ABBEY NEWS
New Novice
As of this morning’s chapter we have another novice, Br. Placid Larkin, bringing our count up to two novices, at least for the time being. Br. Placid began a novitiate a few years ago but after prayer and reflection felt he should leave. After some time and further prayer and reflection decided to reapply. In keeping with St. Benedict’s injunction in his Rule that a candidate may be received back up to three times the community gladly received him back January 7, 2019 to begin a six month postulancy which he completed today.
Here we see Br. Placid being clothed in the white habit of a novice. . .putting off the old man, putting on the new (cf Ephesians 4:22-24).
Br. Placid comes to us from the rural New York farming village of Earlville with a degree in Agricultural Mechanics and in Music Education. Along with this he has extensive experience in farming, general maintenance and performing as a professional musician. In 2005 he was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.
Genesee Novitiate
Br. Anthony Fr. Gerard Br. Placid Fr. John Vianney Br. David
Novice Master Abbot Under Master
Soon to Be Professed
Then, on Sunday, August 4th, our senior novice, Fr. John Vianney Hamill, after completion of his novitiate will pronounce his first vows for one year after which he will move out of the novitiate over to the professed side of the house. But more about that later.
Lectio Notebook
The purpose of our life is to give glory to God by giving him Christ in us. That means our primary duty is to form Christ in ourselves. We receive him in baptism and in the sacraments, especially at Holy Communion.
However, we must not keep him wrapped in swaddling clothes. We must let him live with us and gradually develop his life in us so that our life is converted into his. Our vocation is to be able to say with Saint Paul it is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20).
Christ’s life inevitably will be given us if we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.
Partnership With Christ
Dom Eugene Boylan, OCSO
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