The response to our publishing a Benedictine/monastic/cistercian reading list has been outstanding so you better hurry up and get your copy before we run out!  Oh, wait…it’s digital…we can’t run out!  Never mind… But you are going to want to get your copy of the list. Email to companions@virginiatrappists.org and put ‘reading list’ in the subject box […]

Br. Efrain has generously agreed to assume the responsibilities of Vocation Director and Novice Director for Holy Cross Abbey. Abbot Robert Barnes announced the appointment to the community on Sunday, 1 July. Br. Efrain replaces Fr. James who was appointed Novice Director on 14 September, 1996. This post was held up until Fr. James could write […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. James Orthmann will preside and preach

The current issue of the Arlington Catholic Herald, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Arlington, is featuring a cover article on Holy Cross Abbey. The 7/11/12 article by correspondent Gretchen R. Crowe is entitled “In Search of God, Monks” and is available both in print and on-line. The title succinctly suggests the double orientation […]

As promised, the brothers have assembled the most comprehensive list EVER of Benedictine and monastic books, web sites etc. for your reading pleasure.  We know many of our friends work hard to separate the good stuff from the not so good stuff and the monks of the abbey have done the work for you!  But […]

If you’vbe been wondering what a retreat might be like at Holy Cross Abbey or have been meaning to get back out here, during July and August, the Retreat House still has plenty of vacancies to accommodate your retreat. If you were concerned about visiting during a heat-wave, every room is air-conditioned as are all the […]

St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries  orients the lives of countless men and women, be they monks, nuns, oblates, lay people; be they saints, penitents or strugglers; whether they live today or a thousand years ago. Why is this? How is it possible that this way of life, first articulated in the Sixth Century, still speaks […]

Thank you to all who were able to brave the the record high temperatures this past Friday to celebrate the Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Edward McCorkell. It was a fitting celebration of his life and monastic vocation. A number of readers have offered this website their tributes to Fr. Edward and you can view those […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Abbot Robert Barnes will preside and preach. It is a non-workday and we follow the Sunday schedule.  This Wednesday we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Benedict, known as the Father of Latin Monasticism and the the Patron of Europe. You may find more information on St. Benedict […]

This is a new feature that will appear once a month. One of the Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey selects texts from the writings of the Twelfth Century Cistercian authors; this began as a celebration of our tradition in monthly emails to the other Lay Cistercians and is now being shared with the Abbey’s Website. […]