Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-15 The community Mas will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in the Chapter Room, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching.
Monastic Immersion Weekend Registration Closed
The MIW weekend, May 19-21 is now full so we won’t be taking any more reservations at this time. We will, as in past years, create a waiting list in case someone cancels…if you wish to be placed on the waiting list please send email to kurt@virginiatrappists.org.
Fr. James’ Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent, Year A
Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-19 Living in the shadow of the Blue Ridge has made me sensitive to mountains in Matthew’s Gospel. It makes sense to me that when Jesus goes up a mountain, something special will happen. Perhaps there’s an important clue in the first ascent: Satan takes him up a […]
Day Light Saving Time
Since you all did so well with the change in time for Sunday Mass from 11:00 to 10:00 AM, I thought it was time for a new challenge. Actually, this isn’t my idea at all and since World War II is long over I really can’t fathom the necessity of Day Light Saving Time–not the […]
Second Sunday of Lent, Year A, 12 March, 2017
Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-19 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM. Last Sunday went very well with both monks and guests arriving on time, no late arrivals expecting an 11:00 AM Mass! Fr. James will preside and preach.
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 8th Sunday, Year A
Readings: Isaiah 49:14-15; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34 One of my childhood memories growing up in South Africa, is that of a popular radio show called “The Money or the Box.” Participants from a live audience had to choose between a known sum of money and a box whose contents might be anything from a […]
Some Very Helpful Reflections for Lent
Last Wednesday at the Mass for Ash Wednesday, Abbot Joseph offered a brief reflection after the Gospel which certainly spoke in a very concrete way to the monastic community. But while I was listening, I couldn’t help but think that it would be helpful to a number of our readers. This is Father’s entire reflection: As […]
Mass at 10:00 AM, First Sunday of Lent, 5 March, 2017
Readings: Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. The Shop will be open shortly after Mass. This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and we begin the monthly Eucharistic Adoration at 4:00 PM and conclude with Benediction of […]
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for March
It is fitting that I say a few words about prayer. The more efficacious it is, if done as it should be, the more skillfully does our adversary usually hinder it. Prayer is gravely hindered by cowardice of spirit and excessive fear. This often happens when a person thinks about his own unworthiness so much […]
Monastic Immersion Weekend News
The new church will be open and functioning so you are going to want to be part of the MIW class in 2017… But we are down to just a few rooms left for this retreat May (19-21). Monastic Immersion Weekends are the closest thing you can get to being a member of the community only […]