We thought Florida had issues during the November 2000 election. As the nation watched amid hanging chads and Supreme Court challenges, it took several weeks to resolve the vote.

Maybe they should have tried praying.

And why not? It worked for the Saint Anselm monastic community in 1927 during its first election as an independent monastery. The goal was to elect the community's first abbot, but try as they might, no nominee could get the required two-thirds (15 votes) majority.

According to Br. Isaac Murphy, O.S.B., who last fall helped organize a celebration of the community's 75th anniversary, his founding fathers came close to electing a leader on several occasions. By the 34th round of balloting, though, the monks had had enough. At that point, the community paused to pray the rosary. On the 35th ballot, their prayers were answered, as Bertrand Dolan was elected the first abbot of Saint Anselm.

It remains the longest election in the congregation's history.