On this 71st anniversary of our founding, we pause to thank God for the countless blessings and graces bestowed on our community—including those bestowed through our brothers who now rest in the peace of Christ. Many of those blessings have come through you our friends whose supportive friendship, prayers, and benefactions continue to support our […]
Retreat House openings
Two upcoming weekends have become available at Holy Cross Abbey Retreat House: November 26-28 and December 3-5 Come after Thanksgiving to and before Christmas to rest and explore the beautiful countryside here at Holy Cross Abbey. Groups of 8-10 welcome with vaccination. The monastery chapel does remain closed at this time. Please call or e-mail […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
Honor and glory belong to God alone, but God will receive neither if they are not sweetened with the honey of love. Love is sufficient for itself; it gives pleasure to itself, and for its own sake. It is its own merit and own reward. Love needs no cause beyond itself, nor does it demand […]
Livestream Interruption
For those who regularly tune in to our livestream, please note that we will be interrupting this service for a brief period. Accordingly, Vespers and Compline today (Friday) will not be broadcast—neither will Lauds/Mass or Vespers tomorrow (Saturday). The livestream will resume Saturday evening at Compline. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you all […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
I said above that God is the reason for loving God. That is right, for he is the efficient and final cause of our love. He offers the opportunity, creates the affection, and consummates the desire. He makes, or rather is made himself lovable. He hopes to be so happily loved that he will not be […]
Fr. Maurice’s Funeral
Fr. Maurice’s Funeral will take place on Saturday, September 4, at 2.00 p.m. Unfortunately, because of the present COVID-related restrictions, attendance at the Funeral Mass and Burial will be limited to the Monastic Community and the immediate family. The Funeral Mass will, however, be live-streamed. May the soul of Fr. Maurice, and the souls of […]
Finishing the Race; keeping the Faith
It is with sadness (and yet also with joy born of faith), that we make known the sudden passing, (yesterday, August 24) of our Father Maurice Flood. After more than 64 years of monastic life, and one month short of his 86th birthday, Fr. Maurice could make his own those immortal words of Saint Paul: […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
‘And the Virgin’s name was Mary.’ Let us now say a few words about this name, which means ‘star of the sea’ and is so becoming to the Virgin Mother. Surely she is very fittingly likened to a star. The star sends forth its ray without harm to itself. In the same way the Virgin […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
O Wisdom, reaching mightily from end to end in establishing and controlling things, and arranging all things sweetly by enriching the affections and setting them in order! Guide our actions as your eternal truth requires, that each of us may confidently boast in you and say: ‘he set love in order in me.’ For you […]
Monastery remains closed
As we continue into “Ordinary Time,” we are aware that the Diocese of Arlington has lifted most of the earlier COVID restrictions. Despite these reassuring signs, the monks have opted to err on the side of caution and so, for the present, our monastery chapel remains closed to the public. In particular, the rapid spread […]