Father Joseph, born and raised in South Africa, was born in 1957 and joined the Order in 1991. He was solemnly professed in 1995. Father Joseph has held many jobs in the Order and at Holy Cross Abbey including temporary Superior during Father Robert’s sabbatical a few years ago. He currently serves as the Cellarer […]
Fr. James Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption
Readings: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56 If Saint Luke’s narrative of the Annunciation can leave an impression that Mary is a sedentary, passive agent of God’s will, today’s readings do not support that. They inform us that Mary was never merely acquiescent but attentively receptive. That’s not passive! That is a […]
Monday, 15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; there will be no Mass integrated with Lauds at 7:00 AM, rather Lauds in its integrity will be celebrated at that hour. Abbot Emeritus Robert Barnes will preside at Mass and Fr. James will preach. Mary […]
Sunday, 14 August, 2016 The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. That afternoon we celebrate First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary; Vespers is followed by Benediction and all are welcome to join us in air-conditioned comfort.
Dom Damian’s Exhortation to the Electors
I asked Dom Damian’s permission to post the exhortation he delivered to us immediately before the election. I think it can speak to all of us in monastic life, and not just at an election, and may speak to anyone who draws inspiration from monastic spirituality. As you know, brothers, the election of an abbot is a […]
Congratulations to Dom Joseph Wittstock, Abbot elect of Holy Cross Abbey
This morning the conventual Chapter of Holy Cross Abbey voted Fr. Joseph Wittstock as our new Abbot. The election was declared by Dom Damian Carr, our Father Immediate and is presently being confirmed by our Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, in Rome. Dom Joseph was elected to a six year term. At noon today, the Chapter members will […]
What Happens At An Abbatial Election? Part Three
The Confirmation. The final phase of the election is characteristically monastic. You may have noticed already how different this is from a national election. One very important element, not mentioned so far, forms the preparation: discernment with prayer. That began for us at Holy Cross Abbey months ago, as a community exercise and, probably years […]
What Happens At An Abbatial Election? Part 2
Preliminaries: At 8:15 AM, the solemnly professed community meet with the President of the Election, the two Witnesses and the Notary (Secretary) and the Cantor reads Chapter 64 from Saint Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries, “On Constituting an Abbot.” Then the President, Abbot Damian, comments briefly and exhorts the community. The Notary next reads the roll […]
What Happens At An Abbatial Election? Part 1
Electing an Abbot doesn’t happen every day. And the Master of Ceremonies, responsible for the preparations, says: Thank God! But our readers might be interested in what happens. Our last election, which re-elected Fr. Robert Barnes for a third six-year term, happened six years ago, before this website was renewed in its present re-incarnation, so […]
Fr. Robert’s Homily for the 19th Sunday, Year C
Readings: Wisdom18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48 Today’s Gospel ends with the verse: Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. I don’t think I want to speak about that Gospel text today. I would rather we look at the section […]