A number of important events have interrupted my reflections on St. Benedict’s teaching about humility. It is natural for many Catholics during Lent, especially of an older generation, to recall our sinfulness and seek effective ways to amend our lives. Although there is a guilt-ridden way to acknowledge our sinfulness, which is a dead-end, there […]
Fifth Sunday of Lent, 6 April, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. It is the First Sunday of the month and the Monthly Eucharistic Adoration will be observed, beginning at 4:00 PM. Adoration will continue through Vespers which concludes with Benediction. All are welcome to join us.
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for April
Blessed is he who, in order that I might be able to build a nest in the clefts of the rock, allowed his hands, feet and side to be pierced and opened himself to me wholly that I might enter the place of his wonderful tent and be protected in its recesses. The rock is […]
St. Benedict for the Rest of Us POSTPONED
Because of scheduling conflicts St. Benedict for the Rest of Us, originally scheduled for May 17th has to be postponed to the fall. We will post a new date and time etc. during the summer. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-87,10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 A few weeks ago, when I first read over today’s readings, I felt as if I were being hit by too much. I’m not complaining about the length of the Gospel; in fact, it’s one of my favorite sections of St. John’s Gospel–the more the merrier! It […]
Monastic Immersion Weekend Concludes
The monastery was under clouds and light rain through most of the weekend making the walk from Retreat House to the Abbey Church a wet one. Several of our Retreatants still walked every single time for the Office. During our two days as community within community we got out of bed at 3 am (to the tune […]
The Solemnity of the Annunciation, Tuesday, 25 March, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. It is a non work day and we will follow the Sunday schedule. Vespers, at 5:30 PM, will be followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Third Sunday of Lent, 23 March, 2014
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching.
Abbot Robert’s Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph
Today we pause in our Lenten observance to celebrate the feast of a just man. How would we have known about Joseph of Nazareth at all, had he not been chosen in God’s wisdom to preside over the family of Mary and Jesus? We really know nothing else about him. Can anything good come out […]
Br. Aelred Joseph receives the novice habit
As the featured post above says Br. Aelred Joseph received the novice habit today in a very moving ceremony in the Chapter Room of the Monastery after Lauds. Br. Aelred, who comes to us from Massachusetts by way of New York City was formerly a Franciscan Friar, then a counselor and now a monk to […]