Readings: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9; Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19; John 19:31-37 The dictionary defines “sacrilege” as the profanation of the sacred. And thus for the Christian there is a sense in which all sin can be said to be a form of sacrilege in which the sacred temple that each one of us is, is defiled […]

This is an overdue post but one still worth publishing. The community Mass was celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. The Mass concluded with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. Following Midday Prayer, the community retired to the refectory for a festive dinner. Yesterday had been the Memorial of St. […]

Readings: Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Some ten-thousand years ago at the end of the last Ice Age, an accident of nature changed the course of human history. Two wild grasses cross-fertilized to form a hybrid, which in turn, crossed with another wild grass and so produced wheat. Unlike the wild grasses, the […]

This week Abbot Damian Carr, of St. Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts, will come to Berryville to conduct the Regular Visitation of our community at Holy Cross Abbey. This periodic visit, stipulated by our Order’s constitutions, gives each monk the opportunity to speak to Abbot Damian and reflect upon the state of our life together. Dom Damian […]

Readings: Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Senan Furlong, OSB, will preside and preach. Fr. Senan is a monk of Glenstal Abbey, County Limerick, Ireland and is spending the month of June at Holy Cross Abbey; this is the conclusion of his sabbatical year […]

I love you, O Lord, my strength; through you every hostile power yields to me, worm that I am, and the guile of the ancient Serpent is laughed to scorn by the angels you send to minister to us, so that his desire to hurt is turned to our advantage instead. I love you, Lord, my […]

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20 In today’s Gospel, Jesus acts like the welcoming host: when the eleven doubting disciples worship him, he draws closer to them. He accepts them and draws them into his mission, never pressing their doubts. What sort of host is he? When Jesus ascends to the Father, he appears […]

If you were unable to find the time you wanted for a retreat at Holy Cross Abbey, you still have opportunities in July. Monday, 29 June through Friday, 3 July has good availability. Should you wish to escape the madness of the Fourth of July Weekend, there are ten rooms available between Friday, 3 July and […]

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding, Fr. James Orthmann preaching.

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 31, 34; John 15:26-27, 16:12-15 For so-called “cradle Catholics” the uncommon zeal and enthusiasm of someone recently converted to Christianity can either be mildly irritating or a source of holy envy in the face of their own apparent lack of zeal and tendencies to spiritual indifference–what […]