Living the Rule 
Stories and examples of how monastics and oblates live out the Rule in their daily lives.
I am both
As I monitor how I live up to my own beliefs, my many failures, starting over again and again; it is hard for me to be shocked, though I am often saddened, and yes angered by evils committed by others. For I can find excuses for my own weaknesses, often playing down the harm I… Read More ›
Un-formed
Tears and anguish follow us all in one form or another, also joy, love and pleasure, grace our days, friendship and betrayal in the plays of our lives, a dark forming force deeply felt, each playing one role and then the other, mask changed, yet in the end when it is all said and done,… Read More ›
Haunted by Thomas Merton
How he has opened my spiritual life to new dimensions J. K. Rowling was inspired by visions of St. John the Baptist as the saga of Harry Potter and friends percolated in her mind. He became the archetype for Professor Dumbledore – a wanderer in worlds earthly and spiritual – as well as a tutor,… Read More ›
Getting Our Act Together
I met Kay (not her real name) for the first time last night in the retreat house. She was very attractive, 62 years old, intelligent, and she lived a very busy life. One of the first things she said to me, which was something I could sympathize with was: “before I die I want to… Read More ›
Easter Vigil
Before (the 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… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›