Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 Our Sunday reading of Matthew’s Gospel has been more spotty than complete, but in this digest form it’s easier to see a pattern. Jesus is preparing his followers for the future when he won’t be with them. Think about it. In the last few weeks Jesus extended his […]
23rd Sunday, 7 September, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Orthmann presiding and preaching. It is the first Sunday of the month and Monthly Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM. All are invited to join us in the stillness of the Abbey church.
Ground Breaking at Our Lady of the Angels
Yesterday afternoon, Sunday, 31 August, Abbot Robert Barnes joined Mother Marion and our sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, Crozet Virginia, to break the ground on the site of their future church. The building permit was received this week and the sisters are anticipating building a permanent church to the east of the […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers For September
Truly she stood by Jesus’ cross, when at the same time the pain of the cross crucified her mind and as manifold a sword pierced her own soul as she beheld the body of her Son pierced with wounds. Rightly therefore was she recognized as his Mother there and by his care entrusted to a […]
Unique Retreat Opportunities, 8 to 11 September
We can offer an unusual weekday schedule for those who might find the weekend slot too short or the weekday retreats too long. For the second week of September, 8 through 11 September, there are openings available for Monday afternoon (arrival time, 4:00 PM) through Thursday morning (rooms vacated by 9:30 AM). There are many vacancies to […]
22nd Sunday, Year A, 31 August, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. Vincent Collins will preside and preach. As is usual, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament (5:50 PM) will follow Vespers (5:30 PM).
Prayers for Br. Edward
Please remember Br. Edward McLean in your prayers. Brother suffered a fall, probably due to a new med that effected his balance; that medication has been discontinued. Brother Edward, 93 years old, is now in the hospital and his pain is managed; he’ll probably require some time recovering in a nursing home before he can return home to […]
Twenty-first Sunday, Year A, 24 August, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be celebrated after Vespers (5:30 PM) at approximately 5:50 PM. Abbot Robert will be leaving on 8 September for the Cistercian General Chapter being held in Assisi. He’ll return on 9 October. As […]
Benedictine Hospitality
When I use the term Benedictine, in reference to hospitality, I’m indicating hospitality according to St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries. It’s a species of hospitality anyone should be able to expect from Camaldolese and Cistercian as well as from Benedictine communities. We all follow the Rule, are informed and shaped by the Rule with it’s demands and […]
Fr. Joseph’s homily for the 20th Sunday, Year A
Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 The manufacturing of parachutes is a highly skilled operation undertaken with utmost care and attention to detail because lives depend on the parachute’s proper functioning. And yet, despite all this care, the final and ultimate test of any parachute occurs when the parachutist leaps from the plane […]