I said above that God is the reason for loving God.  That is right, for he is the efficient and final cause of our love.  He offers the opportunity, creates the affection, and consummates the desire.  He makes, or rather is made himself lovable. He hopes to be so happily loved that he will not be […]

This Saturday, July 11th is the Solemnity of Saint Benedict—whose Holy Rule we strive to follow. Accordingly, Holy Mass will be at 10.00 a.m., and the Gift Shop will only open at around 11. a.m. this Saturday morning However, the Gift Shop will be open, as usual, on Saturday afternoon at the usual time.

Please note: The Gift Shop will be closed on Saturday, July 4, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. However, it will be open on both Friday (July 3) and Sunday (July 5) afternoons at the usual times.

Bless me, most loving Jesus, bless me and have mercy on me in the loving-kindness of your most gracious heart.  That my soul may choose to know nothing apart from you and that, disciplined by your grace and instructed by the anointing, I may progress well, passionately, and powerfully in the school of your love. Almighty […]

As several of you have kindly informed us, we are (yet again) experiencing problems with our livestream and are trying to ascertain the nature of the problem. With the weekend upon us, this issue may not be resolved until sometime next week. We apologize for this recurring issue and appreciate your understanding.

In this wretched and toilsome life, it is essential that Martha be present in our house – that is to say, that our soul attend to physical activities.  For as long as we have a need to eat and drink, we have a need to labor.  As long as we are tempted by physical delights, […]

I have found him whom my soul loves:  I grasp him and will not let him go.  I embrace you, my Jesus, and experience the joy of my love.  I encompass you, the treasure of my heart, from whom I have all that is mine.  May my mind feel, I beg you, the power of […]

PALM SUNDAY: Holy Mass 10.00 a.m. HOLY THURSDAY: Mass of the Lord’s Supper             4.30 p.m. GOOD FRIDAY: Good Friday Service                       4.30 p.m. HOLY SATURDAY: Easter Vigil                                      8.30 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY: Easter Day Mass                              10.00 a.m. PLEASE NOTE: The Gift Shop will be CLOSED on the THURSDAY AND FRIDAY of Holy Week, but […]

How do we know that he is with us in tribulation?  From being in that tribulation.  Who would endure, who would hold out, who persevere without him?  We must consider it a great joy we fall into various tribulations, not only because ‘it behooves us through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God,’ but […]

We are still in the process of getting our livestream up and running again. This has involved changing our livestream from “Twitch” to Youtube. The link on our website still takes you to Twitch, however, and so, for the present, the Youtube livestream can be accessed by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/@VATrappists