ABBEY NEWS
September 13, 2015
Back to School
At the time of the dedication and blessing of our new organ at the end of last April, liturgical music specialist, Bill Bertolas was with us for several days giving us chant classes. He’s due to arrive back this afternoon for a week’s stay during which he will continue the classes. His schedule will be rather heavy providing classes for the novices, cantors and community. In between the two visits he has been hard at work revising and updating and simplifying our revised liturgical books which we hope to begin using the first week of Advent.
Specialty Bakery
Working In Specialty Bakery
Alongside our bread bakery our specialty bakery continues to grow turning out a variety of biscotti, artisan bread, cookies and fruit and nut bars. As the operation slowly begins to grow and develop it provides community work for some of the brothers several days a week. At the moment the cookies and artisan bread are available only at our reception room bread store while the fruit bars and biscotti are also available there as well as in a few supermarkets and our online store at www.monksbread.com.
September 14th
Tomorrow is the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross which celebrates the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 320 under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem.
Meditating Wearing Monastic Cowl
It also marks the beginning of the monastic fast, also known by the name ‘little Lent’ and the day we resume wearing the monastic cowls (for the solemnly professed) and cloaks (for the novices & junior professed) during Mass and the major liturgical hours Vigils, Lauds and Vespers. Traditionally we discontinue wearing them with the arrival of warmer weather on May 11th. As the cooler autumn weather begins to make its appearance felt they are much appreciated.
Lectio Notebook
THE CROSS IS THE WAY OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE. DISCIPLESHIP, UNION WITH GOD, FULLNESS OF LIFE – THESE THINGS COME NOT AS A RESULT OF MIRACLES OR TEACHINGS, BUT THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO JESUS’ CALL:”IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW ME” (Luke 9:23).
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, THE DISCIPLES WERE ABLE TO GO OUT “PREACHING THE GOSPEL AND HEALING EVERYONE” (Luke 9:6). THAT WAS THE FRUIT OF THEIR CALLING, BUT NOT ITS ESSENCE.
FULL DISCIPLESHIP MEANS ALLOWING THE CROSS OF CHRIST TO SEPARATE US FROM SIN AND CONFORM US MORE AND MORE INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD’S SON.
LUKE: A DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY
LEO ZANCHETTIN, GENERAL EDITOR
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