Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 The entrance antiphon, the first two readings, the responsorial psalm all exhort us to rejoice. But in today’s Gospel, the words “rejoice” or “joy” don’t even appear. Instead we find John the Baptist responding to the crowd’s questions with demanding replies. We are only told that these people […]
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), 13 December, 2015
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching.
Abbot Robert’s Homily for the Immaculate Conception
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 On this wonderful feast today of the whole Church, we acknowledge how God’s wisdom continually surprises and delights us. It was God’s wisdom to choose to create for himself human creatures with a free will, such as the very angels of God have. Mortal creatures, unlike […]
2016 Abbey Calendars are In
Here’s a terrible, blurry photo of the cover of the new calendar for 2016. You can acquire a copy or copies (Christmas remember!) by sending a check for $15 for each calendar to the abbey with “calendar sales” on the envelope. We will rush them out to you as soon as we get them to […]
Thomas Merton: the Monk as a Marginal Person, Part Four
To begin wrapping things up, we have already seen that authentic prayer is inseparable from authentic life choices and that they feed one another. Prayer is not another activity or option in my life but the life’s breath of my life that not only takes me out of myself but relates me to the mystery of God. […]
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December, 2015
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Today’s Solemnity is the patronal feast of the United States. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Since we follow the Sunday Schedule, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM).
Second Sunday of Advent, Year C, 6 December, 2015
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. This Sunday is also the First Sunday of the Month and Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM and continue through Vespers (5:30 PM), concluding with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers For December
Prepare a way for the Lord. Brethren, we prepare the way of the Lord as we are bidden to do by walking along it; and we can walk along it only by preparing it. However far you journey along it, the way is always waiting to be prepared, so that you must start afresh from […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, 29 November, 2015
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 We did not see a ball descending in Times Square last night at midnight to welcome in the new year of Advent. Fortunately, the Vatican did not think it appropriate to do anything like that either. Nonetheless, we are in a new year of the Church. […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for Thanksgiving Day, 26 November, 2015
Readings: Sirach 50:22-14; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The wise man Sirach said: Bless the God of all…may his goodness to us endure. Saint Paul said: I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God bestowed on you in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said: Was there no one to return […]