With the celebration of Pentecost Sunday, observed this year on May 19th, the Easter Season draws to a close and the liturgical season called “Ordinary Time” begins anew on Monday, May 20th. Ordinary Time, which extends until the beginning Advent, when we prepare for Christmas, begins on December 1st this year. That may seem like a long way off, but as it goes, Advent will be here before we know it.
Stately irises (see the photo below) continue to bloom in our cloister and Guesthouse gardens, and are being used to decorate the monastery church. In the coming days peonies in a variety of colors will be in bloom. They too are excellent for floral arrangement in the church.
During the coming weeks we will be celebrating the Solemnities of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ) on June 2nd and the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 7th. Noteworthy liturgical commemorations of some great saints of the Church will include the Birth of Saint John the Baptist on June 24th, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th and the Solemnity of Saint Benedict on July 11th. These are always festive occasions at the commencement of Summer.
Anyone following the Catholic Liturgical Calendar has much to celebrate in the course of the year, and we at the monastery do our best to “glorify God” at all times, as Saint Benedict encourages his monks to do. Hence, we have a rich life of prayer in common at the celebration of the Conventual Mass each morning and the chanting of the Divine Office in church throughout each day, beginning at 4:00 am Vigils and ending with Compline at 7:15 pm.
We keep you in our prayers and we are grateful for yours.
Abbot Christian and the monks
