Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17John 6:51-58 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins at the conclusion of Mass and continues through Vespers, ending with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The monastic community will keep thirty minute watches in […]

Readings: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 Today’s Gospel may seem puzzling–after all, there are Gospel passages that mention the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and today is Trinity Sunday. But if the Church has chosen this text for our celebration, it’s worth considering why. I’d suggest that this Gospel actually provides […]

Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10; John 19:17-18, 25-39 It is with some uneasiness that I undertake to preach this funeral Mass homily, knowing Fr. Paschal’s disdain for eulogies that bear little resemblance to the one being eulogized! Accordingly, I suspect that he has been pleased with the very frank, honest, but affectionate postings […]

This month’s selection is actually from a Cistercian Mother–St. Gertrude of Helfta. But in what sense was she a Cistercian, since her monastery wasn’t under the jurisdiction of Citeaux? From the earliest days, the monks were reluctant to be responsible for monasteries of women. However, women were directed from the start to Tart, a reformed Benedictine […]

The Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Paschal Balkan will be celebrated on Saturday, 10 June at 2:00 PM in the Abbey Church. The burial in the monastic cemetery will follow immediately after. Earlier in the day, Fr. Paschal’s body will have been received by the community after Lauds (approximately 7:25 AM). Between that time and […]

I imagine there may be a few people who had met Fr. Paschal who didn’t learn that he was born in South Boston, but very few. Even if Paschal himself had somehow forgotten to mention that he was a “Southie”, his accent would have said so. For all the decades that he lived in the […]

Fr. Paschal Balkan (2 April, 1927 – 1 June, 2017) died this morning at Winchester Medical Center while his community was celebrating the Mass of St. Justin Martyr. Fr. Paschal was in the forefront of everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Details of his funeral celebrations will be posted later.

We’ve had some cancellations at the Retreat House this weekend, so it seemed worthwhile to let you know about that in case the Spirit inspires you to get away from all the noise and busyness to celebrate Pentecost in a more contemplative setting. With all the recent rain, the Shenandoah Valley is lushly beautiful and, despite […]

As some of you know, Fr. Paschal underwent successful surgery on his heart on 2 May and has been recovering at Rose Hill Nursing Home in Berryville. During that time, he has gratefully received the visits and attention from many of you, his friends, concerned neighbors and acquaintances. This morning, he developed pneumonia and has been […]

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The new sound system has been completely installed and is up and running as of this week; those of you who have waited for this improvement for years may celebrate the […]