Thursday, 19 DEC, 2024: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Remember this Gospel tomorrow when we hear about the Annunciation to Mary. Both Gospels share a similar structure but, what distinguishes Zachariah from Mary? Is my righteousness, like Zechariah’s, a substitute for trust in God? Has it degenerated into an attempt to control reality and contain […]
Additional Gift Shop Hours
In addition to the usual hours, the Gift Shop will also be open on the following Wednesday afternoons from 2.15 until 4.15 Wednesday, December 4 Wednesday, December 11 Wednesday, December 18 Those hoping to purchase Fruitcakes from our Gift Shop need to know that we are ALL SOLD OUT AS OF Sunday, December 15th. However, […]
FRUITCAKES SOLD OUT
Those hoping to purchase Fruitcakes from our Gift Shop need to know that we are ALL SOLD OUT AS OF Sunday, December 15th. However, at time of writing, cakes can still be purchased online at monasteryfruitcake.org
The Immaculate Conception
In the passion account of Saint Luke, we are told that in the course of his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel was sent to strengthen and comfort Jesus as his undependable friends lay asleep a stone’s throw away. There is no record of any similar heavenly consolation during the actual crucifixion as […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent
Second Sunday of Advent, Year C, 8 December, 2024: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 1:1-6 Every Second Sunday of Advent we recall John the Baptist—and isn’t that appropriate? During Advent don’t we look forward to the Second Coming of the Lord as we look back to his First Coming? Being in neither one nor […]
THANKSGIVING DAY
Please be aware that Holy Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and that the Gift Shop will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Fr. James’ Homily for Christ the King
24 November, 2024, Christ the King: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37 What do we mean when we call Christ a King? In a nation born of revolt against a parliamentary monarchy, and with a representative democracy shaped by majority vote, how do we understand kingship? What can it possibly mean to us? Standing before […]
Memorial of Saint Cecilia
Just as Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, so we have to enter into the depths of our hearts (through ever-deepening self-knowledge) so that we can drive out from our hearts all that still desecrates this temple of the Holy Spirit. A central means for doing […]
Memorial of Saint Mechtild
For many of us, our search for God takes us out of ourselves in search of a “god” out there. In doing so we are actually distancing ourselves from the God who already dwells within our hearts—a God who is closer to us than we are to ourselves—to paraphrase Saint Augustine. And so, Jesus comes […]
74th Anniversary of Our Founding
18 November, The Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Today’s celebration of the 74th anniversary of our community’s foundation compels me to say a few words. Better than anything that could arise from my imagination are these words of Oscar Romero: …we plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water […]