November 2011
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First Sunday of Advent!
Above is the Advent wreath in our monastic dining room or refectory. Traditionally the novices assemble it and the youngest novice in statio, or order of entering the community, lights the new candle each Saturday beginning a new week of Advent.
Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel!
Advent blessings,
bpv
Happy Thanksgiving!
At morning prayer and in my private prayer today I became rather overwhelmed with the realization that I have so much for which to be thankful! And of all the people and opportunities that I was sifting through of course the greatest thanks are to my God who gives me life and life to all those I love.
Here [...]
A Great Plunge Weekend!
This past weekend we hosted another Plunge! weekend for men from Saint John’s University. (We host at least 5 a year along with the Easter Retreat.) The visit always includes praying with the monastic community (Ora!) and of course a bit of work (Labora!). As I often mention to visitors to the monastery…”these buildings weren’t [...]
The Holiday Season is Coming…!
The annual bake sale and craft fair at Saint John’s was in full tilt yesterday in the Great Hall. The Saint John’s Boy’s Choir was offering coffee and baked goods for the shoppers and all sorts of handmade items were on display from beautiful wood creations, hand painted Christmas ornaments and homemade jams and jellies [...]
All Souls Remembrance
This noon many gathered in the Abbey and Saint John The Baptist Parish cemetery to remember those who have gone before us and remember particularly those who have died in Christ in the past year. As you can see though the temps were a bit chilly the sun is shining in central Minnesota and indeed [...]
Dia de los Muertos altar at Saint John’s…
As the number of monks at Saint John’s who have ties to Mexico increase so do the customs that they have enjoyed from their own culture. To my knowledge this is the first year that we have had a Dia de los Muertos altar set up.
As this is not part of my own background I did a bit [...]
