In his book Chance or Purpose: Creation, Evolution, and a Rational Faith, Cardinal Schönborn reminds us of the apparent insignificance of humanity living precariously on this tiny planet that seems lost in the sheer immensity of a universe made up of billions of galaxies that seem to stretch into infinity. As people of faith who […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Christmas
Christmas Day Mass: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 The Russian author, Paul Evdokimov, wrote that the life of Christ begins, heightened by wonders: his conception announced by an angel, conceived of the Virgin, lauded by a choir of angels, marked in the heavens by a star, worshipped by Magi from the East…But then […]
Fr. James’ Gospel Reflection, Fridy Dec 23
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Luke 1:57-66 The name John means The Lord is gracious. Elizabeth’s insistence on the name confesses her recognition that her child is a gift from God, not a given. John is a sign that God is not our speculation, a probability posited by our questions, but is here before our questions […]
CHRISTMAS MASSES
For those wishing to join us at the Christmas Masses: “Midnight Mass” (preceded by Vigils) will be celebrated at 8.30 p.m. this Saturday evening, December 24. The Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday, December 25.
Fruitcakes Sold Out & Christmas Mass Time
As we suspected, our fruitcakes in the Gift Shop are now ALL SOLD OUT. We apologize for those who may not be able to purchase a fruitcake this year. Please remember that our cakes are still available online at monasteryfruitcake.org—at least as of 12/21/22. Christmas Eve Vigils & Mass Saturday evening at 8.30 p.m. and […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A, 18 December, 2022: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 Is Advent the commemoration of events past, an exercise in nostalgia? Does Advent celebrate God’s salvific engagement in the messiness of being human or is it merely a distraction from our current problems, fears, doubts and questions? Or could […]
Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Isaiah’s images of the barren, deserted, and childless wife, and the wife who has both a husband and children, can be understood as images reflecting the work of grace in the case of the former, and unaided human effort in the case of the latter. However, the now more numerous children of the formerly barren […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent
Second Sunday of Advent, Year A, 4 December, 2022: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 Certainly, Jesus is never afraid to confront bigotry and hypocrisy, nor does he avoid talking about judgment or the consequences of sin. But there is a palpable contrast between the teaching of Jesus and the fiery harangues of John […]
Feast of Saint Francis Xavier
Christ’s call to follow him implies walking behind him and tracing his footsteps—as it were. However, while this is surely true in the early stages of discipleship, a verse from our first reading suggests that this initial following becomes a “walking with” Jesus, rather than following on behind him. For in assuring us that our […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
As for me, as long as I look at myself, my eye is filled with bitterness. But if I look up and fix my eyes on the aid of the divine mercy, this happy vision of God soon tempers the bitter vision of myself, and I say to him: “I am disturbed within so I […]