We want ‘glory’ but there is a cost.  This is the essential message of today’s gospel.  Jesus is addressed by James and John, two of his disciples, as ‘teacher’…and they add, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” (Mk 10:35-45).  

Within the ‘love command’ of God there is a ‘demand’…the demand is to ‘sell all’. This ‘demand’ to sell all is not easy…still ‘with God all things are possible’. It seems that ‘virtue’ is not enough, that is the virtuous living of the ten commandments. Why would God ask something extra, beyond keeping these commandments?

The Fall Newsletter recaps yet another summer of navigating the pandemic while maintaining our monastic life and ministry of prayer and hospitality.  Even though our guest house has been closed, we were able to host several young women as interns.  These women participated fully in our life of prayer and used the time wisely.  They took the opportunity to look inward in order to discern their life's meaning and direction at a deeper level.  

Also featured in the newsletter is an article about our community retreat with Fr. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis, ocso, a scholar and monk of Saint Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer, MA.   As Sr. Gertrude writes, "The retreat, 'Encounter with the Risen Jesus,' gave us an in-depth and fascinating look into the post-Resurrection accounts found in the Gospel of St. Matthew."

Our beloved chaplain, Fr. Maurice Flood, died suddenly at his monastery of the Holy Cross in Berryville, VA.  He was 85 years old. He had served as our chaplain from 1999 - 2014 and was known by all for his big smile and even bigger heart. 

Funeral Mass Information- September 4, 2021

*In the photo above, Maurice is seen sawing some fallen branches after a winter storm.

“It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God’.  Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me’” (Jn 6:45).  If we took just this sentence into prayer, how are we each being addressed by these words of Jesus?  There exists within us the reality that God is ready to teach us and, presumably, at any given moment.