Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 We could read today’s texts as dogmatic themes: original sin, God’s grace through the Incarnation, the necessity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. I could then look at my life and conclude, “Well, I’m only human!” But could such a perspective change my life? Isn’t faith much more […]

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 Every now and again one hears people speak of a certain person who died and, although never religious, deserved heaven because he or she was good, generous and selfgiving–more so than many religious people. Such sentiments reflect the notion of heaven being the reward and recompense for a […]

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM in the Chapter Room, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. As the Third of Four Sundays of Advent, it is known as “Gaudate” Sunday from the Introit of the day: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. […]

Readings: Sirach 50: 20-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19  We have all been the recipients of gratitude as well as ingratitude and thus we know very well the different feelings aroused by both. Furthermore, we also know the distinctly different feelings evoked by our own experience of gratitude and ingratitude towards others who are our […]

The Retreat House will be closed for Christmas, giving our staff a much needed breather, but we have a special Pre-Holiday Mini Retreat to offer you from NOON, Monday, 19 December through 9:30 AM, Wednesday, 21 December. We are not providing lunch at noon but you can check in then and get an early start, […]

By now you have probably received your copy of the Fall / Winter newsletter.  In it is a story about the ongoing renovation of the chapel and includes an artists rendering of what it is to look like.  Here’s what it looks like now: As you can see on the left the builders have covered […]

I just received word from producer Deidra Dain that Picture Farmer Films’ documentary about the Abbey, Saving Grace, Saving Place will air Thursday 12 January, 2017 at 8:00 PM on WVPT. For locally there will be a Sneak Preview at The Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville, VA, on Saturday afternoon, 7 January, between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. […]

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM in the Chapter Room (temporary chapel), Abbot Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. It is the first Sunday of the month and the Monthly Eucharistic Adoration begins at 4:00 PM and concludes with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament after […]

We must keep watch by night over the flock of our thoughts and actions. Then whether the Lord comes in the first watch or in the second or in the third, he will find us prepared. The first watch is uprightness of action–trying to bring your life into line with the Rule you have vowed, […]

Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24: 37-44 …the flood came and carried them all away. That verse from today’s Gospel strikes me because it resembles a dream told me by a friend. She dreamt that a tsunami sept everything away , and that powerful sweep was the coming of Christ. The image is as frightening […]