The valiant struggle to end the evil of abortion can, at times, seem as fruitless as that quest for Christian Unity highlighted during this octave of prayer for the fragmented Body of Christ. And yet, even without this noble goal being reached, the very struggle to safeguard the life of the unborn serves as a […]
Stained Glass Window
We are happy to report that the stained glass window (featuring the three angels) has been reinstalled in our chapel after being meticulously and expertly restored. The window was the final detail of our chapel renovation (begun in 2016) allowing us to now declare the renovation complete! We take this opportunity to, once again, thank […]
Saints Maur and Placid
It is something of a paradox that the path to true humility leads to realizing just how great we truly are! Clearly the psalmist (quoted in our first reading) trod this path and in his amazement exclaims: What is man that you are mindful of him? For, you crowned him with glory and honor—and made […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Epiphany
They have been called Wise Men, Magi, Kings, and Astrologers and, for all we know, they may have been all these things. That they were astrologers (precursors of our modern astronomers) seems likely given their fascination with the star whose mysterious presence and course they resolutely followed until it led them to the newborn King […]
Wednesday after Epiphany
It is one of the paradoxes of the spiritual life that as we grow closer to God we seem to know less about him. In the obscurity of faith that accompanies this deepening union we gradually shift from thinking of God as someone “out there” as an object to look at, and learn that he […]
Feast of Saint John the Beloved
Over the centuries there have been numerous saints who have longed and even prayed for martyrdom. We don’t know if Saint John had this same desire for martyrdom, but Christian tradition has long maintained he died a natural death at an advanced age in exile on the island of Patmos. In this Saint John dispels […]
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
On this great Feast of our Savior’s Birth, we wish you all the love, joy, and peace our Newborn Savior brings. May his comforting and protecting presence accompany and sustain you all in the year ahead. We thank you for your kind Christmas greetings, prayers, and unfailing generosity to our community. Abbot Joseph and the […]
Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent
There are two primary kinds of pride: The first is based on a person’s delusional sense of his or her greatness with reality contradicting it. The second kind of pride is based on reality but attributes such greatness to oneself instead of giving glory to God. Mary carefully avoids both pitfalls. In yesterday’s gospel we […]
Friday of the Second Week of Advent, Feast Day of St. John of the Cross
Although, as Christians, we affirm the unconditional love of God, receiving this love and benefiting from its saving power is conditional. God’s unconditional love is not to be equated with all things turning out well in the end no matter what—thereby nullifying all negative consequences. The very nature of love is that it excludes coercion—either […]
Fraters sold out; plenty of fruitcakes left
Our popular chocolate-covered fruitcake muffins are sold out and won’t be available until the New Year. To those hoping to purchase these delicacies, we apologize, and trust that some of the other items we sell will serve as worthy substitutes. Please be assured that there is still a plenteous supply of our Truffles and fruitcakes—both […]