Since we are getting a blast of winter weather and snow, we ask our guests to seriously plan on car-pools. The present conditions constrain more than usual the available parking space. The parking circle outside the abbey and church entrance will be closed for parking. That area may be used as a drop-off point or pick up […]

This year, our celebration of the Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen, the First Abbots of Citeaux, is overshadowed by Br. Benedict’s funeral. His family wasn’t aware of the significance of the day when they requested it as the date for the funeral–it was a Saturday when family and friends could gather. But how typical of Br. […]

Our Brother Benedict was born Harvey Albert Simmonds, Jr. on 30 November, 1938 in Liberia, West Africa. His parents were the Rev. Harvey Albert Simmonds and Ethel Louise Byerly Simmonds. His parents had met in Liberia, both serving as missionaries in the Episcopal Church. In 1948, the family moved back to the United States serving […]

On a previous post it was suggested that those far away or impeded by weather or responsibilities or the discouraged by the crowd expected for Br. Benedict’s funeral, might organize their own memorial service. If your need some suggestions, you may request to be emailed outlines for memorial services. One is explicitly Christian the other is […]

1.  Br. Benedict’s body will be received by the community at 8:30 AM on Saturday, 26 January. After his reception into the choir and the prayers are completed, the continuous Psalter will commence. 2.  The continuous Psalter, prayers for his eternal life, is recited by two people sitting in choir for a fifteen minute “watch”; then they […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching.

During Br. Benedict’s protracted illness, the various health care personnel from Blue Ridge Hospice became familiar faces here–almost parts of the family. The community of Holy Cross Abbey cannot thank each of them enough for their dedicated, constant and loving service. If you live in this area, you might consider supporting Blue Ridge Hospice in a […]

Benedict Simmonds b. 11/30/38 d. 1/17/13 First profession 3/21/86 Solemn profession 6/17/89 Br. Benedict Simmonds died peacefully Thursday evening at 8:00 PM.  Abbot Robert Barnes and Abbot Damian Carr (of Spencer, here for a meeting) were with him reciting the prayers for the dying. In the course of the day, a number of Br, Benedict’s […]

Several in our community are under the weather so we ask you to keep them-and everyone suffering from this awful flu in your prayers.  

This Thursday, 18 January begins the annual Octave of Prayer for Church Unity. What’s an Octave, you may ask? As the Latinists among you recognize, the word is derived from the Latin word for Eight and designates in the Liturgy, eight days of celebration. With an Octave, if you begin on a Sunday, for example […]