Today’s gospel reports, rather matter-of-factly, that John the Baptist, upon hearing about his disciples leaving him to join Jesus, responds with the now famous statement: He must increase but I must decrease. Unfortunately, we don’t know if this was as effortless as it sounds, or whether it came at the conclusion of an inner struggle. […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Epiphany
Epiphany of the Lord, 3 January, 2021: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a; Matthew 2:1-12 Isn’t it logical that the Magi begin their search for a newborn King of the Jews in the palace of Herod? But these men are not diplomats or politicians; in English we often refer to them as the Wise Men. They […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
“Arise, be enlightened, Jerusalem, for your Light has come.” This present day of lights has been enlightened for us and consecrated by the Light of Light. He has lain hidden and unknown, but today he has vouchsafed to reveal himself to the world for the enlightenment of all nations. For today he revealed himself to […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family
Holy Family, 27 December, 2020: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40 The English painter, John Everett Millais exhibited a painting entitled Christ in the House of His Parents in 1850, the heyday of romanticism and the family ideal. The costumes and setting suggest an exotic location and a past time, but the figures […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
Although he came to us as a little child, what he brought is not little, what he conferred on us is not little. If you ask what he brought: first of all he brought mercy, according to which, as the Apostle testifies, he saved us. Nor does this benefit only those he found when he […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Christmas Night
Recently, we have been hearing about discoveries of planets thought to be able to sustain life—even human life. These planets are thought to be located within the so-called “Goldilocks Zone” supporting an environment that is neither too warm nor too cold. Authentic Christian and monastic life also requires a “Goldilocks Zone”—one, however, that is not […]
Extraordinary Christmas
As this extraordinary year draws to a close under the still long shadow of the pandemic, we nevertheless trust God’s mercy and saving love—manifested so very powerfully in the weakness of a tiny infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there was no room at the inn. And so we wish […]
Late Advent Blessing
After completing a six-month postulancy Br. Paul Smith had the joy of receiving the Cistercian Novice’s Habit—thereby beginning his formal canonical novitiate. The so-called “clothing of the novice” is a special event in the life of the monk (and of the community) as we each recall our own reception of the habit and renew our […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent
3rd Sunday of Advent, 13 December, 2020: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 John the Baptist has something very important to tell us about discipleship, about the spiritual life: he knows who he is not. Unfortunately we live in a world urging us to label ourselves, selling us ways to […]
Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
In an age when trees, woods, and forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate, the image of God planting cedars, acacias, myrtles, cypresses, and pines in the desert wasteland, is a rather timely and relevant one. God’s intervention is a reminder that the continuing damage being done to our environment is largely the result […]