Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It is the day that Catholics proceed to the altar (usually during Mass) to have ashes (in the form of a cross) placed on their foreheads while the following words are being said: "Remember, that you are dust and to dust you shall return" or "Repent, and believe the Gospel". The practice of placing ashes on the face is an ancient practice of public penitents. The ashes themselves come from the burning of the palm fronds of last Palm Sunday and are mixed with water to form a sort of paste that adhere to the forehead.

On Ash Wednesday, Catholics are to abstain from meat and to fast. Fasting means that we may eat one full meal and two smaller meals not to combine, in size, to one full meal. Elderly persons and those with medical needs may be exempt from the fast, but not the abstention from meat.

All this is part of our spiritual preparation for Easter, which I will explain in a later post.

Pope Benedict encourages priests to blog!

The words that surround the main dome of St. Peter's Basilica relay the words that Christ said to Simon Peter when he gave him the "keys to the kingdom". "And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

We Catholics believe that the Pope is the successor to St. Peter - the Vicar of Christ on earth. Although he does not always speak "Ex Cathedra" ("from the chair" which would mean that his teaching is infallible), we do take what he says very seriously.

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI issued a proclamation challenging priests "to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis."

This is not a new area for the Holy Father. Just last year he joined the you tube generation and began a you tube channel: http://www.youtube.com/vatican. He also used text messaging to reach hundreds of thousand of youth at Youth World Day 2008 in Sydney.



Although my time has been extremely limited these days, and I have missed many days of posting on Monastery Daily Photo, I am deeply encouraged by the Holy Father's support of my blogging. I hope, in the very near future, to be able to return to regular posting. Thanks for sticking with me.

Viva Papa Benedicto!

My World Tuesday - Bookstore

"From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets."

Acts of the Apostles 28:23

referring to St. Paul

Part of my new monastery and Retreat House is a Religious Bookstore and Giftshop. There are very few Catholic book/gift stores in this area so we are quite popular, not only with our Retreatants, but also with people who come from all over the area to shop.

Besides religious books we also offer statues, rosaries, medals, music and movies, and a wide array of religious gifts. We have overgown the small space - as you can see - that's why it appears so cluttered. So, it is on my to do list to reorganize the entire shop, and perhaps, one day, to expand.

Besides our regular retreat and book/gift store visitors, we also have people coming by to obtain our oranges, avocados and lemon (for a donation). So, we have quite a bit of traffic coming through our property. This is going to take some getting used to since I have enjoyed the silence of our Northern California monastery for so many years.

For more My World Tuesday click here.

Sacred Sunday Sunset

(view from the back of the monastery)

"Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad and do not weep" - for all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. He said further, "go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength".

Nehemiah 8:9-11

1st Reading of today's Mass

Oranges and snow - after the storm

Sacred Sunday

"My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver."

Proverbs 8:19

(road to lower parking lot amidst the orange groves)

Skywatch Friday - lone bird

For more Skywatch Friday click here

"I look upon myself as a weak little bird, with only a light down as covering. I am not an eagle, but I have only an eagle's eyes and heart. In spite of my extreme littleness I still dare to gaze upon the Divine Sun, the Sun of Love, and my hear feels within it all the aspirations of an Eagle...I Divine Word! You are the Adored Eagle whom I love and who alone attracts me!...Eternal Eagle, You desire to nourish me with Your divine substance and yet I am but a poor little thing who would return to nothingness if Your divine glance did not give me life from one moment to the next."

St. Therese of Lisieux

the little flower - Carmelite Nun

Wordless Wednesday - Palms

For more Wordless Wednesday click here.

My World Tuesday - dawn

I'm still getting used to having to walk outside to get to Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Mass each morning. In my former monastery, I just walked downstairs and was near the inside entrance to the monastic church. Here, our morning services are open to the public so we use the Retreat House chapel. However, this time of year, the 6:20 a.m. walk is a pleasure because of the beauty of my favorite time of day - dawn. And it is Southern California, so, the temperature has been in the comfortable low 50's.

For more My World Tuesday click here.

View from the Retreat House

"I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where shall come my help."

Psalm 121

My new home sits in the shadow of the San Bernardino Mountains. This time of year the mountain peaks are usually covered in snow. However, it has been in the mid-70's all week long. Therefore, very little snow. This photo shows the view from the plaza of the Retreat House where our retreatants can sit, relax and contemplate the beauty of creation. Our retreats are usually silent experiences. Silence? Because it is in the silence of the heart that we cultivate the possibility of hearing the voice of God.

Note: If you enlarge the picture you'll get a sneak preview on part of our orange groves.

A new year...a new home

"For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Isaiah 56:7

Happy New Year to all my blogger friends.

I'm not quite settled, but I am moved into my new home. The picture above is our small monastery. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is a house of ministry, thus, the monastery is smaller and so is the community. At present, there are only four in the community, but we hope to have a new arrival later this summer after three of our men are ordained to the priesthood.

In this house we do retreat work. We have about 40 acres which holds, besides the monastery, a retreat center, a convent for the Sisters who run our kitchen and dining room, our Provincial Superior's residence and about 25 acres or orange and avocado groves. As Prior and Retreat Director I am responsible for the community and the whole property. I hope to be back to blogging regularly. So, I will show you bits and pieces as time goes by.