Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: Dohle

Finding a penny seeing a butterfly

Some times when talking to friends and just people that I have met when conversing with them here in the retreat house, I have found that many will have some sort of event happen to them that will draw their attention in a powerful way. It is usually something simple that has some deep significance… Read More ›

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Serving one another

Obedience is a blessing to be shown by all, not only to the abbot but also to one another as brothers, since we know that it is by this way of obedience that we go to God. Therefore, although orders of the abbot or of the priors appointed by him take precedence, and no unofficial… Read More ›

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A conversation with a very humble woman

Breaking family cycles I was talking to one of our retreatants last evening. A very nice lady in her 40’s, who has been here a couple of times, has like most of us had some rough times in her life. She talked about her early years when she was an addict and how it affected… Read More ›

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I have come to tell you that God exist

Dear children! Sympathize with me! Pray, pray, pray Medjugorje Message, April 19, 1984 In all alleged apparitions of Our Lady, the main focus is on prayer. Prayer is an actual opening of the heart to God, allowing God’s love in and in praying for others we become one with the Will of God who desires… Read More ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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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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 ›

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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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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 ›

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