How often, and in how many different guises, have you communicated the sensation of your saving presence to me! In what an immense blessing of sweetness have you consistently gone before me in my littleness, … especially when I am permitted to share in your blessed body and blood. … But thanks be to your faithfulness, […]
Tuesday of the 30th Week
In affirming that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us, Paul is not trivializing our present sufferings—especially the sufferings of those who suffer much. Suffering, as we know, is one of the great challenges to faith in a loving and caring God. Certain approaches […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Friday’s Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Middle East
A couple of weeks ago, Sr. Dorothy Gilloley, a regular retreatant here, sent me this Prayer for Peace in the Middle East: God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon your children in the Middle East: Jews, Muslims and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis. Let hatred be turned into love, fear […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 28th Sunday
Twenty-Eighth Sunday, Year A, 15 October, 2023: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14 Matthew’s version of this parable probably elaborates Jesus’ original teaching, more accurately reported in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 14:16-24). Matthew has added the details of the king, the king’s son, the abuse of the king’s messengers and the king’s vengeance, as well […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
Anyone who wishes to come after me, through me, to me. After me because I am Truth, through me because I am the way, to me because I am the life. Anyone who wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Christ, the power of God and […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 26th Sunday
It is still rather common to hear people (even unbelievers) speak of having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. In invoking this image people are usually describing a situation of inner conflict in which two contrary options are vying for our attention and choice. Saint Paul spoke, instead, of that […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
What is piety you ask? To take time for consideration. … For what is as integral to the worship of God as that which he himself urges in the Psalm: ‘Be still and know that I am God’? This certainly is the essence of consideration. What is as valuable as consideration which benevolently presumes to […]
Wednesday of the 24th Week of the Year
Much of our growth in self-knowledge, and understanding the full extent of our estrangement from God, comes from our daily interactions with one another in the give-and-take of community life. And whereas the self-knowledge hereby acquired certainly includes positive and noble aspects of our identity, it more frequently reveals what is negative, sinful, unflattering, and […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year
Twenty-Fifth Sunday, YR A, 24 September, 2023: Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24, 27a; Matthew 20:1-16 Today’s Gospel could address our culture afflicted with entitlement. Or should I suggest that the laborers hired at the beginning of the day might rejoice in the good fortune of those hired in the late afternoon? Well, I believe that’s easier […]
Retreat House vacancies:
Due to several cancellations, there are five rooms available at the Retreat House this weekend—Sept 22-24. Please call 540-955-4383 or e-mail information@hcava.org asap if you would like to come on retreat this weekend.