Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: holy week

Archaeologists discover the age of the Holy Sepulchre

The dates align with historical records regarding Constantine’s efforts to claim the site. The Tomb of the Holy Spulchre, also called the Edicule, was opened for the first time in centuries in 2016 and underwent extensive renovations. During that time, samples of mortar were extracted for dating. The results give credence to the belief that… Read More ›

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Easter Vigil

Before the beginning there was naught, perhaps something impossible to comprehend, no space nor time, there was not even nothing for that would imply the opposite, something, even speaking of the void does not encompass what the before wasn’t it just was not. Then The word spoken, light, pulsating outward, universe expanding ever faster its… Read More ›

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Holy Saturday

Carved into rock the tomb stood waiting, the body wrapped in linen tight with spices; according to Jewish law. A stone rolled before the entrance, within only darkness, silence, that only death can bring, the interior cold the body alone in its inner nothingness The void, the thing feared most, to drop in never to… Read More ›

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Good Friday

Long the journey was not from Pilates chair of judgment to the place of the skull, the pain endured however beyond human knowing, body torn with lashes, head deeply wounded by sharp thorns, blood pouring into his eyes, face beaten black and blue beyond recognition, the continued jeering mocking, being spit upon, the soul shattering… Read More ›

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Holy Thursday: The Garden

Alone in the garden leaning upon a rock, his followers asleep not understanding what was coming, the shivering in fear the sweating of blood caused by the depth of anxiety, the prayer of surrender “not my will but yours be done”; the kiss of betrayal done in mockery, “hail Rabbi”; the fleeing of the apostles,… Read More ›

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Wednesday of Holy Week

Did Jesus understand, did he know the fate, just around the corner stalking him, he was fully human after all, true the Word, yet he did grow in wisdom and knowledge. From what he said the answer seems to be yes, so the day before it began perhaps his soul was already sweating blood long… Read More ›

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Tuesday of Holy Week

There is an inner coldness, A deep emptiness that comes upon me this time of the year, Perhaps it is the radiating darkness From the occupied tomb of Holy Saturday, An ending known, The ending of us all A tomb waiting after our own passion, Ending in the bleakness of death. Beyond that day of… Read More ›

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Holy Saturday

This morning I got up at my usual time, made coffee for the retreatants and then did my morning Lectio.  I went up to the abbey church a little early to sit.  The church at this time has no sanctuary light, and the Eucharist is absent. I guess you would have to belong to a Christian… Read More ›

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The Face of Christ

In life there is joy and peace, health and posterity. Yet all things end and loss and suffering enter into all lives. Jesus was hailed and loved and followed, and then he was cursed, hated and abandoned, even by his most trusted disciples. Betrayed by one, denied by another, the others scattered in fear of… Read More ›

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4 Ways Holy Week Can Be the Perfect Antidote to This Election Year

If you’re feeling like there are too many shadows, Holy Week brings the Light It is Holy Week at last, and boy do we need it. Holy Week does one thing better than any other event each year: It describes what hope looks like in the most desperate of times. It is the perfect antidote… Read More ›

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