This morning in Chapter I reminded my brother monks that among the most precious gifts we can offer God, is the gift of ourselves. However, until we actually know who we truly are, and by a thoroughgoing conversion, come into full possession of who God created us to be, then the gift of ourselves remains […]
Memorial of Saints Basil and Gregory Nazianzen
Like the Pharisees we encounter in today’s gospel, we too can have a problem recognizing the Christ who is among us, and whose face we are challenged to behold in one another. However, this difficulty springs largely from our own hearts—both from our failure to discern Christ in the brother/sister we dislike and find difficult, […]
Sixth Day of Christmas
Our gospel today concludes, rather matter‑of‑factly, with a description of the Holy Family’s return to their own town of Nazareth. Taken in isolation, it gives no hint of the momentous events that had just unfolded in the life of this little and poor family. Shepherds, angels, Magi, and the stirring witness of Simeon, and Anna […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
You fear the Lord of the angels, but love the little Child. You fear the Lord of majesty, but love the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. You fear Him reigning in heaven, but love Him lying in the manger. But what sign did the shepherds receive? You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Christmas Night Mass
In not too many months from now (at the Easter Vigil), we will once again hear those memorable words: O truly necessary sin of Adam! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer! These somewhat surprising words can be thought to reflect the conviction that the incarnation was made necessary by human […]
Christmas Greetings from Holy Cross Abbey
Our Monastery Chapel is, once again, open to the public for Daily Holy Mass and all the Divine Offices. The Gift Shop is closed for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but will be open again on other Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, from 2.15 until 4.15. On Saturdays the Gift Shop is also open from […]
Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent
There is a significant difference between the person seeking a sign from God because he or she doesn’t fully trust God, and the person who seeks a sign in order to discern God’s will and intention. Gideon’s fleece was an instant of the latter, whereas Zechariah’s incredulity an example of the former. Between these two, […]
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2025
For those wishing to join us in celebrating the Christmas liturgies, here are the times for Masses: Christmas Vigil and “Midnight Mass” Wednesday evening, December 24, at 8.30 p.m. Christmas Day Mass Thursday morning, December 25 at 10.00 a.m.
Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Being a nation of immigrants, the attempt to trace our ancestors and draw up a family tree is a popular one. However, in some cases the family tree can be a source of embarrassment as less than noble members are uncovered—members we might prefer to exclude from our ancestry. And yet, as we listen to […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent
Saint Augustine makes the interesting assertion that littleness is proper to great souls, whereas pride, is the misleading greatness of the weak. He goes on to add that the truly humble person has no wish to excel in things that are going to pass away but fixes his or her thoughts on things eternal. In […]