We practice “refectory reading” during our midday meal, the main meal of the monastic day. St. Benedict specifies that the monks should eat in silence and one of the monks should read to the community while they are eating. Often, we are listening to a work of history or biography–monastic biography, for example–a book about […]
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
First Vespers of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on Friday evening at 5:30 PM. Mary Immaculate is the Patroness of the United States; the community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, Fr. James Orthmann presiding and preaching.
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for December
The path on which we must meet with salvation and the Savior, just as it must not be darkened through ignorance of the truth, so it should not be slippery from inconstancy at work. Yet like Balaam, who fell down with his eyes open, so we too see with wide-open eyes because of knowledge while we fall from […]
Prayer Request
Please keep Fr. Malachy in your prayers; he had to be taken to the emergency room on Friday evening and was admitted to Winchester Medical Center for observation. Fr. Malachy celebrated his eightieth birthday a few years ago and has been suffering all the limitations of his age.
First Sunday of Advent, 2 December, 2012
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. Because it is the First Sunday of the Month, Eucharist Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM and continue through Vespers. Vespers will conclude with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to begin this Advent with us for […]
A Paint Job Yields a Surprise!
As part of the work being done in and about the monastery the community decided a paint job was in order. As you can see in these pictures we have begun the work and expect to finish the full painting of the monastery buildings in the Spring. Take a look at these two pictures though…what […]
Advent-a perfect time for a trip to Berryville
I think my head is going to explode with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, ‘see how much money I can spend Tuesday.’ As the world continues to believe that adding more things to the ridiculous amount of stuff we already have will bring happiness, it is a blessing and a great gift that there are houses […]
MIW Filling Up Already
Yikes–if you are thinking of attending the Monastic Immersion Weekend in April I wouldn’t delay in emailing me you are interested and then sending in your $100 deposit. It’s filling up faster than I expected though there are still spots open. An MIW is just that-an immersion in the life of the monastery and the […]
Preparing for Advent
This Saturday evening we celebrate the First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent. The First candle of the Advent wreath will be lit and we begin the new Liturgical Year. This is more than a preparation for Christmas or commemorating the anniversary of the birth of Christ. We are again entering into the mystery […]
The Solemnity of Christ the King, 25 November, 2012
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes, presiding and preaching. Second Vespers of the Solemnity will be chanted at 5:30 PM, immediately followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament (approximately 5:50 PM)