Black and white are popular colors at Holy Cross Abbey located just a few miles east of Berryville, Virginia. Not only are black and white the traditional colors of the cowls and robes worn by the Abbey’s 14 Trappist monks, they are also the colors of choice for two American Bald Eagles who are permanent […]
The Incarnation: a Chapter Talk by the Abbot
Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the incarnation of the Son of God as a human being by the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. There is much going on in the community these days, as we strive for sustainability and our day is unavoidably affected by “business as usual”–even if it isn’t a work day! But do your […]
26 March: Solemnity of the Annunciation
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. The Principal Celebrant and Homilist is Abbot Robert Barnes. It is a non-work day for the community and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be celebrated after Vespers (5:30 PM) The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary […]
25 March, 2012, Fifth Sunday of Lent, YR B
The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. The Principal Celebrant and homilist is Fr. James Orthmann.
Fr. Edmund Flynn
Fr. Edmund, who has served the community for decades as our treasurer, is now residing at Carroll Manor, Providence Hospital in Washington DC. Fr. Edmund’s legs have been afflicted by muscular degeneration for over a decade and he’s soldiered on bravely with cane and walker until his legs could no longer support him. Although he was receiving attentive […]
Irish Cobblers Come to Holy Cross Abbey – Video
What do “Irish Cobblers”, “Canadian Goose” and “Yukon Gold” all have in common? These wonderfully descriptive names represent are just a few of the varieties of potatoes being planted in the fertile bottomland fields along the Shenandoah River at Holy Cross Abbey this spring. Abbey farming partner and Great Country Farms owner Mark Zurschmeide said […]
21 March, the Transitus of St. Benedict
Since Vatican II and the reform of the Calender of the Saints, most monastic communities celebrate 11 July as the solemnity of St. Benedict. Before that time, 21 March was celebrated, commemorating the presumed day in 547 AD when St. Benedict died. Why was the date changed? The celebration in July removes the solemnity from the restraints […]
Monastery Store
About once a week, a new product will be featured under the tab Monastery Store, specifically for the Gift Shop. For the present, the posts will concentrate on books available in the Shop that you might find helpful for your personal reading or as a gift. Let us know if you’d like more information on […]
A Message From The Abbot
Every weekend A Message From the Abbot is updated under “About Us”. During Lent, the Abbot has been talking to the community about The Mirror of Charity, a treatise by the Twelfth Century Cistercian, Ailred of Rievaulx. Each week you can find a digest of Fr. Robert’s main point from his talk that might provide […]
Monday 19 March, 2012: The Solemnity of St. Joseph
The community Mass will be celebrated at the main altar at 7:00 AM by Fr. James Orthmann. It is a work-day for the monks, so there will be no homily. St. Joseph, as the protector of the Holy Family, is the Patron of the Universal Church. Since he died in the company of Jesus and […]