This Easter Season is a celebration of the fact that although the Ancient Serpent that is Satan) initially succeeded in derailing God’s great plan and desire for humanity, God neither abandoned us to our fate nor lost his desire to share his divine life with us. Instead, in Christ, God actively came in search of […]
Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Spiritual ideals can be wonderfully inspiring and spur us on to greater holiness. However, ideals can also be discouraging and paralyzing when we find ourselves far from them and unable to draw closer to them. And whereas one doesn’t want to simply debunk ideals out of frustration at not being able to reach them, it […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
This is the mystery, brothers, this is the great sacrament of the Lord’s cross, for in it we have those four virtues. Let surpassing charity be at the head; let obedience be on the right side – it makes children of the right hand; let patience be on the left side – which we must […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Sunday
The other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first…he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. I’ve been asking myself, why did this “other disciple,” “the disciple whom Jesus loved” show deference to Peter allowing him to enter the tomb first? The last time they […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the Easter Vigil
Although it is simpler and easier to think and understand in distinct and separate categories in certain areas of life, when it comes to the life of the spirit this becomes inadequate and problematic. Instead, the spiritual life unfolds in a landscape of grays rather than the black and white of clarity and certainty. And […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Holy Thursday
The Eucharist occupies a central place in our life as Christians and as monks. This evening’s readings bring out something of the complexity of this great sacrament which is a sublime mystery whose depths we can never fully comprehend or even experience. Not surprisingly, then, the Eucharist has been the subject of theological and spiritual […]
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Christ’s harsh words in this morning’s gospel are the kind we have come to associate with his dealings with the Scribes and Pharisees, except that today’s excerpt begins with the phrase: Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him—that is, his disciples. This serves as a reminder that although Christ embraces the sinner with […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Despite what we read in the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, from before the time of Jesus, adulterers were not stoned to death. The point is not whether to follow or ignore the command but how to arrive at the intention of God from the command put into words by Moses. Perhaps you’ve seen paintings […]
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Just as the trees growing alongside the river of the water of life provide both food and medicine, nourishment and healing, so the Eucharist which draws its life from the stream of living water flowing from the pierced side of Christ (as from the temple) is also both food and medicine, nourishment and healing. However, […]
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers
Anyone who wishes to come after me, through me, to me. After me because I am Truth, through me because I am the way, to me because I am the life. Any who wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Christ, the power of God […]