Our Fall/Winter newsletter is in the mail and will get to our friends soon. If you aren’t on our list and want to be send email to the general mailbox and we’ll add you to the list. Though this edition is briefer than in the past it is still full of stories about our various […]
Work In The Benedictine Tradition, Part 5
I believe in earlier posts, at least in passing, I’ve indicated that St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries would not solve all our problems. That’s not what it’s there for. And Saint Benedict, however wise and holy he was, had no insider’s secrets on life; like all of us, he had to learn the hard way and […]
First Sunday of Advent, Year B, 30 November, 2014
This Sunday begins the new Liturgical Year, Year B. In the Sunday Cycle of Gospel Readings, the greater part will take us through the Gospel according to Mark. The weekday readings will follow Year One in the Lectionary. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The Advent wreath will […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Thanksgiving Day, 27 November, 2014
Readings: Sirach 50:22-14; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 The first time I preached this Gospel, an old friend of mine challenged me on being too hard on the nine lepers who had failed to give thanks. After all, they were only doing what Jesus had told them. The next time I preached this Gospel, I […]
FR. Joseph’s Homily for Christ the King, 23 November, 2014
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; I Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46 I suspect that at one time or another we have all seen film footage of those unforgettable scenes of jubilation and celebration as French, Dutch and Belgian civilians rushed into their often war-devastated streets to greet the liberating Allied Troops entering their town or […]
Thanksgiving Day, 27 November, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; we will be on a holiday/Sunday schedule. Benediction will follow Vespers (5:30 PM) whether the snow continues or not. Fr. Joseph will preside and Fr. James will preach. We are again replacing Abbot Robert who was originally assigned to preside and preach. We are hopeful that […]
Abbot Robert’s Homily for the Funeral of Fr. Edmund
There are two good reasons why I should offer these reflections about Fr. Edmund: first, as his abbot and, second, because Fr. Edmund and I shared so much of our personal lives as monks together. We both entered this monastery at the beginning of the 1960’s when the Abbey was only ten years old and […]
Sunday, 23 November: The Solemnity of Christ the King
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. Benediction of the most blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM); all are welcome to attend.
Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Edmund
Fr. Edmund’s body will be received back into the community at 8:30 AM, Saturday, 22 November by Fr. Joseph Wittstock and the monastic community. After the bier is placed in choir, the Psalter will be prayed continually in half-hour watches until 11:55 AM. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 12:00 noon by Fr. […]
Update on Br. Edward
Br. Edward, 93 years old, has been receiving nursing care at Heritage Hall in Front Royal, Virginia. He requested to be transferred to Carroll Manor and that request has been graciously honored by the staff there. This afternoon Br, Efrain went to Heritage Hall to accompany Br. Edward to Carroll Manor on the campus of […]