It was a joyous occasion, this last Sunday, when Brother Patrick (having completed his postulancy) received the Cistercian Habit and began his Canonical Novitiate. He now joins Brothers Paul and Aelred in the novitiate as he (and they) prepares for first vows. Join us in thanking God for calling these three men and let us […]

Then the prophet adds, Rend your hearts and not your garments.  By these words he is accusing the ancient people of hardness of heart and meaningless superstition.  They frequently rent their garments, but not their hearts.  …  Let the Spirit rend your heart with his sword, which is the word of God; let him rend […]

How wonderful your love for me, my God, my love!  How wonderful your love for me, everywhere mindful of me, everywhere eager for the welfare of one who is needy and poor, protecting him both from the arrogance of men and from the might of evil spirits.  Both in heaven and on earth, O Lord, […]

Let faith be for us, then, like the first day on which we believers are separated from unbelievers, as light from darkness.  Let hope be the second day: through it, dwelling in the heavens and through the merits of faith hoping only for things above the heavens, with God urging us on, we are distinguished from […]

Take from me, O Lord, my heart of stone.  Take away my hardened heart.  Take away my uncircumcised heart.  Give me a new heart, a heart of flesh, a pure heart!  You who purify the heart, you who love the pure heart, possess my heart and dwell within it, enclosing it and filling it, higher […]

On this 71st anniversary of our founding, we pause to thank God for the countless blessings and graces bestowed on our community—including those bestowed through our brothers who now rest in the peace of Christ. Many of those blessings have come through you our friends whose supportive friendship, prayers, and benefactions continue to support our […]

Honor and glory belong to God alone, but God will receive neither if they are not sweetened with the honey of love.  Love is sufficient for itself; it gives pleasure to itself, and for its own sake.  It is its own merit and own reward.  Love needs no cause beyond itself, nor does it demand […]

For those who regularly tune in to our livestream, please note that we will be interrupting this service for a brief period. Accordingly, Vespers and Compline today (Friday) will not be broadcast—neither will Lauds/Mass or Vespers tomorrow (Saturday). The livestream will resume Saturday evening at Compline. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you all […]

I said above that God is the reason for loving God.  That is right, for he is the efficient and final cause of our love.  He offers the opportunity, creates the affection, and consummates the desire.  He makes, or rather is made himself lovable. He hopes to be so happily loved that he will not be […]