Easter Sunday, 4 April, 2021: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 How can I imagine what the resurrection-life is? Scripture doesn’t systematically describe it and theological reflection can only be logical, not experiential. We have yet to live it. It is our hope, not another specimen under a microscope. It is easier […]
The Easter Vigil
Satellite images of the earth taken at night reveal how much of the earth is lit up during the hours of darkness. One of the unfortunate consequences of this phenomenon is that it becomes a real challenge for the avid stargazer to find locations free of light pollution in which to view the stars in […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Holy Thursday
Variety-show entertainers generally prefer to end their productions with a spectacular and climactic final act that leaves their audience cheering for an encore. Jesus obviously wasn’t an entertainer; nevertheless, when one considers the impressive miracles, healings, and other outstanding feats that characterized his years of active ministry, one would perhaps expect that his final act […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
My Lord Jesus was silent before the scribes and Pharisees when they accused him, silent before his judges when they questioned him, silent before those who punished him with torture and crucifixion. Even today, he is silent before the wicked and shameless men who challenge him every day and every hour. If this is so, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Solemnity of the Annunciation
25 March, Solemnity of the Annunciation: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10: 4-10; Luke 1:26-38 I can easily believe that by human reason or observation of the world around us, any of us could arrive at a concept of God. I’m not so convinced that I can conceive a vibrant relationship with the living God […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent
Our struggle to understand the relation between the divine and human natures of Christ and how these interact can sometimes create problematic solutions to perplexing questions. Thus, for example, we have the notion (held by some) that the infant Jesus only pretended to be helpless and unable to speak, whereas, because of his divine nature, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph
Saint Joseph, 19 March, 2021: 2 Sam 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matt 1:16, 18-21, 24a According to the Gospels, Saint Joseph is descended from a fallen royal house, replaced by a monarchy that is only nominally Jewish, struggling to flex its muscle within the Roman Empire. Although aware of his […]
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
In our unhappily individualistic age we can miss the significance of Moses’ impassioned intervention on behalf of his own people threatened with annihilation because of their idolatry. Bear in mind that God’s uncompromising punishment would have spared Moses and made of him a great nation. Yet, later, when Moses returns to the Lord’s presence and […]
SAINT JOSEPH
As we approach Holy Week and the joyous celebration of Easter, it is with regret that our monastery remains closed to the public. We join you in praying for conditions favorable to opening the monastery and welcoming friends and visitors again. In the meantime, however, our Retreat House is open even though it continues operating […]
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
EZEKIEL 47: 1-9, 12 Our fear of losing control is bound up with our struggle to trust—a weakness that extends all the way back to Eden and our First Parents. God knows and understands this weakness and thus gently and gradually trains us to trust him and forgo our desperate need to be in control […]