In all the four gospels, if I remember right, Mary is heard to speak only four times: first to the angel but only after he had spoken to her once and yet again; second to Elizabeth, when the voice of Mary’s greeting caused John to leap in her womb and Elizabeth magnified Mary, but Mary […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 17th Sunday
Saint Paul’s insistence that all things work for good for those who love God, might perhaps be thought of as his expression of a similar conviction captured in that pious aphorism: God writes straight on crooked lines. As comforting as these words can be to the suffering and perplexed Christian, it is important that they […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 16th Sunday
Sixteenth Sunday, Year A, 23 July, 2025: Wisdom: 13:16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43 Listening to these parables, I’d say that Jesus could never work for a political campaign or an advertising agency. Either of those occupations stress the positive advantages of the platforms they promote; Jesus’ description of the kingdom of heaven undercuts privilege, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 14th Sunday
Fourteenth Sunday, Year A, 9 July, 2023: Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30 In a culture that valued scholars who studied God’s word, Jesus teaches a subversive opinion: Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones. That’s not to say that […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 13th Sunday
The totally uncompromising words of Jesus according to which whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, calls to mind Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac, his only son (and heir). Jesus’ call to an uncompromising love of him is thus among those so-called “hard sayings” of Jesus that test the […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 12th Sunday
Twelfth Sunday, Year A, 25 June, 2023: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-25; Matthew 10:26-33 Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known, says Jesus. I remember as a teenager how I hungered to be known and understood by someone, no longer isolated in my secrets or the […]
Final Vows and Monastic Consecration
On Saturday, June 17, our monastic community had the special joy and grace of celebrating the Profession of Final Vows by our Brother, Mary John Blaschik. This solemn ceremony occurred in the presence of Brother John’s family, close friends, and other monastic guests. It was significant for the monastic community in that it was the […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
But as for me, whatever is lacking in my own resources I appropriate for myself from the heart of the Lord, which overflows with mercy. And there is no lack of clefts by which they are poured out. … But the nail that pierced him has become for me a key unlocking the sight of […]
Gift Shop on Saturday alert:
Please be advised that the Gift Shop will be closed for the next two Saturday mornings. That is, on June 10 and June 17. However, on both those days the Gift Shop will still be open in the afternoon from 2.15 until 4.15. Then, from Saturday, June 24, onwards the Gift Shop will be open, […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the Ascension
The Ascension, although not quite the culminating solemnity of this glorious Easter Season is one in which we come back full circle—back to where it all began: In a garden, standing before a tree laden with forbidden fruit. As we know, our First Parents defied our Creator’s command and, at the Ancient Serpent’s beguiling suggestion, […]