We’ve been reading in the refectory a small book by Abbot Francis Acharya of Kurisumala, our monastery in Southern India. Abbot Francis died just a few years ago. By birth and monastic profession he was from Belgium, born Jean Mahieu. Eventually he would found a Catholic monastery in India, adapted to Indian culture and its […]

We sincerely apologize to all our friends who are unable to attend the Merton event.  Some have written to say they responded within 24 hours and… well, truth is the event ‘sold out’ (interesting way to describe a free event) within two hours of posting the announcement and sending out the e-newsletters.  Kind of like […]

Thank you for your inquiries about our Bakery products at Holy Cross Abbey. Our fruitcakes are for sale only at our Abbey Gift Shop. We are not able to ship our fruitcakes at this time. The fruitcakes available are our regular 2-1/2 pound round cake and we have a new size, a 1-1/2 pound loaf […]

  SORRY BUT WE ARE ‘SOLD OUT’… +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton’s birth the monks of Holy Cross Abbey will hold a free lecture, conversation and reception on November 15th in the Retreat House chapel.  This event-with extremely limited seating-is entitled “Monk as Marginal Person” and will include opening comments from […]

This is probably my final post on the Encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home. I do realize that I may have worn our my welcome a few posts back. And then, with Pope Francis long ago arrived at and departed from these shores, I must seem to be beating a dead horse.  Worse still, […]

I thought it might be worth while, especially after Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, to quote in full the two prayers that conclude the encyclical, Laudato Si’. The Holy Father is a plain-spoken man who does not express himself in the abstractions of “ecclesialese”. His two prayers are more comprehensible than a number […]

The final Chapter of Pope Francis’ Encyclical is entitled Ecological Education and Spirituality. After reviewing the enormity of the challenges facing us, the serious damage we have done–continue to do–that is, after acknowledging how destructive we can be, Pope Francis reminds us that as human beings we also have an incredible capacity for change, for good, […]

We’ve noticed over the past decades that everyone wants a reservation at the Retreat House during October. And we never wonder why: the weather is ideal, the humidity is low, the frost has come and pollen and gnats have disappeared…And perhaps the changing foliage has something to do with it too. Even rainy days feel cozy and […]

  Ten men will spend two full days with the monastic community starting today.  This Monastic Immersion Weekend, our seventh since beginning a few years ago, will welcome our 100th participant since the program began. Above are just two items participants receive-one for fun (the hat, obviously) and one serious, the Abbey Crucifix which is […]

In his introduction to his Encyclical, Pope Francis mentions that certain themes will reappear in the various chapters, each time viewing them from a different perspective or context. I hope it strikes even a casual reader how frequently he quotes teaching on caring for the environment from the various national conferences of bishops. Apart from […]