From Bernard of Clairvaux’s Homily II in Praise of the Blessed Virgin (CF 18 A, pp 30-31) …And the Virgin’s name was Mary. Let us now say a few words about this name, which means “Star of the Sea” and is so becoming to the Virgin Mother. Surely she is very fittingly likened to a […]

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21 It was back in 2009 that a former professor of mine at Loyola University, and her daughter, were tragically killed in a freak accident. They had been driving in the a severe snow storm and had stopped at a red traffic light when a large tree […]

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21 The Community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.

Readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13 If I’m expecting esoteric teaching on prayer from the New Testament, I’m going to be disappointed. If I want something for the elite, I’d have to look elsewhere. Of course, I’d be pretty pretentious to appropriate anything elitist when I still have so much work to do on […]

Readings: Acts 4:32-35; Philippians 4:4-9; John 17:20-26 One of the corrective measures during the post-Vatican II period of Cistercian renewal was the moderation of some of the Order’s ascetic practices as well as the reevaluation of the attitudes and spiritual perspectives that motivated these practices. And in this the Order was seen as reclaiming some […]

The titles I’m about to mention aren’t new to these posts; they’ve both been mentioned in lists of suggested Lenten Books. And anyone who has made a retreat at the Abbey may have heard selections from them during their visit. I’ve revived Br. Stephen’s custom of reading at one of the meals to our guests; […]

Readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching.

Readings: Genesis 18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-18; Luke 10:38-42 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.

If the high temperatures are upon us and the weather reports keep mentioning possible thunder storms, you know that we are deep into the summer. That means it will be over before you know it and if it’s going by that quickly you risk letting another summer go by without retreat time at Holy Cross Abbey. […]

Readings: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37 The Mass reading and scriptural theme we have been given for this Sunday’s celebration is very special. We don’t often get such a homogenous combination. The Gospel from Saint Luke is one of the most important readings we can have in a Sunday Mass. And combing it with […]