Some Good News: We organized another bake of the small rectangular cakes which are now available at the Gift Shop. Large fruitcakes are still available, though supply is limited, and we expect that, they will soon be sold out. We apologize (in advance) for those who may not be able to purchase a fruitcake this […]
Gift Shop News
As the end of the year approaches (along with the holy season of Advent) we are happy that our Monastery Chapel remains open to the general public. However, please be aware that in the interests of protecting the health of our elderly and vulnerable monks, we request that those attending Holy Mass and the other […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Christ the King
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 20 November, 2022: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 21:35-43 I offer you two images of Kingship found in today’s readings and pictured in this chapel. The first, from the Letter to the Colossians is depicted in the Madonna standing behind our choir. Here we […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 33rd Sunday
Thirty-third Sunday, Year C, 13 November, 2022: Malachi 3:19-20a; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19 At the end of the Liturgical year, we celebrate cryptic gospels forecasting doom. To what does Jesus refer? The destruction of Jerusalem? The judgment of God? The advent of the Messianic age? The end of the world? By the time […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Mothers
My sweetest Jesus, revive my listless spirit in You now, in Your death restore to me a life lived for You alone. Grant me a way of life corresponding worthily to the price of Your blood. Grant me a spirit that savors You, senses that sense You, a soul that understands Your will, virtue that […]
Fr. James’ Homily for All Saints
ALL Saints, Monday 1 November, 2022: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a There is a perspective on the Beatitudes—being poor, mourning or hungering, experiencing persecution—that could seem depressing. And then how many people do we see in our society who are actually meek, merciful or clean of heart? They would not be […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 30th Sunday
In listening to this morning’s gospel, we perhaps find ourselves spontaneously identifying with the Tax Collector, and not with the proud Pharisee. Objectively, of course, this would be to acknowledge the truth of our situation, whereas adopting the pompous attitude of the Pharisee would be delusional. However, it is probably closer to the truth to […]
Saint Teresa of Jesus
Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is an extreme version of our constant thwarting or quenching the Holy Spirit—something Saint Paul warned against. And whereas blaspheming against the Holy Spirit almost has to be conscious, our quenching or thwarting the Holy Spirit is often unconscious. Our struggle towards that seemingly elusive goal of continuous prayer, is […]
Wednesday of the 27th Week
Given his triple denial of Christ and his apparent moral cowardice—as exemplified in today’s first reading—Peter seems an unlikely candidate for sainthood. However, there is one thing that explains why he became Saint Peter: And that is that he was able to accept correction and reproof without making excuses for his behavior or trying to […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 27th Sunday
In contrast to Luke (in today’s gospel) Saint Matthew records Jesus saying that faith the size of a tiny mustard seed will move mountains—and not just a little mulberry tree! How tiny must our faith be, then, if even uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea is beyond us? Needless to say, […]