Well, we aren’t going to make Ash Wednesday for the grand reopening of our renovated Porter’s Lodge/Gift Shop—Easter may be a more realistic date for its completion.  Mike (in photo on left) and his colleagues are hard at work painting now and the new carpet goes in next week.  Then we begin restocking shelves, installing […]

It’s time to begin to consider possible titles for Lenten Reading as mentioned in Chapter 48 of St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries: in these days of Lent they shall each receive a book from the library, which they shall read straight through from the beginning. Theses books are to be given out at the beginning […]

In the Chapter On The Daily Manual Labor (Chapter 48), St. Benedict makes the bold statement, then they are truly monks when they live by the labor of their hands as did our fathers and the Apostles. It’s one of those sentences I wish he had expanded and “unpacked” beyond the legitimizing precedent. Did he […]

First, concerning cats…You’re probably more aware than I am that a tsunami can hit Japan and an eyewitness’ video from an smartphone can appear on Youtube and there will be thousands of viewers in the first minute. On the other hand, someone can post on Youtube yet another video of a cat snoring or playing […]

It is already two weeks since the Gift Shop/Porter’s Lodge closed its doors for renovation and repair. This is to report that progress has been made and having completed an inventory (along with moving stock for storage), work on actual renovations and repairs begins this week. Presently, it is still difficult to ascertain when the […]

In an early post and on the web site we said  the Spring MIW—SCHDULED FOR MARCH 13-15—was sold out…well it isn’t anymore!  Rooms have opened up and are available to men and women interested in the  monastic experience.  For more information see Take Part on the home page.  To reserve your spot send a $100 deposit […]

One way to consider the role of work in Benedictine spirituality is to look up references to “work” mentioned in the Rule. The previous post considered how St. Benedict’s teaching in his time and circumstances was not necessarily the final word on work; what he has to say does not explicitly deal with creativity in […]

I believe in earlier posts, at least in passing, I’ve indicated that St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries would not solve all our problems. That’s not what it’s there for. And Saint Benedict, however wise and holy he was, had no insider’s secrets on life; like all of us, he had to learn the hard way and […]

In Fr. Edmund’s Treasurer’s Office at the Abbey, he used to display a few old framed photos. One was obviously his parents, John Joseph Flynn and Pauline C. Rempe Flynn. There was also a photo of a nun in the old habit standing on the steps of a brick building. “That’s my aunt, Sr. Edmund. […]

In what sense can we actually capture a sense of sacred to the work we do? Is there a fool-proof way to break down the dichotomy of work and prayer, as if they were opposed to one another? I’d be quick to guarantee that there is no fool-proof solution or technique to achieve anything! I’ve […]