After a five-year novitiate—three of which were spent lovingly caring for his ailing father—Br. Paul Francis Smith pronounced his First Vows in a simple ceremony following Lauds this morning. In the presence of his brothers, Br. Paul Francis promised Obedience, Stability, and Fidelity to the Monastic Way of Life for a period of one year. […]

Let us honor Mary, …. since she knows the course and outcome of all miseries, she soothes our fears, she awakens our faith, strengthens our hope, drives away our cowardice, and encourages us when we are timid.  You fear to approach the Father?  Terrified by the mere sound of his voice, you flee to the […]

The martyrdom of the Virgin – which we named as the twelfth star in her crown, if you remember – is mentioned in the prophecy of Simeon as well as in the account of the Lord’s passion.  For the holy man says of the infant Jesus Behold, this child is set for a sign that shall […]

Do people gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Every tree is known by its fruit (Mt. 7:16) How can you speak good things since you are bad? Here is another comparison for you to consider. Don’t gather grapes from thorns; after all it’s impossible for grapes to be produced from thorns. But haven’t […]

O God, love, you alone are my wall and rampart.  Those who bear distress in this world, behold, they know what kind of shelter there is for them in your peace as a defense against heat and a canopy against rain.  Ah!  Look upon and see my battle; you yourself teach my hands to fight.  […]

I believe that some of our brothers can still be found alive today who listened with me to our blessed father and teacher [St Bernard] praise the nobility of silence, one of her greatest gifts, in Mary, mother of God, and greatest of all women.  In all the holy gospels we find her words a […]

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Easter Sunday, YR C: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9 For us, as for the people in this Gospel, isn’t knowledge of the Resurrection posited by indirect evidence? The Risen Jesus has yet to appear to them. In all four Gospels, he will come to them, though he is often not recognized at first. […]

For faith to be established, it must be tested.  With regard to this testing Peter, in his first letter, speaks thus: ‘Although you may have to be saddened for a little while by various temptations so that the testing of your faith (which is much more precious than gold tested by fire) may be found […]

Begin to recognize yourself, to love and possess yourself, to be kind to yourself, and you will be happy.  … If you desire to know yourself and to possess yourself, go into yourself, and do not search for yourself outside.  Distinguish between what is around you, what belongs to you, and your self!  The world […]