There are some things about which we are uncertain whether God wills them or not, so we must not really want them or deeply reject them.  … it is certainly here in the middle that the whole danger lies … we seduce ourselves by faithless flattering and coaxing in order to pretend that we are […]

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10b; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56      Alphonsus Ligouri was not prone to moderate his baroque extravagance when writing about the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, when he considered the end of her earthly life, his opinion was sober. If the eternal Word of […]

This morning, following a Holy Mass invoking the Holy Spirit, Abbot Joseph (having completed his first term of six years) was re-elected Abbot of Holy Cross Abbey, for a new six-year term. This grace-filled and peaceful event was presided over by Dom Vincent Rogers OCSO, abbot of Saint Joseph’s Abbey, and Father Immediate to our […]

Not only is Christ’s mercy celebrated, but his judgment as well, because even if he learned compassion from the things that he suffered so that he was merciful, he had also the power of judgment.  In short, our God is a consuming fire.  How can sinners not fear to come near? As sure as wax […]

“O God of my life, I do not know how I may worthily praise you or with what I may reward you, my beloved, for all the good with which you have rewarded me.  Consequently, I offer you in me, and me in you, my cherished Jesus, as a holocaust of praise to you.  I […]

In late April and early May our community had the privilege of hosting the annual Juniors’ Seminar—a monastic version of Summer School. Juniors’ is a term we reserve for monks and nuns who have made First Vows but have not yet taken Solemn Vows. Cistercian Fr. Michael Casey (of Tarrawara Abbey in Australia) was the […]

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 […]

And for that reason my advice to you, my friends, is to turn aside occasionally from troubled and anxious pondering on the paths you maybe treading, and to travel on the smoother ways where the gifts of God are serenely savored, so that the thought of him may give breathing space to you whose consciences […]

Nothing animates us so much to love of enemies—which is the perfection of fraternal charity—as grateful consideration of the Lord’s admirable patience.  By it, the fairest of all the sons of men offered his comely face to the ungodly to be spit on.  By it, he subjected to the veil of the iniquitous the eyes whose […]

It was a joyous occasion, this last Sunday, when Brother Patrick (having completed his postulancy) received the Cistercian Habit and began his Canonical Novitiate. He now joins Brothers Paul and Aelred in the novitiate as he (and they) prepares for first vows. Join us in thanking God for calling these three men and let us […]