The Abbot’s Notebook for September 19, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for September 19, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! I am back home at Christ in the Desert after almost two weeks in Mexico. During that time I visited the Monastery of San Benito in Mexico City, the Monastery of Nuestra...24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2015
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2015 FIRST READING Isaiah 50:5-9a The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;...The Abbot’s Notebook for September 12, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for September 12, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! I am writing to you from Mexico and ask your prayers for all of our communities here. The travel to Mexico was without problems and as soon as I got here, I began...23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Isaiah 35:4-7a Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save...The Abbot’s Notebook for September 5, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for September 5, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Another week at home and everything here is relatively quiet and peaceful. Our Father Andrew, who is 55 years old, had a mild heart attack on September 1st, so please...22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take...The Abbot’s Notebook for August 29, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for August 29, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Reading the news is sometimes like watching a storm beginning and then waiting to see if anything will happen. The storms of politics and the storms of the Church right now...21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks...The Abbot’s Notebook for August 22, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for August 22, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Last Wednesday we had the solemn vows of three of our brothers and we are blessed to have them now as permanent members of our community. We now have 25 permanent members...20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
NOTE: I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018. I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997. I will no longer write these homilies. My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...The Abbot’s Notebook for August 15, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for August 15, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! I am home in the Monastery but I spent three days away in a crazy trip to Mexico to be present for the priestly ordination of Brother Antonio Abad and the diaconal...19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
NOTE: I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018. I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997. I will no longer write these homilies. My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...The Abbot’s Notebook for August 8, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for August 8, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! There are times when things hit me so strongly and I know that I should not write about them until I calm down. There is such a situation in my heart right now. So please...18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
NOTE: I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018. I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997. I will no longer write these homilies. My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...The Abbot’s Notebook for August 1, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for August 1, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! This was not a quiet a week as the last! But always life is changing and we are always challenged to seek God in the midst of that. Last Sunday, July 29th, our Archbishop...17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING 2 Kings 4:42-44 A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said,...The Abbot’s Notebook for July 25, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for July 25, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Another quiet week at home is always a gift for me. Some monks have returned from their family visits and others have gone. Another postulant has joined the community. ...ABBOT PHILIP TO RETIRE
The Right Reverend Philip J. Lawrence, OSB, the Abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, recently announced in the summer newsletter that given the required retirement of an abbot at age seventy-five coming in 2019, he has decided that he will retire on...16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Jeremiah 23:1-6 Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who...The Abbot’s Notebook for July 18, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for July 18, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Another week has gone by. One of the decisions that I have been praying about is whether to continue to write or not once I am retired. My resignation as abbot will take...15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Amos 7:12-15 Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in...The Abbot’s Notebook for July 11, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for July 11, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! I got home just last night, July 10th, and today is the Solemnity of Saint Benedict, the author of the monastic rule that we follow and the Patriarch of Monasticism in the...14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING Ezekiel 2:2-5 As the Lord spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,...The Abbot’s Notebook for July 4, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for July 4, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! In the United States the 4th of July is a celebration! It is our Independence Day. Patriotism of the right kind can be a wonderful blessing to a country. Today there can be...
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— The Rule of St. Benedict
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