The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. Vincent Collins will preside and preach

From the First Sermon for the Feast of the Assumption by Bernard of Clairvaux, translated by Marie-Bernard Said, OSB in Mary Most Holy: Meditating With the Early Cistercians, CF 65, p 215 f Our earth has today sent heaven a precious gift, that by giving and receiving a happy compact of friendship, human affairs should […]

The comunity Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. All communion will be distributed from the main altar. The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God is the patronal feast of the Cistercian Order.  It is celebrated as a non-work day for the monks and we follow the […]

Ailred died in 1167, a significant date because of what had not yet occurred. He died before the hard work and systematic organization of the Cistercian conversi, the lay-brothers, in England effected the flourishing wool trade. The resulting wealth would rebuild Abbot William’s Rievaulx into the gothic monastery, the ruins of which are the impressive memorial we see today. […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Orthmann, presiding and preaching. Vespers (at 5:30 PM) will be followed immediately by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament (at approximately 5:53 PM). All are welcome to join us.

Thanks for responding to our last announcement about available space at the Retreat House. There is still good availability for weekdays through late summer and many openings on weekends.  And we know you are sweating at home and wondering where you can go for good food, silence and an opportunity to rise at 3:30 in […]

Our first MIW is fast approaching and in case you have been considering, one man had to drop out this week so we have an opening…send email to companions@virginiatrappists.org for information and registration form. The community will welcome the group into choir for the weekend and all materials and supplies, including special clothing and breviaries […]

As was mentioned in the previous post about Ailred, the last years of his life were limited by his chronic arthritis. Despite that, he managed to spend time writing and even traveling on monastic or Church business. There is a frequently quoted incident from this period concerning a disgruntled, probably deranged, brother who came upon Ailred sitting […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. Vincent Collins will preside and preach. Since this is the First Sunday of the month, Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM and continue through Vespers at 5:30 PM. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, beginning around 5:53, will conclude adoration. All are invited to […]

Reaction to our Spring newsletter was so good we’re going to do another one!  The Fall Newsletter is being written as we speak and you can look for articles that update you on the monks in the community, the cemetery and natural fruits and vegetables program as well as a story on the Monastic Immersion […]