The various ploys utilized in so-called “reverse psychology” succeed because they tap into our sinful, warped, and misguided free wills. In varying degrees, we balk at being told what to do (or not do) and often struggle against a spontaneous rebelliousness. Thus, when a certain response is desired, insisting on its opposite can sometimes achieve […]
Br. Patrick receives the Habit
It was a joyous occasion, this last Sunday, when Brother Patrick (having completed his postulancy) received the Cistercian Habit and began his Canonical Novitiate. He now joins Brothers Paul and Aelred in the novitiate as he (and they) prepares for first vows. Join us in thanking God for calling these three men and let us […]
Wednesday, Lent Week 2
Desiring (like the sons of Zebedee) to be close to Jesus is, obviously, a good thing—one we have all desired. Yet, like James and John, we perhaps underestimated just what getting close to Jesus demands. With experience and sober hindsight, we have come to know a little more about what we were asking, and just […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent
Second Sunday of Lent, Year C, 13 March, 2022: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36 …Moses and Elijah…spoke of his exodus that [Jesus] was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Right in the midst of this incredible epiphany of glory, the mystery of Jesus’ Passover, from his last supper, through his arrest, trial, […]
Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
In an interesting interpretation of Jesus’ admonition that we settle with [our] opponent quickly while on the way to court, the Desert Father, Isaiah the Solitary, identifies the “opponent” with conscience. As we know, in the long spiritual journey towards becoming truly holy (by our being conformed to Christ), conscience can be experienced as an […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
Then the prophet adds, Rend your hearts and not your garments. By these words he is accusing the ancient people of hardness of heart and meaningless superstition. They frequently rent their garments, but not their hearts. … Let the Spirit rend your heart with his sword, which is the word of God; let him rend […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 8th Sunday
It can be helpful (at times) to think in either/or and black and white categories. In doing so, though, we disregard those gray areas of life that can be ambiguous, complex, and even confusing. Jesus seems to be doing just this with his metaphor of the tree that produces either good or rotten fruit—it is […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 7th Sunday
Seventh Sunday, Year C, 20 February, 2022: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38 This Gospel carries the extremely hard commandment to love our enemies. It’s not just the alienating nature, the repulsive aspect of people we dislike or who have hurt us; the underlying problem is the nature of […]
Friday of the 4th Week
Sin can, at times, seem so personal and private that we can perhaps presume that it is only offending God and not affecting others. King Herod’s sins (and those of his family) remind us that this is really never true—our sin always negatively impacts our fellow human beings. Herod’s moral weakness, lack of inner discipline, […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
How wonderful your love for me, my God, my love! How wonderful your love for me, everywhere mindful of me, everywhere eager for the welfare of one who is needy and poor, protecting him both from the arrogance of men and from the might of evil spirits. Both in heaven and on earth, O Lord, […]