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Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane Berryville, Virginia 22611

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For 1500 years monks have prayed the Liturgy of the Hours. Join us in continuing this monastic tradition.

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Welcome to Our Lady of the Holy Cross Abbey

The monastery is a school of the Lord's service where Christ is formed in the hearts of the brothers and where in solitude and silence they aspire to that interior quiet in which wisdom is born. By generous hospitality they share with their fellow pilgrims the peace and hope which Christ has freely given.
(Constitutions of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance 3:2-3)

Read more about our life

Monastery remains closed

May 13, 2022

As the glorious Season of Easter continues, we are happy to announce a partial opening of the Monastery Chapel. By this is meant that the chapel is now open to our retreatants during their stay with us. The reason for not yet opening to the public in general is that our small Guest Chapel limits the number of people it can accommodate, while still attempting some degree of social distancing. It is to be hoped that this temporary arrangement will soon give way to the full opening of the chapel. We thank you for your understanding in this regard and will let you all know as soon as the present restriction is lifted.

In the meantime, however, our Retreat House is open but does require that retreatants be vaccinated. Until further notice, the confessor/counselor will also not be available. For more information on safety measures being implemented in our Retreat House and for making a reservation, please email Carol Hensley at information@hcava.org Also, we will continue to livestream daily mass and the main offices of the day: Lauds and Mass at 7.00 a.m. (Sunday Mass at 10.00 a.m.); Vespers at 5.30 p.m. and Compline at 7.30 p.m. (Please be aware that the quality of both image and sound is far less than ideal because of technical limitations)

  • Anyone wishing virtually participate our liturgies need simply Click Here to be redirected to our livestreaming page.

MONASTERY FRUITCAKES AND THE GIFT SHOP

Fruit Cakes, Creamed Honeys, and Monastery Truffles can still be purchased online at: www.monasteryfruitcake.org In the light of continuing health concerns relating to COVID-19, the Gift Shop remains closed until further notice. We thank our faithful fruitcake customers for availing themselves of the pick-up service offered at the Gift Shop and if you still wish to purchase these fruitcakes, they (small and large) remain available. To this end, please note:

  • Fruitcakes will be placed in the foyer of the Gift Shop—which will be open from 8.30 a.m., until 4.30 p.m., Sunday through Saturday—no monk will be in attendance.
  • The price of each larger 2.25 lb. cake is $35.00 and each 1.5 lb. fruitcake is $25.00—these prices include sales tax.
  • Checks are preferred, but cash is also welcome—please ensure that you have the exact amount as change cannot be provided.
  • A deposit box for checks/cash is also located in the foyer.
  • AND WHEREAS OUR CREAMED HONEYS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FOYER OF THE GIFT SHOP, the logistics involved dissuade us from making any other products or items from the Gift Shop available at this time—we thank you for your understanding.
  • Also, please note that the monastery and abbey chapel remain closed to the public until further notice.

Please join us in praying for all those directly affected by this unprecedented health crisis—especially those who have lost loved ones.

News

A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers

May 3, 2022

Let us honor Mary, …. since she knows the course and outcome of all miseries, she soothes our fears, she awakens our faith, strengthens our hope, drives away our cowardice, and encourages us when we are timid.  You fear to approach the Father?  Terrified by the mere sound of his voice, you flee to the woods.  He has given Jesus as a mediator.  What can such a Son not gain from such a Father? He … Continue Reading

  • A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
  • A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers

Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter

May 22, 2022

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C, 22 May, 2022: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Revelation 21:10-24, 22-23; John 14: 23-29      This brief passage from John’s Gospel is densely packed. Jesus speaks of his departing and returning; he also refers to the apostles’ sense of loss but that they should be glad for him. He tells them to keep his word out of love for him; and finally, that the … Continue Reading

  • Fr. James’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter
  • Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Sunday

...more liturgy posts

From the Abbot’s Lectio Notebook

May 20, 2022

Although it is undeniably the greatest honor to be chosen by Christ to be his friend, we might be a little concerned by his additional assertion that in choosing us he has also appointed us to go and bear fruit that will remain. This is especially so when our lives of discipleship seem devoid of any observable fruit. Like that fig tree cursed because it bore no fruit, we too might risk earning … Continue Reading

Retreat House

Staying a few days at the Abbey's Retreat House is the primary way guests can get a taste of our monastic life, by entering into silence and solitude, the natural beauty of the setting, and the monastic liturgy throughout the day. Retreat House guests commit to maintaining the silence and contemplative environment of the place.

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Gift Shop

The first building many of our guests visit when they come to the monastery is the Gift Shop/Porter’s Cottage located at the end of the entrance road to the monastery.

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Bakery Products

If you’re local or able to make a trip to visit us, we would appreciate a visit the monastery in person and you can get your fruitcake at the best price directly from the Gift Shop.

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Donation

We must be intentional in making sure the ongoing financial support needed to keep the Abbey running is acquired. You can make a one time gift or, better yet, you can become a Sustainer.

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Cool Spring Natural Cemetery

Cool Spring Natural Cemetery is maintained and managed by the Cistercian Monks of Holy Cross Abbey where, for over sixty years, monks have lived on land made sacred by their lives of worship, prayer, and hospitality offered to all who visit. The cemetery thus constitutes a tangible extension of the monks’ life of worship, prayer, and their long tradition of hospitality.

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Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane
Berryville, Virginia 22611-2700
Phone: (540) 955-4383

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