There’s still ‘room at the inn’ to register for St. Benedict for the Rest of Us on April 17th and the Women’s Monastic Immersion Weekend April 8-10 but it’s getting down to the wire. We have room for about 10-15 more for the April 17th program and six or seven for the Women’s retreat. If […]
Monks on retreat
The monastic community is on retreat this week meaning they have conferences all week and do not follow the usual work schedule. Even the gift shop is closed. Why do monks need a retreat, you might ask? Isn’t their whole life kind of a retreat? Truth is this is a common misconception about monastic life. […]
Observing Lent
When I was in Catholic grammar school in the 1950’s we were expected to memorize a lot of information for catechism class. Most of us could rattle off the norms for Lenten Observance by rote even if much of that information was not interiorized–as kids not too much was expected of us. The great pitfall, addressed […]
Ash Wednesday, 10 February, 2016
Readings: Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 The community Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 AM, replacing Lauds, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding. After the Gospel, the ashes of last year’s palms (from the Sunday of the Lord’s Passion) will be blessed and distributed as a sign of our repentance.
GIFT SHOP CLOSING
THE MONASTERY GIFT SHOP WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE MONK’S ANNUAL RETREAT That is, from MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, THROUGH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11. The Gift Shop will reopen on FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 12 at 10.00 A.M. We would appreciate your prayers for us during our time of retreat and apologize for any inconvenience related to this […]
Updates
Well, the snow is over for a while, our roads are clear and we’re back to normal, whatever that is in a monastery (perhaps any of us can say the same in any way of life). I’m told that a rather warm week is ahead as we couldn’t imagine last week. Posts may be a […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers for February
Keep carefully and watchfully, O happy sinner, this spirit of yours, this most fitting affection of humility and devotion by which you may always so think of yourself in humility and of the Lord in goodness. There is nothing greater that it among the gifts of the Holy Spirit, nothing more precious in the treasures […]
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, 2 February, and the Blessing of Throats, 3 February, 2016
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 The community Mass with the blessing of candles will be celebrated At 7:00 AM on Tuesday, 2 February. On Wednesday, the traditional blessing of throats through the intercession of St. Blaise, will be offered after Mass integrated with Lauds (7:00 AM).
Fifth Sunday, Year C, 7 February, 2016
Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Year C
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30 This Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last Sunday’s beautiful Gospel of God’s Kingdom blossoming in the Synagogue at Nazareth in the person of Jesus Christ. For us, celebrating it at Sunday Mass, what a change in one week! In Luke’s narrative, the jolting change occurred […]