Everything the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that [the Spirit of truth] will take from what is mine and declare it to you. The bedrock of the Christian faith is our belief that God is one, that there is none beside him. Yet we equally believe that God is three […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching.

The Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey observed their annual retreat, 24 through 26 May, at Holy Cross Abbey. On Saturday, after Midday Prayer, The professed members renewed their private vows. Abbot Robert reminded them that our life centers on the mystery of God; in centuries past we have attempted to say much, perhaps even […]

Spring newsletter with stuff about the Monastic Immersion Week, retreat house, vegetable operation and a wonderful interview with Fr. Paschal is coming to your mailbox soon.  Look for it to arrive starting sometime next week.  And if you don’t get your copy in a couple of weeks send us an email at companions@virginiatrappists.org to make sure […]

Your humble correspondent has been away for a while taking care of some medical stuff (getting old is not fun) and was wonderfully surprised upon his return today to find the refectory full!  My goodness folks we’re bursting at the seams!  With three men discerning now, another on his way (no way Jim can escape all […]

This past Friday, Fr. James Stewart returned to the Abbey to continue his Observership. Father had been with us for a month from Palm Sunday at the beginning of this Easter Season; that is all the time he could take from his responsibilities. It’s good to have him back at the other end of the […]

Br. Joseph Vantu, our current prior, greeted the developments of our Refounding Retreat at Priestfield with a heart felt Alleluia. At one discussion he characterized the needed ability to communicate with others according to Lao Tzu’s description of the strong man: he is like water. Flexible enough to conform to a pipe, a well, a […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and Fr. James Orthmann preaching. The monastic choir will chant the proper Sequence of the Day, Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) before the Gospel. Second Vespers of the Solemnity (5:30 PM) will be followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament […]

Thank you to all of you who follow this website and have commented on the Refounding Retreat with your support and prayers and understanding. Abbot Robert has noted that in our challenges, as ageing monks and as a small community, our grace-filled time at Priestfield helps him to see the hand of God in our […]

This week we are happy to receive two men who will be joining us for three months to discern their vocation with us. We call them Observers, since they have the opportunity to observe our way of life in the concrete and observe their own responses and reactions to that experience. The two men are […]