From the First Sermon for the Feast of the Assumption by Bernard of Clairvaux, translated by Marie-Bernard Said, OSB in Mary Most Holy: Meditating With the Early Cistercians, CF 65, p 215 f Our earth has today sent heaven a precious gift, that by giving and receiving a happy compact of friendship, human affairs should […]

The comunity Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. All communion will be distributed from the main altar. The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God is the patronal feast of the Cistercian Order.  It is celebrated as a non-work day for the monks and we follow the […]

Ailred died in 1167, a significant date because of what had not yet occurred. He died before the hard work and systematic organization of the Cistercian conversi, the lay-brothers, in England effected the flourishing wool trade. The resulting wealth would rebuild Abbot William’s Rievaulx into the gothic monastery, the ruins of which are the impressive memorial we see today. […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Orthmann, presiding and preaching. Vespers (at 5:30 PM) will be followed immediately by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament (at approximately 5:53 PM). All are welcome to join us.

As was mentioned in the previous post about Ailred, the last years of his life were limited by his chronic arthritis. Despite that, he managed to spend time writing and even traveling on monastic or Church business. There is a frequently quoted incident from this period concerning a disgruntled, probably deranged, brother who came upon Ailred sitting […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. Vincent Collins will preside and preach. Since this is the First Sunday of the month, Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM and continue through Vespers at 5:30 PM. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, beginning around 5:53, will conclude adoration. All are invited to […]

Ailred was crippled with arthritis in the last years of his life. His condition was so bad that he was dispensed by the General Chapter from the regular monastic routine and lived in hut adjoining the the infirmary. Despite his infirmity, these were productive years when he produced much of his writing. His final work was […]

Thanks for responding to our last announcement about available space at the Retreat House. There is still good availability for weekdays through late summer and many openings on weekends. If you’re interested, please contact Carol Hensley, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM till 4:30 PM at 540-955-4383 by phone or information@hcava.org by email.

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. James Orthmann will preside and preach. Because Abbot Robert will be driving up to Genesee Abbey, near Rochester New York, for that community’s Abbatial Blessing, and Fr. Vincent will be cooking, they will be absent from the community Mass. We will celebrate in a simpler manner. All communion […]

There’s still good availability for a stay at our Retreat House through the rest of July, August and September (though the last weekend in September is reserved for the participants in the Monastic Immersion Weekend). If you have that “vacant” vacation time, or perhaps your vacation plans have run aground or you need to “get […]