Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 After decades of praying the psalms, most monks know the psalms well enough to sing them by heart. However, singing psalms by heart can be problematic the moment we remind ourselves that we are singing them from memory. Almost inevitably we begin to stumble over the words […]

Readings: Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The Community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph presiding and preaching. It is a non-work day for us and we follow the Sunday schedule; as such, we will celebrate Benediction after Vespers (5:30 PM). All are invited–especially those who need a break from football.

Remember how we had to stop taking all orders for shipment?  Now fruitcake shipments are back!  You can get our famous 2 1/4 pound, Trappist Monastery Fruitcake shipped to you, as well as creamed honey, and truffles, by going online to monasteryfruitcake.org.  Please note that orders for shipment are taken ONLY through the website, but shipments […]

That title may be a bit of an overstatement–I don’t believe the kittens are Roman Catholics and they are definitely not in monastic vows, but they are about six weeks old, weaned, eating solid food AND they are very available. They were born outside, near the kitchen and we–and their mother–are looking for new homes […]

Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph presiding and preaching.

Readings: Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12 Today’s Gospel may not be about priests but it’s certainly intimidating for a Roman Catholic priest to preach. I made sure I wore no tassels today. Our Reading from Malachi does address priests and I recognize the same symptoms of clericalism today. In the Gospel, […]

Readings: Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12 The community Mass is celebrated at 10:00 AM. And Don’t forget, Day Light Saving Time ends and the clocks go BACK one hour this Sunday. Fr. James presides and preaches at Mass. It is also the First Sunday of the Monthly and the monthly Eucharistic […]

Readings Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21 In an age of fake news, biased reporting, half-truths, and plain lies, truth seems a rare and precious treasure. Presumably, then, we should be eager to acquire the truth and reject all untruth, lies, and dishonesty. Somewhat surprisingly this is not always the case: in many […]

Now and then, set aside for yourself a day on which, without hindrance, you can be at leisure to praise the Divine and to make amends for all the praise and thanksgiving you have neglected all the days of your life to render God for all the good he has done. And that will be […]