Treading that fine line between a false humility that hides God’s gifts and boastfully parading one’s good works before others is something that Elijah seems to have been able to do. Seemingly aware of his imminent ascent into the heavens and humbly not wanting Elisha to witness this amazing spectacle he requests that Elisha remain […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 11th Sunday of the Year
In the world of cartoons things like vacuum cleaners are credited with a life of their own and endowed with the ability to choose their actions. Now apart from the fact that vacuum cleaners don’t have brains—even though some may be programmable—they are totally dependent on being connected to an electrical outlet capable of delivering […]
Brother Theodore begins his postulancy
Having recently spent three months within the community as an “observer,” Brother Theodore Berezuk (formerly Todd) has returned as a postulant to begin his initial period of formation. He joins Brothers Mark, John, and Richard in their continuing process of discernment and seeking the will of God for their lives. It has been a long […]
Thursday of the 10th Week of the Year
The anger that brings one to murder a fellow human being is on the far end of that spectrum that has mild irritation at its opposite end. And although mild irritation is very unlikely to bring us to commit murder, unexamined irritation has the potential to eventually become blind and murderous rage. But even if […]
Wednesday of the 10th Week of the Year
The increasingly popular notion of various religions being merely different paths to the same reality and truth, is something that Elijah would have taken issue with. For this great prophet it was either Baal or the Lord, with no straddling of the issue. Although there is some appeal and even some validity to “the all […]
Gift Shop closed for the day
Friday, June 8, is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, and is observed as a full monastic holy day. Accordingly, the Gift Shop will be closed all day Friday and will reopen on Saturday morning at 10.00 a.m. As usual, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers and visitors.
Wednesday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
In the opening greeting of his Second Letter to Timothy, we have heard Paul wish grace, mercy, and peace for this beloved disciple and fellow worker. And this order is neither incidental nor unintentional; for mercy stands as a bridge between grace and peace. For the grace whereby we are redeemed and saved in Christ […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Corpus Christi
Some of my childhood memories include returning from a funeral or wedding that took place in a non-Catholic Church and hearing my parents comment on how empty the church felt because of the absence of the Blessed Sacrament. The great feast we celebrate today confirms that this feeling is more than just imagination and that […]
Friday of the 8th Week of the Year
Doing no more than is asked or required of you can sometimes be the virtuous thing to do. However, at other times it can betray a fundamentally selfish attitude ever on guard against being taken advantage of and thus refusing to go the extra mile. This self-protective stance that curbs generosity is perhaps well represented […]
Wednesday of the 8th Week of the Year
Bitter zeal and good zeal (as outlined by Saint Benedict) are often preceded by a third which, we might term “untested zeal.” James and John exemplify this zeal with their brash insistence that they were able to receive the baptism with which Jesus was to be baptized and drink the chalice he was to drink. […]