Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 On this wonderful feast today of the whole Church, we acknowledge how God’s wisdom continually surprises and delights us. It was God’s wisdom to choose to create for himself human creatures with a free will, such as the very angels of God have. Mortal creatures, unlike […]
Thomas Merton: the Monk as a Marginal Person, Part Four
To begin wrapping things up, we have already seen that authentic prayer is inseparable from authentic life choices and that they feed one another. Prayer is not another activity or option in my life but the life’s breath of my life that not only takes me out of myself but relates me to the mystery of God. […]
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December, 2015
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Today’s Solemnity is the patronal feast of the United States. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Since we follow the Sunday Schedule, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM).
Second Sunday of Advent, Year C, 6 December, 2015
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. This Sunday is also the First Sunday of the Month and Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM and continue through Vespers (5:30 PM), concluding with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers For December
Prepare a way for the Lord. Brethren, we prepare the way of the Lord as we are bidden to do by walking along it; and we can walk along it only by preparing it. However far you journey along it, the way is always waiting to be prepared, so that you must start afresh from […]
The Monk as a Marginal Person, Part 3
In the last installment we were considering an insight from an essay on Thomas Merton (“Man of Prayer”) by Br. David Steindel-Rast. Cultivating a life of prayer is not a procedural technology. It is not getting from this starting point, constructing something new that will then function according to expectations and produce an anticipated result. […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, 29 November, 2015
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 We did not see a ball descending in Times Square last night at midnight to welcome in the new year of Advent. Fortunately, the Vatican did not think it appropriate to do anything like that either. Nonetheless, we are in a new year of the Church. […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for Thanksgiving Day, 26 November, 2015
Readings: Sirach 50:22-14; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The wise man Sirach said: Bless the God of all…may his goodness to us endure. Saint Paul said: I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God bestowed on you in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said: Was there no one to return […]
Monday, 30 November, The Feast of St. Andrew
St. Andrew, the “First-called,” as he’s named in the Eastern Church, is celebrated this Monday. He was the first of the apostles to follow Jesus, the one who brought his brother, Simon, to the Lord. Andrew stood by, content, when Jesus made Simon his rock, “Peter”, one of the special three disciples with James and […]
29 November, 2015, The First Sunday of Advent, Year C
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28; 34-36 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Today begins the new liturgical year. The Sunday cycle of readings are from Year C and the weekday readings are from Year Two.