General Blog

Once again, Daylesford Abbey played host to a beautiful AbbeyFest.  This annual celebration of faith and family featured musical artists from around the country. Headline Matt West was joined by Riley Clemmons, Array of Hope, Village Lights, and Gus deSimone. Philadelphia's Archbishop Nelson Perez was the principal celebrant at Mass. Thousands of guests gathered at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli on a beautiful late-summer day.  In addition to the incredible music and Mass, AbbeyFest included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  Confessions were held outside, under the trees. One of the most impressive experiences during AbbeyFest was the Call for Vocations.  Archbishop Perez [...]

On September 14th, we celebrated the feast of  the Exaltation  of the Holy Cross, also known as the Triumph of the Cross. We commemorate the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, in the 4th century. Helena,  Helena, while traveling to Jerusalem, discovered the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The True Cross was then exalted or lifted up for veneration. We continue to be lifted up at Daylesford abbey by the Norbertine priests and those who pray and work with them. Reminded in the Responsorial Psalm, we are not to forget but to [...]

We celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Mary on Friday, September 8. The New Testament does not provide details of Mary’s birth, but we know her parents were Anne and Joachim, devout Jews. Anne and Joachim longed for the birth of a child, just like so many people today who struggle with infertility. Anne and Joachim were gifted with a miraculous conception and birth. Mary’s birth was a precursor to the birth of Jesus. We celebrate the birth of Jesus around the world on Christmas, December 25th. The Entrance Antiphon speaks to us of joy and justice. “Let us [...]

St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century Catholic saint, is widely recognized for his deep connection with nature and his teachings on caring for creation.  He is often referred to as the patron saint of animals and the environment. Many parishes have a blessing of the animals on his feast day, October 4th. This blessing is often marked by barks and meows, although the goldfish brought for a blessing swim quietly. The blessing of fishing boats and fleets also occurs on or near the feats of St. Francis. The custom of the Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition observed by [...]

This Tuesday, August 15, we celebrated the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption of Mary is a Catholic feast day that dates back to the earliest days of the Christian church. This solemnity commemorates the belief that Mary, who is the immaculate mother of Jesus Christ and was born without sin, was assumed into Heaven with her body and soul after her death. The Catholic Church observes it as one of the most important Marian feasts on August 15th each year. The Bible does not mention this event, but people celebrate it because they have [...]

Transfiguration is a term that can have multiple meanings. In religion, transfiguration means a big and magical change in form, often linked to a higher spiritual state.  In Christianity, the Feast of the Transfiguration refers to the moment when Jesus' appearance becomes radiant and transformative. This event takes place in front of His disciples, as described in the New Testament. The Transfiguration The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe the celebration of the Transfiguration Feast. According to the biblical account, Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a to Mount Sinai and they witnessed his transfiguration. The appearance of [...]

"Ordinary Time" is a term used in Christian churches. It describes the parts of the church calendar that are not during important seasons like Christmas or Easter. These summer months, we are in the “time after Pentecost” which is part of Ordinary Time. During Ordinary Time, the liturgical color is usually green, symbolizing hope and growth in the Christian faith. It is a time for spiritual reflection, growth, and living out the teachings of Jesus Christ in everyday life. But don’t be misled!  In Ordinary Time, significant spiritual experiences or lessons can occur in everyday life. These experiences provide opportunities [...]

This Sunday, June 11th, we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. This celebration honors the Eucharist, where Jesus is truly present.  This feast had its origin in the 13th century by Pope Urban in 1264, to promote the belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. On this solemnity, people gather for special processions, where the Blessed Sacrament is carried out in a monstrance, with the faithful accompanying the Blessed Sacrament while singing hymns and offering prayers. Below is a photo of a previous Corpus Christ procession at Daylesford Abbey. This feast [...]

Catholics celebrated the great feast of Pentecost on May 28, and then we entered Ordinary time. However, this time is far from Ordinary because on Sunday June 4th, we celebrate the feast of The Most Holy Trinity, and the following Sunday, June 11, we celebrate Corpus Christi, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. On the feast of the Holy Trinity,  Christians honor and focus on the doctrine that there is one God which exists in three distinct persons, the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, [...]