIA AND MONASTIC MUSIC WAS HARDLY A STRAIGHT PATH.

HE WAS STUDYING VOICE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY WHEN HE SAYS HE FELT A CALL TO MONASTIC LIFE.

HE ENTERED THE BENEDICTINE ORDER AT ST. MEINRAD ABBEY IN INDIANA IN 1979.

THERE HAD BEEN NO MONKS LIVING IN NORCIA SINCE 1810, WHEN THEY WERE EVICTED UNDER NAPOLEONIC LAWS IN A WAVE OF ANTI-CLERICALISM.

15 YEARS AGO, THE CITIZENS OF NORCIA PETITIONED THE WORLDWIDE LEADER OF THE BENEDICTINES, SEEKING THE MONKS' RETURN.

>> THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORCIA, AND THEY GATHERED ABOUT 5,000 SIGNATURES, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW THINGS WORK IN TERMS OF SUPERIORS MAKING DECISIONS AND SO ON.

BUT THAT DEMONSTRATED THEIR ENTHUSIASM.

>> Reporter: FATHER CASSIAN WAS TAPPED TO RE-ESTABLISH THE MONASTERY NAMED FOR ST. BENEDICT.

>> THE TOWNSPEOPLE, THEY LOOK TO THE MONKS IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS, IF THEY WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THEIR FAMILY LIFE.

AND TO HAVE THE MONKS BACK AFTER ALMOST 200 YEARS HELPS TO COMPLETE THE IDENTITY OF THE TOWN, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH IF THE MONKS ARE THERE, THEN EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

>> Reporter: THE MONKS HAVE TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING.

SO WHEN THEY AREN'T PRAYING, AND SINGING, THEY WORK.

THEY BREW BEER.

>> WE LEARNED THE ART FROM THE TRAPPIST MONKS IN BELGIUM.

WE RENOVATED AN OLD CAR GARAGE BELOW THE MONASTERY AS THE BREW HALL.

ALL THE MONKS TAKE PART ON BOTTLING DAYS, SIGNING UP FOR AN HOUR SLOT TO FEED THE BOTTLING MACHINE.

>> Reporter: AND YES, THE MONKS DO OCCASIONALLY TIP A GLASS OR TWO.

>> THE BEER IS VERY GOOD, AND IT HAS SERVED, IN A REMARKABLE WAY, AS A KIND OF DRAWING CARD FOR EVANGELIZATION, BECAUSE EVEN IF PEOPLE ARE NOT CHURCHGOERS, MOST EVERYBODY LIKES TO DRINK BEER.

SO THEY COME TO THE MONASTERY FOR BEER, AND THEN PRETTY SOON THEY START TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS, OTHER MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.

>> Reporter: LATELY, FATHER CASSIAN HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT SOME IMPORTANT MATTERS OF HIS OWN.

THE 63-YEAR-OLD MONK HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A RECURRENCE OF CANCER, THE MULTIPLE MYELOMA THAT HE FIRST BATTLED IN 2006 AND THOUGHT HE HAD BEATEN.

>> AS ANYBODY WHO IS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, IT CHANGES YOUR LIFE.

I THINK IT HAS GIVEN ME GREATER PATIENCE, GREATER TOLERANCE, LOOKING AT THINGS FROM A "NOT EVERYTHING MATTERS AS MUCH AS YOU MIGHT THINK IT DOES."

>> Reporter: YOU'VE DEDICATED YOUR ENTIRE LIFE TO SEEKING GOD, TO SERVICE TO OTHERS AND TO GOD.

DID YOU EVER FEEL, "GEE, I DESERVE A LITTLE BETTER THAN TWO DIAGNOSES OF CANCER, A SERIOUS CANCER?"

>> IT'S JUST A PART OF LIFE, THAT'S ALL.

I WOULD SAY THIS -- WE CAN LOOK AT DEATH AS A THIEF OR A MESSENGER.

A THIEF COMES AND STEALS WHAT IS MOST VALUABLE TO US, AND SO WE'RE AFRAID.

A MESSENGER WHO COMES TO TELL US THAT OUR BELOVED IS AT THE DOOR, WE RESPOND MUCH DIFFERENTLY, DON'T WE?

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE.

IS IT A THIEF OR A MESSENGER?

>> Reporter: AND FOR YOU IT'S A MESSENGER?

>> IT'S A MESSENGER.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HIS DIAGNOSIS HAS ALSO BROUGHT HIM CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE OF NORCIA.

>> ANYONE NOWADAYS WHO GETS DIAGNOSED ALWAYS COMES TO ME BECAUSE THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE KIND OF BOND THERE.

SO WHAT IT HAS DONE, ASIDE FROM THE ACCEPTANCE OF DEATH, IS MAKE ME MORE COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE WHO SUFFER SIMILAR THINGS.

AND SO, IN A STRANGE AND PARADOXICAL WAY, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

>> Reporter: FATHER CASSIAN'S CANCER IS CURRENTLY IN REMISSION FOR THE SECOND TIME.

HE HAS BEEN TOLD IT CAN RETURN AND MAY BE FATAL THE NEXT TIME.

MUSIC HAS BECOME AN EVEN GREATER SOURCE OF COMFORT, ONE HE SAYS HE WANTS TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE CD?

>> AN EXPERIENCE OF SERENITY AND PEACE AND THE CALMING OF AGITATION.

>> Reporter: WITH THE MONASTIC COMMUNITY NOW FIRMLY RE-ESTABLISHED IN NORCIA, AND THIS CD AS PART OF ITS LEGACY, FATHER CASSIAN FEELS THAT HE CAN LEAVE THIS WORLD WITH THE WORDS ON HIS LIPS OF SIMEON, AN OLD MAN MENTIONED IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.

AFTER SEEING THE BABY JESUS, HE SAID, "NOW, LORD, DISMISS YOUR SERVANT.

LET HIM GO IN PEACE."

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M JUDY VALENTE.

>>> FINALLY, ON OUR CALENDAR THIS WEEK, MANY CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION ON AUGUST 6TH, RECALLING THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF JESUS BECOMING BATHED IN LIGHT ON A MOUNTAINTOP WITH MOSES AND ELIJAH.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

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AS WE LEAVE YOU, MORE SINGING FROM THE BENEDICTINE MONKS OF NORCIA.