Our readings present us with two of the primary reasons for seeking Christ. The first is represented by the crowds who seek Christ because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Later, after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus would tell them, bluntly, I say to you, you are looking for me […]
Tuesday, Second Week of Easter
Like most monastic movements, the first Cistercians drew inspiration from the early Jerusalem Christian community where no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own but they had everything in common. To this end, they would sell all their possessions and lay the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. In our efforts […]
Easter Saturday
It was before their act of disobedience that God gave Eve and Adam dominion over all creation. Sadly, after their turning away from God, this dominion increasingly became domination, exploitation, and misuse of the land of their exile. This, perhaps, accounts for Jesus’ commissioning his disciples to preach the gospel not only to all peoples, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Day
Easter Sunday, 4 April, 2021: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 How can I imagine what the resurrection-life is? Scripture doesn’t systematically describe it and theological reflection can only be logical, not experiential. We have yet to live it. It is our hope, not another specimen under a microscope. It is easier […]
The Easter Vigil
Satellite images of the earth taken at night reveal how much of the earth is lit up during the hours of darkness. One of the unfortunate consequences of this phenomenon is that it becomes a real challenge for the avid stargazer to find locations free of light pollution in which to view the stars in […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Holy Thursday
Variety-show entertainers generally prefer to end their productions with a spectacular and climactic final act that leaves their audience cheering for an encore. Jesus obviously wasn’t an entertainer; nevertheless, when one considers the impressive miracles, healings, and other outstanding feats that characterized his years of active ministry, one would perhaps expect that his final act […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
My Lord Jesus was silent before the scribes and Pharisees when they accused him, silent before his judges when they questioned him, silent before those who punished him with torture and crucifixion. Even today, he is silent before the wicked and shameless men who challenge him every day and every hour. If this is so, […]
Holy Week Liturgy Streaming
The Triduum schedule for live-streaming. Thursday, April 1: 4:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper Friday, April 2: 4:30 PM Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Saturday, April 3: 8:40 PM Paschal Vigil Sunday, April 4: 10:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass Click Here to live stream our liturgies!
Fr. James’ Homily for the Solemnity of the Annunciation
25 March, Solemnity of the Annunciation: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10: 4-10; Luke 1:26-38 I can easily believe that by human reason or observation of the world around us, any of us could arrive at a concept of God. I’m not so convinced that I can conceive a vibrant relationship with the living God […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent
Our struggle to understand the relation between the divine and human natures of Christ and how these interact can sometimes create problematic solutions to perplexing questions. Thus, for example, we have the notion (held by some) that the infant Jesus only pretended to be helpless and unable to speak, whereas, because of his divine nature, […]