Readings 2 Kings 5:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Orthmann presiding and preaching.

The community has announced that the Monastic Immersion Weekend in the Spring is scheduled for May 5-7.  If you are interested please send email to companions@virginiatrappists.org and tell us a little about yourself including your experience with retreats, Cistercian monasteries, Benedictine communities etc. MIWs fill up VERY fast so you are encouraged to inquire quickly.  […]

Happy the man in whose soul the Lord Jesus once set his feet of justice and mercy. There are two signs by which you can recognize such an individual, for he cannot but bear upon himself the imprint of these divine footsteps. These signs are fear and hope, the former presenting the imprint of judgment, […]

Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-19 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. It is the first Sunday of the month and the monthly Eucharist Adoration begins at 4:00 PM, continuing through Vespers (5:30 PM) and followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. […]

I hope this doesn’t seem like Christmas decorations going up the day after Hallowe’en but we know many of you already want to plan your Advent and New Year retreats with us. The first couple of weeks of December bring no surprises and there are still plenty of rooms available. But things get interesting after the Fourth […]

One thing we have learned since beginning to offer programs to the public is there is some ‘good stuff’ going on out there for laypeople and others interested in monastic life.  In these pages in the future we will try to focus on some of them (occasionally we promise) in case our friends have interest. […]

I can’t say that there was an overwhelming response to the post about revising the website, but of the few comments made, there was interest about hearing more from individual monks. On my own wish-list, I’d like to see a greater variety of points-of-view, more variety in the mode of expression than the contrast between […]

Readings: Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31 I remember years ago reading a commentary on today’s gospel in which the commentator suggested that altruism and compassion were not what prompted the Rich Man’s plea to Abraham that he warn his five brothers lest they too come to this place of torment. Instead, he […]

As Autumn enters the Valley, the Retreat House is filling up to overflowing. However, there are still spaces available deeper into the Season. 31 October through 4 November, Monday through Friday still has openings. That week the community celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints on Tuesday; and the next day, the Commemoration of All Souls Day […]

Readings: Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke16:19-31 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.