As an essential part of our monastic renewal, we’ve been considering St. Benedict’s teaching on humility. He dedicates all of Chapter 7, the longest chapter of the Rule, to humility and his teaching on the subjects is found in his entire Rule. I believe this virtue is essential to our life together. How can I […]
Humility in the Rule of St. Benedict, continued
Our Lord, by his human incarnation and his divine resurrection, has totally transformed our relationship to himself and to our heavenly Father. Even the fear of God, which had been the focus of past posts, has a richer, more profound meaning for us in the life and words of Jesus. A loving fear of God […]
The Octave of Prayer For Church Unity, 18-25 January
Yesterday the Church began its week of prayer for Christian or Church Unity. It occurs annually and has, in one form or another, been observed since 1908. It is a response to an initiative by Pope Leo XIII at the end of the nineteenth century. Vatican Council II placed the longing for full unity between […]
The Baptism of Christ, Our Light, Our Illumination
What we have seen and heard we are telling you so that you too may be in union with us, as we are in union with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete. This is what we heard from him and the […]
The Epiphany of the Lord
Today the Church throughout the world celebrates the great and ancient feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Whereas the feast of the Nativity became dominant in the Latin Church, the Epiphany still takes precedence in the Orthodox Churches. Indeed, it had been the original feast of the Word Incarnate even in Rome, but gradually, […]
Humility According to the Rule of St. Benedict (3)
I have been considering humility in the Rule of St. Benedict and have been locating it in the Holy Scriptures. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family whom we find described in Scripture. But the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus exist in their own right and as multi-dimensional human beings, exhibiting […]
Abbot Robert’s Christmas Homily
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone forth. For the grace of God has appeared… To shepherds in the field watching their sheep, the angel of the Lord appeared…and the glory of the Lord shone around them…and suddenly a multitude […]
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 The Sunday Mass Readings for Advent seem to shift perspective. We began with our eye on eternity, specifically, final judgment. That seems to continue through the Second Sunday with this difference: the voice of John the Baptist, speaking in historical time, warns us of future judgment but we are […]
Humility According to the Rule of St. Benedict (2)
Only One is wise, terrible indeed, seated on his throne–the Lord. He himself has created Wisdom, looked upon her and assessed her and poured her out on all his works to be with humanity as his gift. And he conveyed her to those who love him. The Fear of the Lord is glory and pride […]
Humility in the Teaching of St. Benedict
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 24 December: 8:00 PM: Madeline Mac Neil: Christmas Carols 8:30 PM: Christmas Mass at Night 25 December: 11:00 AM: Christmas Day Mass This is the first of a series of posts reflecting Abbot Robert’s Chapter […]