# Gregory Polan

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{{short description|American Catholic Benedictine Abbot Primate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Benedictine Monk
| honorific-prefix = [The Most Reverend](/source/The_Most_Reverend)
| name = Gregory Polan
| honorific-suffix = [OSB](/source/Benedictine)
| title = [Abbot Primate](/source/Abbot_Primate) Emeritus
| image = DSC 0054 portrait.jpg
| alt = Portrait of Gregory Polan in 2021
| caption = Polan in 2021
| church = 
| province = 
| diocese = 
| appointed = 
| elected = 2016
| enthroned = 
| term_end = 2024
| predecessor = [Notker Wolf](/source/Notker_Wolf)
| successor = [Jeremias Schröder](/source/Jeremias_Schr%C3%B6der)
| other_post = 
| ordination = 26 May 1977 [Conception Abbey](/source/Conception_Abbey)
| consecration = 
| consecrated_by = 
| cardinal = 
| created_cardinal_by = 
| rank = Abbot Primate
| birth_name = John "Jack" Polan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|01|02|df = yes}}
| birth_place = [Berwyn, Illinois](/source/Berwyn%2C_Illinois), U.S.
| death_place = 
| buried = 
| religion = [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church)
| residence = [Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino](/source/Sant'Anselmo_all'Aventino) [Rome](/source/Rome), [Italy](/source/Italy)
| parents = Edward Polan & Martha Kasperski
| previous_post = [Abbot of Conception Abbey](/source/Conception_Abbey)
| motto = 
| coat_of_arms = 
| education = [PhD](/source/PhD) in [Sacred Scripture](/source/Scripture) (1984 [Saint Paul University](/source/Saint_Paul_University))
}}

'''Gregory Polan''', OSB (born January 2, 1950) is an American [Benedictine](/source/Benedictines) monk, priest, scripture scholar, musician, and author. He is a member of [Conception Abbey](/source/Conception_Abbey) in [Conception, Missouri](/source/Conception%2C_Missouri), which is part of the [Swiss-American Congregation](/source/Swiss-American_Congregation). He previously served as the ninth abbot of Conception Abbey. From 2016 to 2024, he served as the tenth [Abbot Primate](/source/Abbot_Primate) of the Benedictine Confederation.

==Biography==

===Early life===
John Polan (known by his family as "Jack") was born on 2 January 1950 in [Berwyn, Illinois](/source/Berwyn%2C_Illinois), USA, to Edward and Martha Rita (née Kasperski) Polan; he has two brothers.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=16 February 2001 |title=Polan |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-02-16-0102160049-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref> He began attending St. Mary's grade school in [Riverside, Illinois](/source/Riverside%2C_Illinois), followed by the minor seminary of [Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary](/source/Archbishop_Quigley_Preparatory_Seminary) in the [Archdiocese of Chicago](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Chicago). Polan made a visit to [Conception Abbey](/source/Conception_Abbey) in [Missouri](/source/Missouri) to explore a call to the [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) monastic way of life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.conceptionabbey.org/abbot-gregory-elected-abbot-primate/ |title=Abbot Gregory Elected Abbot Primate |website=www.conceptionabbey.org| publisher=Conception Abbey Monastery News |date=10 September 2016 |access-date=3 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vocationblog.com/2016/09/conception-abbey-abbot-elected-abbot-primate/ |title=Conception Abbey Abbot Elected Abbot Primate |last=Marek |first=Sabina |date=20 September 2016 |website=www.vocationblog.com |publisher=Vocation Blog |access-date= 3 December 2021|quote=}}</ref>
 
