Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: joy

Jesus is a physcian that heals

Ah! from how great bitterness of soul have you often delivered me, O Good Jesus, coming to me!… How often has prayer taken me on the brink of despair, and restored me to the state of soul of one exulting in joy and confident forgiveness. Those who are afflicted in this way, behold they know… Read More ›

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Christmas a time to seek purification, walk toward Christ, says Pope

Vatican City, Dec 22, 2010 / 01:17 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Jesus’ birth invites all people to transform their hearts through his infinite goodness and mercy, Pope Benedict XVI said in his weekly general audience, Dec. 22. In his last Wednesday audience before Christmas, there was a jovial mood in the Vatican’s Pope Paul VII Hall… Read More ›

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Being Beloved Children of God (Part 4)

Dropping our plan. What that Prodigal Son had to accept at that moment was to drop his own plan completely and accept the father’s embrace of love. Accept the father’s way. Let the father clothe him in the new garment—the garment we receive when we receive the habit. Put on his finger a ring, a… Read More ›

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In filling myself, I had emptied myself

If what most people take for granted were really true—if all you needed to be happy was to grab everything and see everything and investigate every experience and then talk about it, I should have been a very happy person, a spiritual millionaire, from the cradle even until now…What a strange thing! In filling myself,… Read More ›

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What has always been

I think most people get a jump start when little, projecting them out of the Garden of Eden, and suddenly finding themselves naked and vulnerable.  An event happens that colors the rest of life, either for good or ill.  Perhaps it is the first time we really wake up to the unfairness and cruelty that… Read More ›

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Be Doers of the Word

Saint James tells us: “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those… Read More ›

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Savour in fullness the joy that is born of truth

… Love the word of God and love the Church, and this will give you access to a treasure of very great value and will teach you how to appreciate its richness. Love and follow the Church, for it has received from its Founder the mission of showing people the way to true happiness. It… Read More ›

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Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks!

When Abba Apollo heard the sound of singing from the monks who welcomed us, he greeted us according to the custom which all monks follow… He first lay prostrate on the ground, then got up and kissed us and having brought us in he prayed for us; then, after washing our feet with his own… Read More ›

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The Joy of Advent

There is no mention of Advent in the Rule of St. Benedict, but I believe St. Benedict did take into account Advent. There is a sense of continual Advent woven into our lives. Our Rule is meant to keep us in Advent throughout the year. Our life is like the early Church, working, praying, serving,… Read More ›

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