Be grateful for God’s grace; and as you have been transformed into a new creation by Easter’s healing action, so walk always in newness of life. You have been given a share in Christ through the fellowship of faith, by participation in his sacrament, by communion in the Holy Spirit. Strive not only to keep […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Day
Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 I believe today’s Gospel tells us how God loves us. God loves us with so much respect that he allows us the risk of discovery. The point isn’t to get all the right information lined up or even to understand. The point is to keep coming back, to try to […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the Paschal Vigil
Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 55:1-11; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10 Religious skeptics sometimes cite factual inconsistencies among the four gospels as grounds for doubting the authenticity of their message. Over the next few days and weeks we will be hearing some of the inconsistencies in the differing accounts of the resurrection. However, […]
Where’s the Holy Week Schedule for 2017?
Actually, the current Holy Week Schedule has been posted as a Featured article. But that means it does not appear on the homepage. You must go to the TAB marked “NEWS”, click there and it will remain in place as a Featured Post until I remove it Easter Sunday, after Vespers. Just a reminder to everyone that […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers For April
My Lord Jesus was silent before the scribes and Pharisees when they accused him, silent before his judges when they questioned him, silent before those who punished him with torture and crucifixion. Even today, he is silent before the wicked and shameless men who challenge him every day and every hour. If this is so, […]
Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A, 2 April, 2017
Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in the Chapter Room, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The renovated church is not yet reopened; we are waiting on the availability of the crew to finish the surface and staining of the floor, the wall treatment and the […]
Fr. Joseph’s Homily for the Solemnity of the Annunciation, 26 March, 2017
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s alarm and fear at the appearance of the Angel Gabriel suggests, perhaps, that there were no earlier visits from heavenly messengers or any other form of divine epiphany preceding this momentous occasion in her young life. And all this despite the fact that she was sinless […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, 26 March, 2017
Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 4,6-7, 10-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 John’s Gospel usually offers us long discourses. Today’s Gospel, a preview of John’s passion narrative, is a fast-moving account of grace undeterred by controversy and opposition. I recommend you revisit it, picturing the events and putting yourself in the place of the various characters. That […]
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A, 26 March, 2017
Readings: 2 Samuel 16:1b, 4, 6-7, 10-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching. The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday from the opening word of the Latin version of the Introit: “rejoice!” That Introit is a reminder that Lent […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph
The Gospel according to Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 While we are renovating the abbey church–and even while we were discussing the renovations–Abbot Joseph has encouraged us to examine our liturgical practices and experiment, re-inhabit our liturgy. Even though today’s Solemnity is a work day, we have integrated Lauds with a more solemn form of the […]