===Monastic life===
Polan entered the [novitiate](/source/novitiate) of Conception Abbey in 1970 and made his [religious profession](/source/religious_profession) as a monk on 28 August 1971, being given the name of "''Gregory''." He continued further studies in [Philosophy](/source/Philosophy) and [Theology](/source/Theology) and completed his [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [Theology](/source/Theology) 1975 at [St. John's School of Theology](/source/College_of_Saint_Benedict_and_Saint_John's_University).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/555/ |title=Graduate Paper of Gregory Polan, O.S.B. |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.csbsju.edu  |publisher=Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary |access-date= 13 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/554/ |title=Graduate Paper of Gregory Polan, O.S.B. |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.csbsju.edu  |publisher=Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary |access-date= 13 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/553/ |title=Graduate Paper of Gregory Polan, O.S.B. |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.csbsju.edu  |publisher=Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary |access-date= 13 October 2021}}</ref> He was ordained a priest on 26 May 1977. After returning to his home abbey for a short period of pastoral work and teaching, he was later assigned to [Saint Paul University](/source/Saint_Paul_University) in [Ottawa](/source/Ottawa), [Canada](/source/Canada), to complete further studies in biblical exegesis. In 1984 he received his [Ph.D.](/source/Ph.D.) in [Sacred Scripture](/source/Scripture) with his dissertation entitled "''In the ways of justice toward salvation: a rhetorical analysis of Isaiah 56-59''."<ref>{{cite news |last=Senèze |first=Nicolas |date=10 September 2016 |title=Un Américain à la tête des bénédictins |url=https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Un-Americain-a-la-tete-des-benedictins-2016-09-10-1200788062 |language=French |work=La Croix |location=Paris, France |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Gregory Polan |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=WorldCat |oclc=1270876112 |quote=}}</ref>

Upon returning to Conception Abbey, he began teaching in the Abbey's College Seminary (Scripture, Hebrew, Greek, Liturgy, Music) and served for ten years as [President-Rector](/source/Rector_(academia)) of the College Seminary. On 6 November 1996 he was elected the ninth abbot of Conception Abbey. During his time as abbot he continued work in teaching, offering retreats, assisting with translations of the [New American Bible](/source/New_American_Bible), and serving as a consultant to the [United States Conference of Catholic Bishops](/source/United_States_Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops).<ref>{{cite news |last=Kraft |first=Sara |date=23 September 2016 |title=Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B. elected Abbot Primate |url=https://catholickey.org/2016/09/23/abbot-gregory-polan-o-s-b-elected-abbot-primate/ |work=The Catholic Key |location=Kansas City, MO |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=10 September 2016 |title=Gregory Polan neuer Abtprimas der Benediktiner |url=https://www.kna.de/agentur/archiv/ |language= DE |work=KNA-Katholische Nachrichten-Agentur |location=Bonn, Germany |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref>

Polan was brought to the larger public attention on 11 June 2002 when he had to serve as the spokesperson for his abbey following a tragedy. A gunman carrying an assault rifle entered the monastery, killing two monks and injuring another two. The gunman subsequently killed himself in the encounter with police; a motive for the killer's actions was never made clear.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dillon |first=Sam |date=11 June 2002 |title=Man, 71, Kills 2 at Missouri Monastery and Then Himself |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/2002/06/11/486000.html?pageNumber=16 |work=New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dillon |first=Sam |date=12 June 2002 |title=Monastery Gunman Ignored Pleas for Mercy From Monk  |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/2002/06/12/497550.html?pageNumber=22 |work=New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>

Polan is a translator of liturgical texts. A project to revise the [Grail Psalms](/source/Grail_Psalms) translation began in 1998 and received final approval from the [Vatican](/source/Holy_See) in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2019/usccb-purchases-translation-psalms-and-canticles-conception-abbey |title=USCCB Purchases Translation of Psalms and Canticles from Conception Abbey |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.usccb.org |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref> He was also involved with the revised [Liturgy of the Hours](/source/Liturgy_of_the_Hours), the [Lectionary](/source/Lectionary), the [New American Bible](/source/New_American_Bible), and the [Roman Missal](/source/Roman_Missal).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fdlc.org/sites/default/files/files/Intro_McManus_Award_Abbot%20Polan.pdf |title=2019 Frederick R. McManus Award |date=2019 |website=www.fdlc.org |publisher=Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions |access-date=10 October 2021 |quote= |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010183127/https://fdlc.org/sites/default/files/files/Intro_McManus_Award_Abbot%20Polan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hays |first=Charlotte |date=18 March 2011 |title=Bible Gets Linguistic Makeover |url=https://www.ncregister.com/news/bible-gets-linguistic-makeover |work=National Catholic Register |location=Kettering, OH |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref>

