Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 The lives of the saints are a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians in their own struggles to grow in love of Christ. And for this reason we more easily identify with those saints who struggled as we do and are perhaps less […]

Carol Hensley’s Office will be closed for the Christmas Holidays from Wednesday, 20 December, and will not reopen until Thursday, 28 December. During those days you will not be able to contact Carol or make a reservation for the Retreat House. We would recommend waiting until 28 December to make any calls; although Carol has […]

Christmas Eve, Sunday, 24 December, 2017: 10:00 AM: Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B 5:30 PM: First Vespers of the Nativity of the Lord (followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament) 7:45-8:15 PM: Recital of Christmas Carols by Madeline MacNeil in Cool Spring House (the Mansion) 8:30 PM: Vigils and Christmas […]

Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Faced with my favorite passage from Isaiah and the opening of Mark’s Gospel, which always moves me, I was wondering where to begin. There’s too much richness here. What jumped at me from both readings was the desert setting; would anyone else describe these passages as […]

Readings: Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 If you’ve ever received a speeding fine, you will know that the reason you were caught was because the State Trooper had cleverly hidden his vehicle so that by the time you saw it, it was too late. This same sense of entrapping us in […]

If you are coming to the Gift Shop specifically to get the traditional, larger, 2.25 lb round fruitcake, you might want to come sooner rather than later, as the Gift Shop expects to sell out of that size over the coming weekend.  If the Gift Shop does sell out and you strongly prefer to have […]

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. It is a Holy Day of Obligation and the Patronal Feast of the United States. It is a non-work day for the monastic community and we follow the Sunday schedule with […]

Readings: Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Dom Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. This Sunday inaugurates the new Liturgical Year and is the First Sunday of the Month; the monthly Eucharistic Adoration begins at 4:00 PM and concludes with Benediction of the Most […]

Anyone who wishes to pray must choose not only the right place but also the right time. A time of leisure is best and most convenient, the deep silence when others are asleep is particularly suitable, for prayer will be freer and purer. Arise at the first watch of the night and pour out your […]