Abbey News

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Today is the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross an ancient feast originating in the 7th century. In Benedictine circles it marks the beginning of the winter season and the monastic fast. In keeping with our local custom here at Genesee it is also the day we resume wearing the cowls for Mass and the major hours of the Divine Office (vigils, lauds & vespers).

Normally the cowls are worn only during liturgy but it is not uncommon to see one of the brothers strolling about or quietly meditating before or after the liturgy as pictured here.

Cistercian Nun Appointed to Bishop's Synod
A September 9th article in Zenit news from Rome reports that Pope Benedict has appointed 25 women to the upcoming Bishop's October synod on The Word of God. The article states:

October's synod of bishops on the word of God will include the largest participation ever by women -- Benedict XVI appointed 25 to participate.

As it turns out one of the appointees is one of our very own Trappistine sisters. As reported in the article:

Italian Sister Germana Strola of the Cistercian Nuns of the Strict Observance is the author of several commentaries on the psalms and other biblical passages. She was the first contemplative nun to receive a doctorate from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, with a thesis on Psalms 42-43. She is a member of the Trappist monastery of Vitorchiano, Italy.

See Zenit September 9th for the complete article.

Trouble at the Border
Our postulant-to-be from Canada was due to arrive in the community yesterday in time for first Vespers of the Feast of the Holy Cross. Everything was in readiness for him even to the arranging of the books in his choir stall. But then came the bad news that he was denied entrance into the country at the Canadian-American border. To make matters worse there is a two year wait before he can reapply. It is good to know that our immigration officers are taking their jobs seriously though it is hard to fathom what threat to American security a Trappist monk might be. But then again, one never knows. . .

The most basic Christian gesture in prayer is and always will be the sign of the cross. It is a way of confessing Christ crucified with one's very body.

To seal oneself with the sign of the cross is a visible and public Yes to him who suffered for us; to him who in the body has made God's love visible, even to the utmost; to the God who reigns not by destruction but by the humility of suffering and love, which is stronger than all the power of the world and wiser than all the calculating intelligence of men.

The sign of the cross is a confession of faith: I believe in him who suffered for me and rose again; in him who has transformed the sign of shame into a sign of hope and of the love of God that is present with us. The confession of faith is a confession of hope: I believe in him who in his weakness is the Almighty; in him who can and will save me even in apparent absence and impotence.

By signing ourselves with the cross, we place ourselves under the protection of the cross, hold it in front of us like a shield that will guard us in all the distress of daily life and give us the courage to go on. We accept it as a signpost that we follow. The cross shows us the road of life - the imitation of Christ.

Whenever we make the sign of the cross, we accept our Baptism anew; Christ from the cross draws us, so to speak, to himself. We make the sign of the cross on ourselves and thus enter the power of the blessing of Jesus Christ. We make the sign over people to whom we wish a blessing. Through the cross, we can become sources of blessing for one another.

Benedictus
Pope Benedict XVI