Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Living the Rule rss

Stories and examples of how monastics and oblates live out the Rule in their daily lives.

What do I really believe?

“Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity.” – Mother Teresa​ Many people believe that faith is some form of absolute assurance. I do not believe that. From my own limited experience, there will always be room for some doubt. I think that is… Read More ›

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Unique Love

My Heart has a particular love for you, a love that My Father destined for you alone and for no other from all eternity. How it grieves My Heart when the unique love I offer a soul is spurned, or ignored, or regarded with indifference! I tell you this so that you may make reparation… Read More ›

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A death in my extended-family

Peggy is a second cousin of mine. I have grown quite close to her over the years. In fact, I am touched that she has always reached out to our side of the family. I do feel a connection with my family of both my mother and my father’s side. However, we moved to Panama… Read More ›

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Silence and Inter-religious dialogue

Many people who are followers of different beliefs are often afraid of paths, which diverge from theirs, on significant points. I once was told by an atheist, that he never reads books that seek to debate with the so-called “New Atheist”, because he does not want to support religion, God, or spirituality of any kind…. Read More ›

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Simply myself

I know Lord that you want only freedom for me, yet how I fight and cling to my chains,  my own dungeon making; self forged chains heavy with manacles tight, blackened by the salt of my sorrow yet how I fear to be free, so trapped in my cell my arms encircle my chains hugging… Read More ›

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Strange thoughts

For the last three months or so I have been having a strange kind headache.  It is a pressure felt right at the top of my head.  Sometimes there is a little pain around the edges, still on the top but a little further off from the pressure point.  In years past, in that same… Read More ›

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Playing with magnetic tiles

Play is everywhere. Even in our painful struggles, it is also a dance, or perhaps it may feel like an arm wrestling match…… One of our brothers, was before he entered the Monastery, a teacher. He taught young children, and like most teachers who have the gift of relating to young people, he himself has… Read More ›

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Our True Nature

“Break free of yourself. Take note as to whether even here, you are acting for me or for you. Cease to exist in your own eyes and focus everything on me. first and foremost your thoughts, since your actions depend on them. At noon couldn’t you take stock of your inner life in such a… Read More ›

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Healing, pain, purgation

Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again. That He can cleanse us in such a way that we are able to be with Him and can stand there in the fullness of life. Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable and from another the inability to bear certain… Read More ›

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We are all called to carry and pass on the flame

Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple This then is the message which we have heard from Him and declare unto you: that God is light,  and in Him is no darkness at all.—1 John 1:5 This morning as I was going into our church for Vigils (our 4 AM Divine Office) the church was aglow… Read More ›

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