The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Prior Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching.
Homily for Corpus Christi, 2 June, 2013
Readings: Genesis 14:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17 If you look around here today, you’ll notice that we come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Many of us grew up in families in which food, belonging together and hospitality were not just essential but sacred. I literally grew up in my mom’s kitchen; the rest […]
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for June
You live well if you live in an orderly, friendly and humble manner: orderly towards yourself, friendly toward your neighbor and humbly toward God. Live in an orderly way, so that in your entire way of life you are careful to pay heed to your ways, both in God’s sight and in your neighbor’s, guarding […]
…take up your cross and follow me…
Homily for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; readings: Wisdom 9:13-18b; Philemon 9-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-33 Roman Catholicism seemed like something that happened to me: I was born into it. Luckily I became an adolescent during the Second Vatican Council. Like most teens, I didn’t like things just happening to me; but all of a sudden, […]
Corpus Christi, 2 June, 2013
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching. Immediately following community, we begin adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament which continues through Vespers and concludes with Benediction. All are welcomed to join the monks for exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Abbot Robert’s Homily for Trinity Sunday
Everything the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that [the Spirit of truth] will take from what is mine and declare it to you. The bedrock of the Christian faith is our belief that God is one, that there is none beside him. Yet we equally believe that God is three […]
Trinity Sunday, 26 May, 2013
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching.
Lay Cistercians Annual Retreat
The Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey observed their annual retreat, 24 through 26 May, at Holy Cross Abbey. On Saturday, after Midday Prayer, The professed members renewed their private vows. Abbot Robert reminded them that our life centers on the mystery of God; in centuries past we have attempted to say much, perhaps even […]
Spring Newsletter Coming Soon
Spring newsletter with stuff about the Monastic Immersion Week, retreat house, vegetable operation and a wonderful interview with Fr. Paschal is coming to your mailbox soon. Look for it to arrive starting sometime next week. And if you don’t get your copy in a couple of weeks send us an email at companions@virginiatrappists.org to make sure […]
Hey! It’s gettin’ crowded in here!
Your humble correspondent has been away for a while taking care of some medical stuff (getting old is not fun) and was wonderfully surprised upon his return today to find the refectory full! My goodness folks we’re bursting at the seams! With three men discerning now, another on his way (no way Jim can escape all […]