Prepare a way for the Lord. Brethren, we prepare the way of the Lord as we are bidden to do by walking along it; and we can walk along it only by preparing it. However far you journey along it, the way is always waiting to be prepared, so that you must start afresh from […]
The Monk as a Marginal Person, Part 3
In the last installment we were considering an insight from an essay on Thomas Merton (“Man of Prayer”) by Br. David Steindel-Rast. Cultivating a life of prayer is not a procedural technology. It is not getting from this starting point, constructing something new that will then function according to expectations and produce an anticipated result. […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, 29 November, 2015
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 We did not see a ball descending in Times Square last night at midnight to welcome in the new year of Advent. Fortunately, the Vatican did not think it appropriate to do anything like that either. Nonetheless, we are in a new year of the Church. […]
Fr. Robert’s Sermon for Thanksgiving Day, 26 November, 2015
Readings: Sirach 50:22-14; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The wise man Sirach said: Bless the God of all…may his goodness to us endure. Saint Paul said: I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God bestowed on you in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said: Was there no one to return […]
Monday, 30 November, The Feast of St. Andrew
St. Andrew, the “First-called,” as he’s named in the Eastern Church, is celebrated this Monday. He was the first of the apostles to follow Jesus, the one who brought his brother, Simon, to the Lord. Andrew stood by, content, when Jesus made Simon his rock, “Peter”, one of the special three disciples with James and […]
29 November, 2015, The First Sunday of Advent, Year C
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28; 34-36 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Today begins the new liturgical year. The Sunday cycle of readings are from Year C and the weekday readings are from Year Two.
Thanksgiving Day, 26 November, 2015
Readings: Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The community Mass for the National Celebration of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching. Because we are following the Sunday schedule, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM). All are welcome to join us.
The Monk As A Marginal Person: Part Two
In the previous post, we noted Merton’s opinion that whatever the agenda of the culture we find ourselves in, the monastic would take her or his proper place by remaining a monastic–we are simply monks, simply what we are. Embedded in that state, unlike a career or identifying profession, is the call from God. We […]
Merton Lecture at HCA
Fr. James Orthmann keynoted the Merton at 100 lecture Sunday November 15th. Well over 60 people came to the Retreat House Chapel for a talk called “Monk as Marginal Person.” Fr. James suggested that this simple reference, that Merton made in his last talk in Thailand, was less an indictment of monks for having left the […]
The Solemnity of Christ the King, Sunday, 22 November, 2015
Readings: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37 The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.