On 16 September 2016 Polan was elected the [Abbot Primate](/source/Abbot_Primate) of the [Order of St. Benedict](/source/Order_of_St._Benedict) and the [Benedictine Confederation](/source/Benedictine_Confederation). The office of Abbot Primate was created by [Pope Leo XIII](/source/Pope_Leo_XIII) in 1893 to serve the Benedictine monastic community as its liaison to the Vatican and civil authorities, to promote unity among the various autonomous Benedictine monasteries and congregations, and to represent Benedictines at religious gatherings around the globe. Until 14 September 2024, he served as abbot of the [Primatial Abbey of Sant'Anselmo](/source/Sant'Anselmo_all'Aventino), the grand Chancellor of the [Pontifical University of Saint Anselm](/source/Anselmianum), and oversaw the [College of Sant'Anselmo](/source/College_of_Sant'Anselmo) in his appointment of its prior and rector. Polan was the tenth Abbot Primate and the fourth American to be elected.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wooden |first=Cindy |date=12 September 2016 |title=American elected new abbot primate of Benedictine order |url=https://cruxnow.com/cns/2016/09/american-elected-new-abbot-primate-benedictine-order/ |work=Crux |location=Scottsdale, AZ |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=23 September 2016 |title=Gregory Polan |work=National Catholic Reporter |location=Kansas City, MO}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=21 April 2018 |title=The Benedictine Confederation marks 125 years |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-04/benedictine-confederation-125-years-gregory-polan.html?fbclid=IwAR0gUmypTCSuG0ppiH1sqOYRyLsZVeT-CjO9CmpCwTP3WF8dEdtgsXxmcW0 |work=Vatican News |location=Vatican City |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref>

==Selected bibliography==
* ''In the ways of justice toward salvation: a rhetorical analysis of Isaiah 56-59'', New York: Peter Lang 1986 ({{ISBN|978-0-8204-0280-2}})
* ''The Revised Grail Psalms: a liturgical Psalter'', with Frances E. George, Collegeville: Liturgical Press 2012 ({{ISBN|978-0-8146-3483-7}})
* ''The Psalms songs of faith and praise: the Revised Grail Psalter with commentary and prayers'', Mahwah: Paulist Press 2014 ({{ISBN|978-0-8091-4882-0}})
* ''Die Psalmen: Impulse zu den ältesten Gebeten der Bibel: der Münsterschwarzacher Psalter'', with Matthias Hofmann (in German), [Münsterschwarzach](/source/M%C3%BCnsterschwarzach_Abbey): Vier-Türme-Verlag 2020 ({{ISBN|978-3-7365-0306-9}})
* ''Compositions of Gregory J. Polan'' at Hymnary.org<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hymnary.org/person/Polan_Gregory?tab=tunes |title=Gregory J. Polan |website=www.hymnary.org |publisher=Hymn Society of the United States and Canada |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref>
* numerous articles, book reviews, conferences, lectures, and videos

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.osb.org/the-benedictine-order/the-benedictine-confederation/ The Benedictine Confederation of Congregations of Monasteries of the Order of Saint Benedict] (official website)
* [http://www.osbatlas.com/ International Atlas of Benedictine Monasteries]
* [https://www.collegiosantanselmo.com/en/ Collegio Sant'Anselmo] (in Italian and English)
* [https://ateneo.anselmianum.com/ Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo] (in Italian and English)
* [http://www.chiesasantanselmo.com/ Chiesa Sant'Anselmo] (in Italian and English)
* [https://www.conceptionabbey.org/ Conception Abbey] (in English)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polan, Gregory}}
Category:1950 births
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers
Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic theologians
Category:20th-century Christian abbots
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers
Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic theologians
Category:21st-century Christian abbots
Category:Abbots Primate
Category:American abbots
Category:American Benedictines
Category:American male non-fiction writers
Category:American religious writers
Category:American Roman Catholic writers
Category:Benedictine abbots
Category:Catholics from Illinois
Category:People from Berwyn, Illinois
Category:Writers from Illinois

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gregory Polan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Polan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Polan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.