Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; I Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9 Evidently I wasn’t the only one who found this past winter too long and too dreary. It seemed as though it would never end. Although we refer to the weather as a mysterious “it”–for example, “It’s raining”–this winter wasn’t a mystery. We’ve been warned for decades […]

Jesus died on the eve of the Jewish Passover before the eyes of all those who beheld him hanging on the cross. His lifeless body, soulless, taken down with grief and raw suffering, was buried in a hole in the earth. A large stone was rolled in place to seal it shut. Jesus was gone. […]

Please note that the Monastery’s Gift Shop will be closed this entire week. It will not be open for service from 21 April through the coming week; it will re-open Monday, 28 April.

The Easter Day Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding, Fr. James Orthmann preaching. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament follows Vespers, celebrated at 5:30 PM.

The Easter Vigil will be celebrated Saturday evening at 8:30 PM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. The Vigil’s longer Liturgy of the Word will be preceded by the blessing of the Paschal Fire and the Paschal Candle and followed by the Renewal of Baptismal Vows.

A selection of the Psalms will be prayed at 11:00 AM as a form of watching with the Lord in his Passion. The monastic community will be seated by the guest chapel and will lead the prayers; booklets with the psalms are provided for both the monks and our guests and visitors who may join […]

The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at 4:30 PM, Friday, 18 April. The Liturgy of the Word culminates in the solemn reading of the Passion of the Lord according to John followed by the intercessions for the Church and the world. The Adoration of the Cross with the chanted Reproaches follows. The Communion […]

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 4:30 PM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Throughout the Church, Mass of the Lord’s Supper replaces the Office of Vespers; on Holy Thursdays, communion may be received only in the context of the Bishop’s Chrism Mass in the morning or the Mass of the […]

Many visitors to the Abbey, guests in our Retreat House and neighbors recognize who Daniel Devoe is. Daniel first came to Holy Cross Abbey some six years ago, when he was part of the gardening staff at historic Mount Vernon, to explore the possibility of a monastic vocation. Although he did not complete the Observership here to […]

The Community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding. The solemn liturgy of the Lord’s Passion begins with the distribution and blessing of palms followed by the Gospel of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem; this opening rite will be celebrated in the Chapter Room just east of the sacristy and church. Monks […]