The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Abbot Robert Barnes with preside and preach. This Sunday, the usual Sunday cycle is replaced by the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Clearly, this is an unusually important celebration. Only three nativities are celebrated in the Roman Rite: that of Christ himself on 25 Decemeber; that […]

Due to your interest, the Retreat reservations are now full for the month of June. However there are still great opportunities available for July and August and into the month of September when the summer weather enjoys its final fling. However, the reservation office will be closed Friday, 22 June until Monday 1 July. Please make […]

Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain remains an inspiring, and for many readers, an iconic account of the monastic vocation. For many people, a purely entertaining film like The Sound of Music, with an only tangential connection to monasticism, defines expectations of the cloistered life. Although most readers of this blog will chuckle at the […]

It’s been a while since Ailred appeared on these posts and the last installment considered his historical writings. Those writings dated to the beginning of the reign of King Henry II (1154-1189). Ailred spent his years as Abbot preaching to his community, at other monasteries or even–more the exception than the rule–in cathedrals on special occasions. […]

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

One great thing about Cistercian monasteries is we are different in size (buildings and humans) and different in our work (fruitcakes, caskets, beer) but we are the same in our horarium, or order of the Divine Office.  The time might be slightly off—in Berryville the monks pray Vigils at 3:30 am, in Conyers they pray […]

I can think of two extreme experiences as a Vocation Director over the past few decades. One, shared by many of Vocation Directors of our Order in this country, is being approached by a candidate who’d report a curious experience. “I tried to find out about entering a Trappist monastery”, he’d say, “so I spoke […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM; Fr. James Orthmann will preside and preach. At the conclusion of Mass, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be celebrated.

There are still about ten vacancies for this weekend ( Friday to Sunday, 15-17 June) at our Retreat House. If you’ve discovered that you have some unexpected free time this weekend or need some time away, please feel free to apply for the available space. Please contact Carol Hensley by Thursday by dialing 540-955-4383 or by email: […]