Living the Rule 
Stories and examples of how monastics and oblates live out the Rule in their daily lives.
Jesus shows us the Father
The Model of Peter and Judas When reading the ‘Last Discourse’ in the Gospel of John, there is a very interesting dynamic in how Jesus related to Peter and Judas. Jesus was greatly distressed over what Judas was about to do and I would believe over Peter as well. With Judas before he left Jesus… Read More ›
Thoughts on the book “The Great Divorce”
(Not a book review) C.S. Lewis thought that hell was in the minds of those who are there, while heaven is actual reality since it is union with God. Many atheist say they are realist, I guess that means that those who believe in the Transcendent are not. I think it is a silly notion,… Read More ›
Easter Sunday 2016
How strange it is that our faith often has so little impact on our lives. On Easter Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Yet the fire, the passion of this day is often reduced to a lukewarm assent and then life as usual. We can live in such a way as to make… Read More ›
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 ›
My talk with a Hospice Chaplain
One of our retreatants that are here this week is a Hospice Chaplain and has been so for 13 years. Since I worked with the elderly here and was with many of the monks in their last moments, we had something to talk about. He shared some of his experiences with me about the dying… Read More ›
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 ›
Our hiddenness from others
How could you every count my sacrifices? The stars witnessed My nightly prayers; the cold, My frozen limbs; the earth, my broken feet. — 5/11/48 paragraph 6 He and I (Pauline books) We all live hidden lives. We can talk about ourselves, our joys and sufferings, our sacrifices, yet it is never enough. There is always… Read More ›
Meeting Jesus during Holy Week
People will often seek knowledge about Jesus, which is important. They will study, write papers go to conferences, give talks on Jesus etc., yet that is not the same as meeting Jesus. Study is important, necessary in fact, but unless it leads to a deeper love and trust in our relationship with God, it is… Read More ›
The Little Way
In sum, then, the little way is often is often a little way of darkness. It’s about accepting that we are to put with ourselves—with all the darkness of our weakness, brokenness, and sin—without getting discouraged. From the book: 33 Days of Merciful Love by Michael E. Gaitley. MIC Love of self is commanded because… Read More ›
Our path through life does not always make sense
I have come to understand that we are each on a path and God is our intimate fellow traveler, who seems to work faster for some, slower for others in bringing their life to fulfillment. I don’t have to understand how this happens, for some lives seem to be filled with chaos, pain and addictions,… Read More ›