Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in the Chapter Room, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The renovated church is not yet reopened; we are waiting on the availability of the crew to finish the surface and staining of the floor, the wall treatment and the […]

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s alarm and fear at the appearance of the Angel Gabriel suggests, perhaps, that there were no earlier visits from heavenly messengers or any other form of divine epiphany preceding this momentous occasion in her young life. And all this despite the fact that she was sinless […]

Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 4,6-7, 10-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 John’s Gospel usually offers us long discourses. Today’s Gospel, a preview of John’s passion narrative, is a fast-moving account of grace undeterred by controversy and opposition. I recommend you revisit it, picturing the events and putting yourself in the place of the various characters. That […]

Readings: 2 Samuel 16:1b, 4, 6-7, 10-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching. The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday from the opening word of the Latin version of the Introit: “rejoice!” That Introit is a reminder that Lent […]

The Gospel according to Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 While we are renovating the abbey church–and even while we were discussing the renovations–Abbot Joseph has encouraged us to examine our liturgical practices and experiment, re-inhabit our liturgy. Even though today’s Solemnity is a work day, we have integrated Lauds with a more solemn form of the […]

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:!0; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph presiding and preaching. It is a non-work day and we follow the Sunday schedule. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM).

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16; Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 The First Vespers of the Feast will be celebrated Sunday afternoon, replacing the Second Vespers of the Third Sunday of Lent. The Solemnity is transferred to Monday, 20 March to allow the full Lenten cycle; the Third Sunday of Lent initiates […]

Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-15 The community Mas will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in the Chapter Room, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.

The MIW weekend, May 19-21 is now full so we won’t be taking any more reservations at this time.  We will, as in past years, create a waiting list in case someone cancels…if you wish to be placed on the waiting list please send email to       kurt@virginiatrappists.org.  

Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-19 Living in the shadow of the Blue Ridge has made me sensitive to mountains in Matthew’s Gospel. It makes sense to me that when Jesus goes up a mountain, something special will happen. Perhaps there’s an important clue in the first ascent: Satan takes him up a […]