Our Collect asks that we may honor God with all our mind and love everyone in truth of heart. That sounds wonderful—but our Gospel illustrates how difficult that actually is. Those neighbors of Jesus who had come to synagogue that Sabbath, didn’t they believe they were there to honor God with all their mind? Apart […]
Feast of the Presentation in the Temple
In the spiritual life, faith and hope are closely linked to the virtue of waiting in trust for the fulfillment of God’s promises. This can be difficult when spiritual growth seems excruciatingly slow and God’s promises of salvation, freedom from sin, and eternal union with him appear untrustworthy. Simeon, however, seems to have been able […]
Chapel Renovation Wins Global Award
As delighted as we all are with the outcome of our recent chapel renovation, corroboration of our positive sentiments by those outside the community is always welcome—not least when this is offered by experts in the field. Recently, our architect and friend, Tim Machado received the 2018 Award for Liturgical/Interior Design for his work on […]
Retreat House will close for July, reopen in August
We will not be taking reservations for the Retreat House for July this year – we are closing for the month of July so we can perform long-term maintenance projects and our employees will take their vacations. We will be closed Monday, July 1 through Friday, August 2. The Retreat House will re-open for the […]
Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
If everyone who does the will of the Father in heaven is Christ’s brother and sister, does this mean that those who fail to do the Father’s will are not his brother or sister? If so, then who among us can claim (as we frequently do) that Christ is our brother? For who among us […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Cistercian Founders
What is it about monastic reforms that renders them (relatively speaking) short-lived and apparently unsustainable? This question is especially pertinent when you consider that at the heart of these reforms is the resolve to turn from sin and seek holiness through an ever deepening union with God. In other words, the essence of reform would […]
Saturday, 26 January: Feast of the Founders of Citeaux
Saturday is the Feast of the Founders of Citeaux, Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephan. It is a non work day for the monks and the community Mass is celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph presiding and preaching.
Fr. James’ Homily for the Second Sunday, Year C
Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11 We’ve been listening to these readings for decades: recall that water fills John’s Gospel. From John’s baptism, in the first chapter, to today’s Gospel in the next; from the end of Chapter Three when Jesus and John are both baptizing, on to Jesus at Jacob’s well in […]
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn
The valiant struggle to end the evil of abortion can, at times, seem as fruitless as that quest for Christian Unity highlighted during this octave of prayer for the fragmented Body of Christ. And yet, even without this noble goal being reached, the very struggle to safeguard the life of the unborn serves as a […]
Stained Glass Window
We are happy to report that the stained glass window (featuring the three angels) has been reinstalled in our chapel after being meticulously and expertly restored. The window was the final detail of our chapel renovation (begun in 2016) allowing us to now declare the renovation complete! We take this opportunity to, once again, thank […]