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Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane Berryville, Virginia 22611

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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

Greetings from Holy Cross Abbey

February 28, 2026

For more information click here:
Gregorian Chant and Schola Retreat

Our Monastery Chapel is, once again, open to the public for Daily Holy Mass and all the Divine Offices.

The Gift Shop is open on the following days and times: Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, from 2.15 until 4.15. On Saturdays the Gift Shop is also open from 10.00 – 12.00 Noon, and again from 2.15 until 4.15.

For those still wishing to purchase a Fruitcake, we do still have a limited supply available at the Gift Shop. Also, happy to announce that our much-loved Chocolate-covered Fruitcake Slices are now again available in the Gift Shop.

Our Retreat House is open but until further notice, access to the confessor/counselor will be very limited and not always guaranteed. 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 participate virtually in our liturgies need simply Click Here to be redirected to our livestreaming page.

ONLINE SALES OF SOME OF OUR PRODUCTS

Fruit Cakes, (through our friends at DeFluri’s) Creamed Honeys, and Monastery Truffles can still be purchased online at: www.monasteryfruitcake.org

News

Livestream Issues

May 15, 2026

As several of you have kindly informed us, we are (yet again) experiencing problems with our livestream and are trying to ascertain the nature of the problem. With the weekend upon us, this issue may not be resolved until sometime next week. We apologize for this recurring issue and appreciate your understanding. … Continue Reading

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

Liturgy

Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter

May 10, 2026

Peter and John’s journey to Samaria and their praying for the bestowal of the Holy Spirit on those who had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus highlights one of two clear instances in the Book of Acts in which the effects of Baptism—that first sacrament we all received—don’t always follow the orderly and predictable sequence we have been taught to expect. In the case of the … Continue Reading

  • Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter
  • Fr. James’ Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday

...more liturgy posts

From the Abbot’s Lectio Notebook

May 15, 2026

Jesus’ insistence that it was he who chose the disciples, and not they who chose him, continues in the Church’s life with the Lord’s choice of Matthias to replace Judas—himself once specially chosen, yet ultimately rebellious toward that call. We are not told whether Joseph, called Barsabbas, felt rejected or wounded by not being selected for this intimate circle of apostles; such a reaction would … 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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