He set love in order in me. Utterly necessary. Zeal without knowledge is insupportable. Therefore where zeal is enthusiastic, there discretion, that moderator of love, is especially necessary. Because zeal without knowledge always lacks efficacy, is wanting in usefulness and, all too often, is harmful. And so the more eager the zeal, the more vigorous […]
Prayer in the Monastic Tradition, continued
Our prayer in common is our vocation as Cistercians, members of the Benedictine monastic family. This is our witness of the value of praying together in Christ, our witness to all the faithful in the Church. This is also our great blessing from God, being such a rich source of grace for each of us […]
Twenty-seventh Sunday, Year B, 4 October, 2015
Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. It is the first Sunday of the month and Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM; all are welcome to join us. Vespers (5:30 PM) will be followed by Benediction of the Most […]
Twenty-Sixth Sunday Year B, 27 September, 2015
Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45,47-48 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.
Fr. Joseph’s Homily for the 25th Sunday, Year B
Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37 The official arrival of autumn this Wednesday unfortunately heralds the arrival of the cold and flu season. And as we know so well from past years, a cold or flu is something difficult to keep to oneself and it is almost inevitable that we will infect others […]
Volunteers Help on Ecological Project
Since the last Monastic Immersion Weekend, we’ve been enjoying volunteer help clearing the growth around the native hardwoods and bushes planted along our streams. I myself have been going out about three times a week–I’m now up to ninety minute work periods–to clear the growth. The cooler temperatures are a real help and I can […]
The Monastic Tradition of Liturgical Prayer
The Divine Office is not a performance but our worship of God. We represent the whole Church, Christ’s Body, who, as God’s creatures, offer to our Creator our worship, praise and thanksgiving. We express our needs and the needs of those around us confident of his provident care for creation. He even calls us his children, […]
Twenty-fifth Sunday, Year B, 20 September, 2015
Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.
Abbot Robert’s Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14 September, 2015
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 On this feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross–the patronal feast of our monastery under the sign of the mystery of Christ’s cross–we are God’s witness in the Church to the saving grace of the cross of Christ in our lives. The cross is a profound enigma, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 24th Sunday, Year B
Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-36 Mark’s Gospel begins: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But for the next eight chapters there will be no mention of the title Christ until Peter uses it today. In between, however, Jesus is identified in many ways: a voice from heaven calls […]