Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings of the day: R 7:10-18Mass: 2 Samuel 12:1-7a 10-17; Resp. Psalm 51; Mark 4:35-41


Jesus rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,‘Quiet! Be still!’
With Jesus’ words to the raging wind and sea, the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Slow

Robert Molesme (First Abbot of Cîteaux, d. 1110), Alberic (Robert’s successor, d. 1109), and Stephen Harding (Alberic's successor, d. 1134): Cistercian Abbots of Cîteaux


Readings of the day: RB 7:5-9Mass for celebration of the Cistercian Abbots: Sirach 44:1, 10-15; Resp. Psalm 115; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-16; Mark 10:2

How do we honor today, in this 21st century, the founders of our Order, Sts. Robert, Alberic & Stephen?  What can we draw out from the sketchy and spare details we have of their beginnings to tell us what their vision was, what the impulse was, what was the force behind their movement to begin a new community, which in a relatively short time developed into a full fledged Order?  If I had to choose two words to capture the essence of what propelled these courageous and dedicated monks they would be t

Readings of the day: RB 7:1-4 HumilityMass: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Resp. Psalm 117; Mark 16:15-18

Caravaggio, Conversion of St Paul
Today we are gifted with the choice of two readings from the Acts of the Apostles, both accounts of Paul’s experience on the road to Dama

Wednesday of the Third Week of Ordinary TimeSaint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (1557-1622)
Readings of the day: RB 61, Cherishing Silence in the MonasteryMass: 2 Samuel 7:4-17; Resp. Psalm 89; Mark 4:1-20 Vincent Van Gogh, The Sower
Whoever has ears ought to hear.
As Jesus explains