The Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey are observing their annual retreat at the Abbey this weekend. On Saturday, after Midday Prayer, the professed members of the group gathered in the monastic choir to re-affirm their original promises. This is not a ceremony like the renewal of vows–the promise that each had made at profession is […]
Humility According to the Rule of St. Benedict, Part Eight
When we celebrated Holy Thursday, I believe that we reached the culmination of the meaning of humility in the life of the monk. The Rule’s teaching on humility reflects Gospel humility and that, of course, is best found in the example of Jesus Christ. The Holy Thursday’s liturgy crystalizes his humility in the Gospel and action […]
Reflections on the New Evangelization
From a Chapter Talk by Abbot Robert When St. John Paul II announced the Jubilee of the Third Millennium in 2000, he proclaimed a new evangelization. His diminishing health slowed down the thrust of his promulgation which he had hoped to promote. Just a year and a half ago, Pope Benedict XVI called the Synod […]
Humility According to the Rule of St. Benedict, Part Seven
I began these reflections on humility exploring what the Fear of the Lord is and what it isn’t. In essence that is the First Step of Humility that St. Benedict mentions in Chapter Seven of his Rule. Today I’d like to introduce the Biblical image of the Shekinah, the overshadowing presence of God. In the Lenten […]
Washing Feet
These sacred days of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery begin with a meal. Not just any meal but the very Passover meal which Moses commanded the Israelites to commemorate–the covenant of blood that the Lord God made with his Chosen People when he freed them from slavery in Egypt. Now the Son of God has transformed […]
Once I am lifted up from the earth…
After a ministry of concealing his identity, Jesus allows the people of Jerusalem to greet him as the Messiah on Palm Sunday. There is a real change of direction here., as if we are again picking up the loose threads from his earlier manifestations: his manifestation to the shepherds, that we celebrate at Christmas; or to the Magi, […]
Lent, Conversion and Humility
A number of important events have interrupted my reflections on St. Benedict’s teaching about humility. It is natural for many Catholics during Lent, especially of an older generation, to recall our sinfulness and seek effective ways to amend our lives. Although there is a guilt-ridden way to acknowledge our sinfulness, which is a dead-end, there […]
Monastic Immersion Weekend Concludes
The monastery was under clouds and light rain through most of the weekend making the walk from Retreat House to the Abbey Church a wet one. Several of our Retreatants still walked every single time for the Office. During our two days as community within community we got out of bed at 3 am (to the tune […]
Excerpts from Abbot Robert’s Exhortation to Br. Aelred Joseph
The clothing ceremony begins with the Postulant requesting “the mercy of God and of the Order.” In Response the Abbot offers his exhortation to the candidate about to assume the responsibilities of the Novitiate. This morning Abbot Robert Barnes exhorted Br. Aelred Joseph: You have asked for mercy, the mercy of God and of the Order. You […]
Why Monastic Immersion?
Occasionally I am asked about this thing we call monastic immersion here at Holy Cross Abbey. Seldom does someone ask because they are ‘against it’ or question its validity; it’s more that people want to hear why people WANT to be immersed in monasticism? What is it about monasteries and the Rule of St. Benedict […]