It has often been observed that the gospels do not record a single word of Saint Joseph; and it is this “silence” that has made him a special patron for the interior life as well as for contemplatives. And yet, Saint Joseph does speak albeit not with words but with his actions; and his actions […]

9 March, 2026, First Sunday of Lent: Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from [Jesus] for a time. With this verse, Luke admits that the temptation of Jesus was not a one-off contest. How does temptation work? It starts with a tendency that could be harnessed […]

Monday, 3 MAR, 2025: Sir 17:20-24; Mk 10:17-27 How hard it is… Jesus does not just address the rich. In various ways—take up your cross…Blessed are they who mourn—Jesus tells us that life is hard. If I haven’t accepted that, I haven’t accepted his Gospel. And if I don’t, I will recognize no miracle, feel […]

The call to love one’s enemies and do good to those who hate you, has all the appearance and feeling of losing control over one’s life, and thus being at the mercy (or lack thereof) of others—both friend and foe. Conversely, defensive retaliation in kind, and exacting an eye for an eye and a tooth […]

16 February 2025, Sixth Sunday, Year C: Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20; Luke 6:17, 20-25 Blessed are the poor; not the poor in spirit but the poor. Scholars explain that Luke’s Christian community was probably very poor, but that fails to tell my why they are blessed. Is it beatitude when you have nothing […]

26 January, The Founders of Citeaux: Genesis 12:1-4; Acts 4:32-35; Mark 10:17-30 The few historical sources describing the struggle to establish Citeaux tell us little of the subjective attitudes of Robert, Alberic or Stephan—very few medieval documents pay attention to such sentiments. I can easily imagine, though, there were days they wondered what they had […]

Christmas Day Mass, Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-5; John 1:1-18 The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. This verse is a token of hope today when too many people surrender to fear, doubt or passivity. We are indeed confronted by formidable obstacles. A glance at the news reminds us that […]

Thursday, 19 DEC, 2024: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Remember this Gospel tomorrow when we hear about the Annunciation to Mary. Both Gospels share a similar structure but, what distinguishes Zachariah from Mary? Is my righteousness, like Zechariah’s, a substitute for trust in God? Has it degenerated into an attempt to control reality and contain […]

Those hoping to purchase Fruitcakes from our Gift Shop need to know that we are ALL SOLD OUT AS OF Sunday, December 15th. However, at time of writing, cakes can still be purchased online at monasteryfruitcake.org

Second Sunday of Advent, Year C, 8 December, 2024: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 1:1-6 Every Second Sunday of Advent we recall John the Baptist—and isn’t that appropriate? During Advent don’t we look forward to the Second Coming of the Lord as we look back to his First Coming? Being in neither one nor […]