Benedict Prize of Mönchengladbach

Preamble

Since the 1960s, the Moenchengladbach Civic Association, in cooperation with the City of Moenchengladbach, has awarded the Benedict Prize at regular intervals, for the first time in 1968. The purpose of the prize was to honour personalities who had set standards in the fields of research, art or science through their energetic actions or outstanding work and who had rendered outstanding services to the preservation of local history and customs. Due to the dissolution of the citizens’ association, the prize was awarded for the last time in 2010 in the previous constellation.
In order to be able to continue awarding a “Benedict Prize” in Moenchengladbach in the future, an association will be founded in 2013 whose task is to award the “Benedict Prize of Mönchengladbach” under new framework conditions.
Benedict of Nursia is the patron saint of Europe. Moenchengladbach is located in the centre of Europe and is a Benedictine foundation. For many centuries until secularisation at the beginning of the 19th century, a Benedictine monastery existed in the city, which had a significant influence on the way people lived together in it and continues to influence its development today.
With its Benedictine past and its central location in Europe, the city of Moenchengladbach is a suitable and virtually predestined location for the award of a prize in connection with the name of Benedict.
Benedict gave his order the rule “ora et labora”. This was the beginning of the attempt to reconcile faith and reason, which has been successful up to the present day. Against this background of tradition and present-day effectiveness, the “Benedict Prize of Mönchengladbach” is to be awarded to personalities whose value-oriented actions stand out in a special way against the background of Christian occidental experience. This is expressed above all in fundamental works and/or deeds – also by younger people – in science, business, politics, society and culture, which are exemplary for the future.
The prize is independent of religious confession and political party affiliation.