It has not been unknown in regard to the Church’s social teaching, that people can salute or even admire the ideals involved and yet have the reservation that, it’s all well and good but, really, isn’t it a bit ingenuous? That is to say, it doesn’t seem practical to most people, though we could applaud […]
Abbot Robert’s Homily for the Solemnity of St. Benedict, 11 July, 2015
We again celebrate , with the entire Church, the solemn feast of our father Saint Benedict, whose life and Rule we each professed to follow, possessed by the consuming desire that this way of life should lead us to the Kingdom of God. We pray to Saint Benedict for his intercession for us, his disciples […]
Fifteenth Sunday, Year B, 12 July, 2015
Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-10; Mark 6:7-13 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.
Retreat House Reservations
We continue to experience “connectivity” problems with our computers. To make a reservation for our Retreat House, I recommend telephoning Carol at 540-955-4383, Monday through Friday. Carol has an answering machine, should she be occupied elsewhere, and will return your call as soon as possible.
Fr. James’ Homily for the 14th Sunday, Yr B
Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1- 6 Is he not the carpenter? We all probably get the point: the question is no compliment! The word itself, “carpenter”, is interesting and in Greek means much more: a skilled worker in stone or wood. He could coble together a door or a wall, raise a […]
5 July, 2015, 14th Sunday, Year B
Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6: 1-6 The Community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Orthmann presiding and preaching. Today is the first Sunday of the month and we will observe Eucharistic Adoration from 4:00 PM through Vespers (5:30 PM) , concluding with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All […]
from the Cistercian Fathers for July
God, you know my folly, and Your eyes see all my guilt. Lord my God, you know, and you have made me know, and your eyes have seen and you have not hidden it from my eyes. For I know, in the light of your revelation, how much I lack in perfection and knowledge, and […]
Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment, Part Two
It was probably in 2007 when Dr. Andy Hoffmann of the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment first visited our community at Holy Cross Abbey. Andy Hoffmann happens to be a practicing Roman Catholic as well as an environmentalist. Addressing the community, he spoke in a conversational manner giving us a […]
Thirteenth Sunday, Year B, 28 June, 2015
Readings: Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. Monday, 29 June, is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul; these Apostolic founders of the Church, martyred in Rome under the Emperor Nero, are commemorated with First Vespers on Sunday. Mass of […]
Fr. Robert’s Homily for the Twelfth Sunday of the Year, 21 June, 2015
Readings: Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41 It is the early days of Jesus’ ministry. He has a crowd of people running after him; they like what he’s saying and they hear that he works miracles. He is all the rage. Today’s Gospel shows how little they comprehended: Who is this whom even […]