The monastic community is on retreat this week meaning they have conferences all week and do not follow the usual work schedule.  Even the gift shop is closed. Why do monks need a retreat, you might ask? Isn’t their whole life kind of a retreat? Truth is this is a common misconception about monastic life.  […]

THE MONASTERY GIFT SHOP WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE MONK’S ANNUAL RETREAT That is, from MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, THROUGH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11. The Gift Shop will reopen on FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 12 at 10.00 A.M. We would appreciate your prayers for us during our time of retreat and apologize for any inconvenience related to this […]

Keep carefully and watchfully, O happy sinner, this spirit of yours, this most fitting affection of humility and devotion by which you may always so think of yourself in humility and of the Lord in goodness. There is nothing greater that it among the gifts of the Holy Spirit, nothing more precious in the treasures […]

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 The community Mass with the blessing of candles will be celebrated At 7:00 AM on Tuesday, 2 February. On Wednesday, the traditional blessing of throats through the intercession of St. Blaise, will be offered after Mass integrated with Lauds (7:00 AM).

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30 This Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last Sunday’s beautiful Gospel of God’s Kingdom blossoming in the Synagogue at Nazareth in the person of Jesus Christ. For us, celebrating it at Sunday Mass, what a change in one week! In Luke’s narrative, the jolting change occurred […]

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The Monthly Eucharistic Adoration for February will be observed this Sunday due to particular circumstances; it will begin at 4:00 PM and will conclude after Vespers with Benediction of the Most […]

Readings: Genesis 12, 1-4; Acts 4:32-35; Mark 10:17-30 In the year 1098 of the Incarnation of our Lord, Robert of blessed memory, the first abbot of the monastery of Molesme, and brothers Alberic, Odo, John, Stephen, Letald and Peter and others numbering twenty-one in all, eagerly set out for the solitude of Citeaux…After the monks […]

Since we posted our special event schedule we have received various questions about the Monastic Immersion Weekends.  Here’s some answers to the most frequently asked questions: Are Monastic Immersion Weekends for men who want to be monks? Yes and no.  These weekends are primarily for laypeople who want to experience monastic life but don’t intend to […]

Although we are digging out the immediate area around the Abbey, our roads are still clogged. Castleman Road–the County Road–leading to the Abbey has only one lane 0pened and requires four-wheel drive. We hope to report better news by Wednesday.