Readings: Revelation 14:1-2, 4b-5; Luke 21:1-4 This morning’s reading from the Book of Revelation is a reminder of the liturgical character of this book, which abounds in hymns, canticles and heavenly ceremonies. It recalls the great drama of salvation which we re-engage through the liturgy; and that the drama of our lives and history is […]

The experience of suffering and the presence of evil in our world have a way of undermining our sense of gratitude. This is because all the good things we are blessed with can easily be cast into shadow by the hardships, disappointment, and trials of life. Indeed, this is not only a factor inhibiting gratitude, […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. It is a non-work day for the community and we follow the Sunday schedule.

Today’s readings (with their apocalyptic tone) can evoke feelings of anxiety and even dread amid the dire descriptions of the end of the world and what Daniel terms a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. Indeed, these distressing features surrounding the Lord’s final return have been used by some to induce […]

Readings: Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6 The conclusion of this Gospel passage is genuinely Good News. Jesus plainly says that in our uncertainty, in our weakness we don’t need more faith. Our faith can be as small as a mustard seed; we just have to allow it to do what it can do. Think about that! […]

Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 Jesus sat opposite the treasury and observed… I believe this is so characteristic of Jesus, who told us Behold the birds of the air, or Behold the flowers of the field. The more I ponder the Gospels, the more I feel that Jesus is someone who paid […]

Readings: Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10 In purely logical terms, Jesus’ parables can seem exaggerated. Would a shepherd really leave ninety-nine sheep just to look for one? Would a woman turn her house upside down to find one coin? Well, since the ninety-nine sheep would tend to stay together, or if I’m poor enough, every coin […]

Readings: Philippians 2:1-4; Luke 14:12-14 …when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled. the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Jesus continues to teach us with banquet imagery. Today’s teaching could certainly be […]

Today, 4 November, is the first Sunday of the Month and the monks will observe Eucharistic Adoration starting at 3:00 PM. Adoration will conclude after Vespers (5:30 PM) with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to join us throughout the afternoon.

This Sunday, Daylight Savings time ends and we’ll have brighter mornings for a while. That means we turn back our clocks one hour. As it is, although we changed the Mass time to 10:00 AM some time ago, we still have people showing up for 11:00 AM Mass–or even 10:30 AM Mass! Be sure to […]