As we begin another year and enter back into “Ordinary Time” we are happy that our Monastery Chapel remains open to the general public. However, please be aware that in the interests of protecting the health of our elderly and vulnerable monks, we are maintaining some degree of social distancing, and the monks will continue […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for Thursday, February 9
Thursday of the 5th WK of the Year: Genesis 2:18-25; Mark 7:24-30 This Syrophoenician woman, a pagan, refuses to be sidelined by Jesus. Being as insightful and patient as she is courageous and desperate, she meets Jesus on his own ground, his own logic and opens his eyes to a broader mission than just […]
HOLY WEEK RETREAT HOUSE AVAILABILITY
There are still several openings for those who wish to spend the Sacred Triduum at our Retreat House. Arrival is on Wednesday, April 5 and departure after lunch on Easter Sunday, April 9. Reservations can be made at 540-955-4383 or you can leave a message at information@hcava.org
Fr. James’ Homily for the 5th Sunday
Fifth Sunday, Year A, 5 February, 2023: Isaiah 58:7-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:33-46 Salt does not choose to be salty nor does light make any effort to shine: it is part of their natures. I believe the problems begin when, hearing this parable, we force ourselves to imitate the salt of the earth […]
Monastery Reopens to the Public
We are happy to announce that the Chapel is once again open to the public. However, please be aware that the monastic community recently experienced an outbreak of Covid in which most of the monks were sick. Although we have recovered, it is well to remember that entering the chapel does place you at some […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
Let faith be for us, then, like the first day on which we believers are separated from unbelievers, as light from darkness. Let hope be the second day: through it, dwelling in the heavens and through the merits of faith hoping only for things above the heavens, with God urging us on, we are distinguished […]
Friday of the 2nd Week
Investing money in a business you know is doomed to fail, makes no economic sense. Similarly, donating money to a charity known to misappropriate its funds is foolhardy. Yet, that is what God seems to do with us when it comes to his love, grace, and choice. Given God’s foreknowledge, we may wonder why Judas […]
Solemnity of Our Cistercian Founders
Every year on January 26, we celebrate the Feast Day of our Holy Cistercian Founders—Saints Robert, Alberic, Stephen, and their companions. For the monastic community, this is what we call a “Holy Day” and one in which the daily schedule resembles a Sunday. Accordingly, Holy Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. (preceded by Terce […]
Saint Anthony of the Desert
There is a world of difference between allowing an exception to an otherwise reasonable divine law, rule, or religious practice for a good reason, and doing so with a casual, negligent, or indolent disregard for such a law or religious practice. For, although the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for Monday, Week 2
Monday of the 2nd WK of the Year: Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 2:18-22 In a country like ours, with no compelling sense of restraint or self-mortification, fasting for no good reason could wake us up to our habit of self-appeasement. The attempt could actually generate a solid motivation for the practice. Fasting is never […]