Colloquially, we sometimes speak of “dying for a cup of coffee” or “dying for a vacation.” Teresa of Avila had a similar longing, but it wasn’t for coffee, but a consuming desire to see God. As a child she briefly ran away from home with her brother hoping to go to the land of the […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 8th Sunday of the Year
Although a rotten tree may not be able to produce good fruit, we know that evil people can mimic goodness and kindness for their own selfish purposes. And so an apparent act of self-sacrificing kindness is undertaken in the service of ingratiating oneself with someone from whom one has something to gain. On the other […]
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers
But what good does it do to point out the dangers [of the devil] without pointing out also some consolation, some remedy that can be applied? The peril indeed is great, and grave is the struggle … Great, too, are the stakes, for we have frequent – no, continuous – fights against the tricks of […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Seventh Sunday, Year C
Readings: 1 Samuel 26:7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38 Today Jesus challenges each and every one of us to love our enemies. I have met people who believed they loved everyone but I’ve never met anyone who didn’t have difficulties loving his or her enemy. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be so. […]
Spending Holy Week at the Retreat House?
If you are planning to make a retreat during Holy Week, please contact us soon. We still have rooms available, but want to make sure you get your space. The dates are Wednesday, April 17 through Sunday, April 21, 2019. The telephone number is 540 955 4383 or e-mail at information@hcava.org. Thank you and we’ll […]
Saturday of the 5th Week of the Year
The sin of our first parents resulted in their expulsion from Eden and humanity’s tragic exile and alienation from God. It was to undo the disastrous effects of their disobedience that the Father sent his Son to redeem us. Today’s gospel gives a symbolic sign of this redemption. For in the feeding of the four […]
Wednesday of the 5th Week of the Year
In the light of our first reading we might ask: Which is the truer human freedom: Being able to do something you want to do, or (out of love) not doing something you would like to do? In our Christian tradition, true freedom is inseparable from love. Thus, just as true love is not possible […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the Fifth Sunday of the Year
Christianity in general, and Catholicism in particular, have frequently been blamed for generating unnecessary, unhealthy, and morbid guilt in the hearts of its members thereby depriving them of simple joy in the good things of life. Peter’s encounter with Jesus (described in this morning’s gospel) would seem to lend support to this not uncommon perception […]
Thursday of the 4th Week of the Year
In instructing The Twelve to shake the dust off their feet in places where they are not welcomed or listened to, Jesus may be warning them of the contagious nature of unbelief and how at moments of weakness we can be susceptible to its influence when witnessing unbelief in others. However, this can also be […]
Memorial of Saint Agatha
God’s timing can frequently be at odds with our impatient desires, expectations, and anxieties. Saint Mark doesn’t tell us what was going through the mind of Jairus when Jesus interrupted his journey to establish who in the crowd had touched him. It’s fair to assume that they weren’t happy thoughts as every second that Jesus […]