Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-4, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 The Community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM; it is a non-work day for the monastic community and we follow the Sunday schedule. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM). Today, the First Vespers of the Second Sunday of Advent takes […]
Reflection for Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Isaiah’s triumphant vision portrays a God who turns upside down what most societies value, and a God with a predilection for the poor and powerless. If many of the themes at the beginning of Advent give us pause, this prophecy should really have us worried. These are not the […]
Reflection for Monday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11 Isaiah’s sublimely harmonious vision of Jerusalem belies everything we know of that beleaguered city’s history. The prophet looks to the eschatological, not the historical, city. Certainly nothing in our contemporary experience corresponds to this prophecy. Yet I’ve heard from so many contemporary pilgrims and tourists, visitors to that same city, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Year C
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 I would not limit today’s Gospel to those who will live through the end of time. Even if I never have to face the catastrophes indicated by this Gospel, I am not exempt from the return of the Son of Man. There are many ways that […]
2 December, 2018, First Sunday of the Month, Eucharistic Adoration
We begin the new liturgical year this Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, Year C. And we also observe the monthly Eucharistic Adoration. Adoration begins at 3:00 PM and continues through Vespers (5:30 PM), followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to join us.
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for December
A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Before anything else I think we should consider the grace of the desert, the blessedness of the desert, which right from the beginning of grace has deserved to be consecrated to the repose of the saints. The voice of one crying […]
Reflection for 30 November, Feast of St. Andrew
According to the Fourth Gospel, Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist, who directed him to Jesus. In his turn, Andrew brought his brother, Simon Peter to Jesus. I wonder whether Peter had till that time dismissed his brother as a flakey “seeker” or left him to take the initiative and investigate what […]
Reflection for Wednesday of the 34th Week
Readings: Revelation 15:1-4; Luke 21:12-19 Today’s Gospel reminds us of what we may not wish to know: that catastrophe is part of human life, part of discipleship. Not even the Lord who calls us guarantees a smooth path. Catastrophe is not an index of poor choices, just as “success” is not an index of my […]
Unexpected Openings at the Retreat House, 18-21 December
Due to a group cancellation, nine rooms are now available in the Retreat House, Monday, 17 December through the morning of Friday, 21 December. By the way, those are the evenings that we chant the Solemn or “O Antiphons” with the Magnificat at Vespers. If you had earlier tried to reserve a room at that […]
Christmas Schedule 2018
Christmas Eve, Monday, 24 December Vigils, Lauds, Mass, Sext, and None follow the usual Monday times 5:30 PM–First Vespers of Christmas 7:45 PM–Recital of Carols by Madelaine MacNeil, performed in Cool Spring House 8:30 PM–Christmas Vigils followed by the Christmas Night Mass The Gift Shop is OPEN extra hours on Monday morning December 24, 10-Noon, […]