• Home
  • About
    • Monastic Life
    • Gallery
    • History
      • Holy Cross Abbey
      • Cistercian Order
      • Property and Battlefield
    • FAQs
    • Videos
  • Take Part
    • Pray with us
    • Visit
      • Service Times
      • Directions
    • Vocation
    • Lay Members
  • Vocation
  • Retreat House
    • Testimonials
  • Cemetery
    • Overview
    • Stones
    • Rules Overview
    • Pricing
  • Store
    • Gift Shop / Porter’s Cottage
    • Bakery Products
    • Webstore
  • Updates
    • News
    • Liturgy
    • Abbot’s Lectio Post
  • Contact

Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane Berryville, Virginia 22611

Support Us
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Fr. James’ Homily for the 7th Sunday

February 20, 2022 by Fr Joseph

Seventh Sunday, Year C, 20 February, 2022: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38       This Gospel carries the extremely hard commandment to love our enemies. It’s not just the alienating nature, the repulsive aspect of people we dislike or who have hurt us; the underlying problem is the nature of […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday

January 23, 2022 by Fr Joseph

Third Sunday, Year C, 23 January, 2022: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21      Jesus’ visit to his home town starts off well enough, but as will unfold next Sunday, it ends rather badly, with his neighbors attempting to kill him. The narrative doesn’t described how the change occurred which is […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for Epiphany Sunday

January 2, 2022 by Fr Joseph

The Epiphany of the Lord, 2 January, 2022: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12      The Magi from the east are genuine seekers of the truth who brave the risks of travel through an inhospitable terrain to reach their goal in an unknown land and an unknown religion. They have read the cryptic signs […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for Christmas Day

December 25, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Christmas: Mass During the Day, 25 December, 2021, Year C: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18      We don’t know the actual date or even the season of Christ’s birth because he was born into a world that wasted little memory on such matters. The early church chose a symbolic date to celebrate the Lord’s […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent

December 14, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Third Sunday of Advent: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18      Does today’s talk of rejoicing seem deflated by John the Baptist’s demanding preaching?      John disqualifies no one from his baptism of repentance. He doesn’t reject the tax collectors for their injustices—nor does he ask them for donations.  He doesn’t repulse the soldiers as […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the Immaculate Conception

December 9, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Immaculate Conception, Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38      Today’s Gospel gives us an important perspective on today’s Solemnity.      First and foremost, the mystery of Mary’s Immaculate Conception hinges on the Incarnation of the Word of God. When the eternal Word is circumscribed by human contingency, eternity is encapsulated by time and […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Thanksgiving Homily

November 26, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Thanksgiving Day, 25 November, 2021: Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19      Why didn’t the other nine lepers thank Jesus?        They all obey Jesus when he tells them to go show themselves to the priests. Were these nine so intent on following Jesus’ instructions, that they didn’t yet notice their healing when […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 32nd Sunday

November 10, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Thirty-Second Sunday, Year B, 7 November, 2021: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44     According to The Acts of the Apostles, Mark’s mother was a follower of Jesus (Acts 12:12). Ancient Church tradition understands Mark and his kinsman Barnabas to be members of the priestly clan; perhaps they were disenchanted with the priestly establishment […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 31st Sunday

October 31, 2021 by Fr Joseph

31 October, 2021, Thirty-First Sunday, Year B: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34      Jesus’ response to the Scribe in today’s Gospel is as challenging as it is timely. It is timely, because in an increasingly contentious world, most people do not do what Jesus and scribe do, speaking to one another, person-to-person.      What […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

Fr. James’ Homily for the 26th Sunday

September 28, 2021 by Fr Joseph

Twenty-sixth Sunday, Year B, 26 September, 2021: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-48      On the surface, there may seem to be no relationship between the two halves of today’s Gospel, but I believe Jesus is making a point and then unpacking its implications.      First he corrects John for attempting to prevent someone who […]

Filed Under: Liturgy

« Previous Page
Next Page »

History

  • Holy Cross Abbey
  • Cistercian Order
  • Property and Battlefield

Continue Reading

  • About
  • History
    • Holy Cross Abbey
    • Cistercian Order
    • Property and Battlefield
  • FAQs
  • Videos

Take part

  • Pray with us – The Divine Office
  • Visit
  • Vocation
  • Lay Members

Visit

  • Pray with us
    • Service Times
  • Retreat House
  • Gift Shop
  • Cemetery
  • Directions
  • Contact

Schedule of Services

Weekdays
3:30 - Vigils
7:00 - Lauds
~7:25 - Mass, after Lauds
10:00 - Terce (private)
12:20 - Sext
2:00 - None
5:30 - Vespers
7:30 - Compline

Sundays
3:30 - Vigils
7:00 - Lauds
9:50 - Terce
10:00 - Mass
12:20 - Sext
2:00 - None (private)
5:30 - Vespers
7:30 - Compline

Testimonials

Many, many thanks to Holy Cross Abbey and all the monks for being a beacon of light and hope in our world. I am so very, very grateful for being able to come for yearly retreats. That time with God nourishes me throughout the year, always.

-Dawn Peck, Lexington, VA


Read More Testimonials

Contact Cemetery

info@coolspringnaturalcemetery.org
540-955-4461

Email is preferred.

Contact Retreat House

For Guest House reservations
information@hcava.org
540-955-4383

Documentary Trailer

Watch the full-length documentary on the videos page.

More Video

Support Us with a Donation

Contact Us

Newsletter Signup

Like our Facebook page

Like our Facebook page

Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane
Berryville, Virginia 22611-2700
Phone: (540) 955-4383

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Quicklinks

  • Cemetery
  • Retreats
  • Directions
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Get Involved

  • Pray with us
  • Visit
  • Vocation
  • Support Us

Copyright © Holy Cross Abbey - All Rights Reserved
Website Development and Management by MarketSpark
Maintenance Log -  Webmail -  Admin