Who is an abbot?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerThe abbot is the superior and father figure of a monastery. He is elected by the fully professed members of that monastery, although, in times past he was sometimes appointed by the local Bishop or King, and in some instances, a man from another monastery may be elected by the monks if they do have a suitable candidate to take the position. The abbot's election and reign is governed by the constitutions of the particular congregation. In the United States, in the American-Cassinese congregation, the abbot is now elected for a period of five years. The Archabbot wears a mitre and carrys a crozier, like a Bishop.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980 Abbot. Superior of a monastery of monks having a settled location; a title definitely fixed by St. Benedict. The abbot is elected, usually for life, by the professed members of the community in a secret ballot. The authority of an abbot is, first, paternal, administering the property of the abbey and maintaining discipline in the observance of rule, and, second, is quasi-episcopal in conferring a certain territorial jurisdiction. The rule of the order determines the qualifications of its abbot. His insignia are the pectoral cross and a ring.

Answer 2

He is the head of a monastery or convent. A female abbot is an abbess, she is the head and leader of a convent or monastery for nuns.

Answer 3

An Abbot is the leader of a monastery in the Roman Catholic Church; usually in the Benedictine order but also in the Cisterian order, and Carthusian.

Answer 4

An abbot is the superior or head of an abbey or monastery, or a layman who received the abbey's revenues following the closing of monasteries.

Answer 5

An archabbot is a general superior in certain Catholic congregations.

Answer 6

monks