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We are now in Eastertime, also known as the Easter season which focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Eastertide ends on the fiftieth day after Easter, on the day of Pentecost, celebrated this year on June 5th, 2022. On this day we recall when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The Gospel readings have been focusing on Jesus's last words with his disciples. In the Gospel reading of John 20;19-31, for the Second Sunday of Easter, after first wishing his followers peace, Jesus said "As the Father has [...]

Easter is a special time at Daylesford Abbey, as the Norbertine priests and people of the Christian faith all over the world, once again celebrate the Easter Triduum, the holy days of the Resurrection of Our Lord. This is the culmination of Holy Week is, indeed, good news worth sharing. Visitors are invited to join the Daylesford community in this celebratory day of prayer and rejoicing. The day began on Holy Saturday with Morning Prayer at 8:30 AM.  At 10:00 AM there was a Triduum Conference Presentation by Sr. Laura Downing, IHM, Director of Campus Ministry at Immaculata University. The priests [...]

Christians from around the world will be celebrating the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, April 15. Many will visit Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania to share in these powerful liturgies. This is the day we remember in prayer and ritual that Jesus, the Son of God, was condemned by Pontius Pilate, crowned with thorns, crucified, and died. During this holy week, many visitors to Daylesford Abbey will walk the outdoor stations of the cross, pausing to pray and reflect at each station.  "Jesus’s followers have told the story of his passion, death, and resurrection. Pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem visited [...]

Why do men become a Norbertine priests? Why do some men answer God's call, decide on a Catholic vocation, and join a religious order or religious community? Have you ever wondered why some become a Norbertine priest as a member of the religious order founded by Norbert of Xanten? Often someone is drawn to learn more about a particular lifestyle because they have developed a relationship with that person, as a friend, a mentor, someone you study, walk or hike with, someone you golf with, play tennis with, share stories and experiences with. Vocations Start Early Our relationships begin early, with [...]

We Roman Catholics took a break in our Lenten fast and journey this Friday, March 25th, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when we recall the coming of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce that she would be the mother of God's Son. The Church celebrates various events important in our salvation history, and solemnities are feasts of the greatest importance. The fact that this is a solemnity recognizes the special role the Virgin Mary has in our church history and in the entirety of our salvation history. Solemnity in Lent Reflected in the Liturgy Even though we are [...]

Lent began with Mardi Gras, and the 46 days before Easter, is a special time in the year that provides us an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God. As Catholics, on Ash Wednesday, when we received ashes, Good Friday, when we remember the day Jesus died, and all Fridays of Lent, everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt due to medical reasons. Lent also provides an opportunity to spend more time in prayer, the practice of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, [...]

Lent is a season for change and growth.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when Catholics will receive ashes on their heads.  The season concludes on Wednesday, April 13th. The 40 days of Lent are a reminder of Jesus of Nazareth and his withdrawal into the desert for forty days, when he dies on the cross, and is an anticipation of the great feast of Easter.  For the faithful, Lent is a time to change and grow closer to God. The 40-day period is called Lent after an "old English word meaning 'lengthen'" since the time of daylight is gradually getting longer as [...]

Lost and Found: Have you ever been lost? Growing up as a child in New Hampshire, we used to go to the woods when my father got home from work to go blueberry picking. He had made us buckets by drilling a hole in each side of a large can, and then he attached a string to each side, so the buckets would hang around our neck, ready to catch the berries as we picked them from the bushes. One evening there were so many blueberries we picked and pickd and picked  not noticing that the sun was going down. [...]

Ordinary time resumed once again for Catholics after celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. However, this time is not at all ordinary. It can be a time of new experiences, new awakenings, or renewing past experiences, especially as we remember our own Baptism. It is an exciting time to renew our Baptismal commitment, our entrance into new life with God. Going on a retreat is a wonderful way to revitalize our spiritual life, to re-engage in a deeper way with our ever-present, loving God, and to have a renewed peace of mind. By going on a retreat, we are [...]