Readings: Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24; Matthew 20:1-16 How often Do I wonder about people getting more than they deserve? I may not actually say it out loud, but that changes nothing. When I think like that, I am thinking like the hired workers in today’s parable who believe they’ve been cheated. To me, that’s the […]
Twenty-Fourth Sunday, Year A, 17 September, 2017
Readings: Sirach 27:30-28:7; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.
Fr. James’ Homily for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 When we celebrated the blessing of the new altar, the Preface referred to the altar of the Cross. At the same time, neither the altar nor the Cross was identified as an object but as a place; in Latin, locus. Latin is a very abstract, conceptual language–as opposed […]
Departures and Arrivals
The General Chapter Abbot Joseph departed for the General Chapter of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance on Sunday, 3 September. The overnight flight from Dulles to Fumicino, Rome allowed him to begin his trek to Assisi on the normal arrival day for the various superiors coming from all around the world. A […]
Solemnity of the Exaltation Holy Cross, Thursday, 14 September, 2017
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 This Thursday is the Patronal Feast of our Abbey and is, for us, a non-work day. The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, as on a Sunday; Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM). Fr. James will preside and preach.
Fr. James’ Homily for the 23rd Sunday, Year A, 10 September, 2017
Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 Today Jesus gives us some practical advice when someone in the community does wrong. For all its wisdom, it is not fool-proof. Jesus describes three steps, addressing what to do when someone will not listen; but even the third attempt may not resolve the situation. Why? At each […]
A Word From The Cistercian Fathers For September
Faith grows by tribulation and conquers burdens of tribulation by patience and prayer. Faith is helped by prayer so that it may not fail and may have the strength to overcome the force of temptation. But it is helped especially by the prayer of him who said to Peter, I myself will pray for you, […]
Opening of the General Chapter, 6 September, 2017
This morning we celebrated, as is celebrated in every Trappist community throughout the world, the Mass of the Holy Spirit to support the opening of the General Chapter. The General Chapter is composed of the superiors of all our communities–the government of our Order–with elected delegates or representatives from each Region of the Order, and […]
Rare Retreat Opportunity
Due to rescheduling and reshuffling of plans, we can offer an unusual Wednesday through Sunday slot in November for a stay in our Retreat House. We can now offer you, Wednesday afternoon (after 3:00 PM) on 15 November, through Sunday, noon, 19 November. If you’re interested, please contact Carol Hensley, Monday through Friday, at 540-955-4383 […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday, Year A
Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20 I believe today’s Gospel is topical but rather dangerous for us who live in an information-driven society. Problems arising from our capacity for rapid communications are distorted information, denial of information, rumors passed off as data. Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am?” His question evokes […]