Due to a group cancellation we now have 12 more rooms available Monday afternoon through Friday morning, 3 to 7 February. To make a reservation, please call Carol Hensley, Monday through Friday at 540-955-4383 or email her at information@hcava.org.
Wednesday of the 2nd Week of the Year: Day of Prayer for the legal protection of the unborn
Although the death of Goliath (described in our first reading) was that of a dangerous enemy and most likely prevented the death of many others, it was nevertheless the ending of a life deemed precious in the eyes of the Lord. Accordingly, even when the death of one, prevents the death of many, it remains […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Second Sunday of the Year
In John the Baptist’s acknowledgment, I recognize a very constant dynamic of the spiritual life: I did not know him…But when John saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him, then he knows that Jesus is the Son of God. One of my favorite passages in the Book […]
Reflection on today’s Gospel by visiting Trappist, Fr. Dominique-Savio Nelson of Guadalupe Abbey, Oregon.
In today’s Gospel pericope, Jesus calls Matthew to become his disciple. Jesus gazed at this man and said simply, “Follow me.” Did Jesus invite Matthew because the tax collector merited it? Was Jesus responding to some hidden longing in the sinner’s heart? Certainly not. Grace, by definition, comes unbidden and without explanation. In Caravaggio’s magnificent […]
Saints Maur and Placid
Although Saint Mark describes Jesus as preaching and driving out demons as if these were separate and distinct functions, in many instances these are one and the same thing. For with Jesus preaching is always synonymous with the Truth and when the Truth is preached and heard, falsehood and ignorance—those hiding places of the demons—are […]
Prayer is relationship
10 January, Friday after Epiphany: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Lk 5:12-16 A couple of days ago, in Mark’s Gospel, we heard that Jesus had withdrawn to pray; today, in Luke’s Gospel we’re told that he’d withdraw to deserted places to pray. As we digest the richness of this Christmas season, let’s not reduce that […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Epiphany
The celebration of the Baptism of the Lord (next Sunday) will mark the official ending of this short Christmas Season and the resumption of so-called “Ordinary Time.” This liturgical transition is a rather apt symbol of a similar process that takes place repeatedly in our spiritual lives—that is, a return to ordinariness. We have just […]
2020
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
It shines equally on the good and the bad, and gives itself freely to both. O most beautiful Light, O radiance of light eternal, you were like that from the beginning, you were like that, O everlasting loveliness, in those everlasting days of yours, in the years of your eternity! You were like that, O Lord […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Mary Mother of God
In a metaphorical sense, I could describe any mother, or any woman who plays the nurturing role of a mother, as bringing God into the world. The intimate care and close bond, which is much more than physical, as much as the words of teaching, can shape or deform a child’s sense of God. That […]