Talking About The Faith Path

The Passing of our Fr. Matt Torpey On the last Wednesday of the month, we have our retreat day. It is a day when our schedule is simplified, and there is only necessary work. Our first office of the day, which is named Vigils, is toned down. Except for the responsorial psalm, and the opening...

The Stone Rolled Back The tomb once cold and dark was filled with light and warmth, the stone rolled back, death defeated, like leaven it takes root arising in the depths of open hearts.-Br.MD

Holy Saturday Tombs are cold, dark, bringing out fears of non-being. Jesus lay his body now at peace, bloodless, beaten, broken, His cold flesh at one with the total silence. Death means the loss of everything, hopes and dreams no more, buried, no one thought there would be a tomorrow. It was...

Meeting Jesus during Holy Week Retreat How do we meet someone? Relationships are what we are about as human beings. I live in community, how do I meet my brothers? How do I relate to them? Our relationships with those we meet can also tell us what it is to meet Jesus during the Easter Triduum...

We are not pampered Christians, in their suffering, know on some level that they are united to Jesus in his sufferings for the salvation of the world. As St. Paus says: “I make up in my body, what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ Jesus”. In other words, the passion of Jesus is lived...

That place of ‘rest’ It is always very humbling for me to meet those who come here. They teach me a great deal and I find it interesting that some people think that just because I live in a monastery I am for some reason ‘closer’ to God….. not sure anyone can get ‘closer’ to God than they...

In consolation or desolation, we are called to trust In consolation or desolation, we are called to trust and to draw near the Lord who is in fact already one with us. Our yes can be given in times of joy, or sorrow, or in seasons of our life when we are weak and wander away from our first...

“Gethsemane” experience Jesus suffered deeply. I would say that one of the experiences ‘all’ humans have to go through if they survive birth and the first few years, will have to go through more than one “Gethsemane” experience. Where there is great suffering, and the sky is silent so to...

The Wounding of the Holy Spirit “Be on the watch for the motive of your actions and remember that I am stretching out a helping hand. And keep watch on your lower nature, the part that runs down your neighbor made in My image. Give the kind of affection that comforts. You know what I mean—the...

Mark Dohle, A moment ago Edit Report...

Reception Br. Elias’s Body Monday, July 11, 2011 Adore Me in My humility and I will make you humble. Adore Me in My obedience and I will make you obedient. Adore Me in My prayer to the Father and I will begin to pray My Father in you. Adore Me in My merciful love for sinners and I will save...

Growth in Monastic life, and other vocations In the Christian Monastic way of life, we are not looking for enlightenment as such, but a slow often frustrating journey into the Heart of God. It is the growth of love that is sought, of service, and the patience to go for decades slowly arriving...

Stress and aging When I was young, even up to my middle sixties, stress seemed to focus me, and allow me to do what I needed to do without fuss, though it did cost me a lot of energy to swim in stressful situations. Many of the situations were interior, but there were also demanding times from...

A response to a letter from a prisoner asking about his fears of not being mentally healthy Below is a letter I received from one of the prisoners I write to. He asked some questions about his mental health. My response is based on my own experience of dealing with the complexity of our...

Prison is a tough school for those who seek God. My prisoner friend is doing better at this time. Below is another letter, with some quotes from him. I am amazed at how God works in prison with those who are open to the Holy Spirit. Please pray for him, and for all men and women in...

Becoming Jesus March 10—Crossing the Saint-Nicolas, Nantes. “I am no longer on earth, so take My place.” Bossis, Gabrielle. He and I (Kindle Locations 306-307). Pauline Books and Media. Kindle Edition. I do believe, that the Lord does speak to us today, through certain men, and women. These...

Pray for a prisoner Please pray for Joseph, a prisoner I am writing to for about 6 years. At this time he is going through a very rough time. I will share the letter that I sent him so that you will remember him if you feel called to pray for him. At this time I am the only one writing to...

The Struggle to be a Good Caregiver When younger I tried to open up my heart, to be able to actually love others by working with the elderly, and the dying, in our community. Working with someone day after day, seeing them at their best, and their worst, as well as taking care of bodily needs...

This is a very beautiful rendition of the Chaplet of Mercy. I have the video set at the beginning of the singing of the chaplet. It is well worth watching. In today's world, mercy is needed more than ever. The mercy we show to one another, and yes, to those who believe and think differently...

What Brings Joy I do believe that Sin, is a way that I protect myself from the suffering of others. When things seem to be falling apart, a subjective experience, as well as a subjective judgment, I will react by becoming angry, even enraged, which is fueled by terror, but really fed by...