Abbey News

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Being among the fortunate dioceses celebrating Ascension Thursday today, the traditional forty days after Jesus' Resurrection, we are keeping the day as a full solemnity. If you are wondering about the discrepancy in the dates for keeping the feast here is the official word: Ascension Thursday falls on May 1, 2008, and it will be celebrated on that day in the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and the state of Nebraska.

In all other dioceses of the United States, the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension is transferred to the following Sunday, May 4, 2008.

News From Our Mother House
Having reached the end of his term of office Dom Damien resigned as ninth abbot of Gethsemani on March 30th. Fr. Elias Dietz was elected his successor this past Tuesday as posted on Gethsemani's web site. Our congratulations to Abbot-elect Elias! We have a vested interest in this development since the new abbot of Gethsemani will be our father immediate and will be making our next visitation in a couple of years.

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The Junior Seminar for 2008 went very well and everyone participating in it seemed pleased with it. Thanks be to God everything came off without a wrinkle. One of the high points of the Seminar was the gracious hospitality of the community of New Melleray, Dubuque, Iowa. Imagine the disruption to a community with an invasion of 24 lively junior monks & nuns!

Matching the hospitality was the entire monastic complex. You can get some idea of it by visiting their web site at New Melleray. While there don't miss their Compline page where you can join the community praying Compline using their printed version and singing along with them using their audio recording. Go to their Compline page for the text and the link to the recording.

The Lively Juniors of the US Region
With Their Presenters and Moderator
click here for enlargement

We have come to the end of the sacred period of forty days following the blessed and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, when by his divine power he raised up the true temple of God three days after it had been destroyed. This season, so full of useful instruction for us, was appointed by God's holy decree in order that during the time that our Lord's bodily presence was to remain on earth, belief in his resurrection might be strengthened by such proofs as faith might demand.

The days which passed between the Lord's resurrection and his ascension were by no means uneventful; during them great sacramental mysteries were confirmed, great truths revealed. In those days the fear of death with all its horrors was taken away, and the immortality of both body and soul affirmed.

It was then that the Lord breathed on all his apostles and filled them with the Holy Spirit; and after giving the keys of the kingdom to blessed Peter, whom he had chosen and set above all the others, he entrusted him with the care of his flock.

From a Sermon on the Ascension
St. Leo the Great