Notes to Oblates of Mount Angel Abbey

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
July 11, 2024

Dear Oblates,

I just wanted to send you a quick feast day greetings. May your celebration of our patronal feast be filled with love and joy and may your imitation of St. Benedict lead you closer to Christ. Below is part of the reading (from Vigils) for today’s feast written by Guerric of Igny.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

“Through his faith and gentleness the Lord sanctified him. These words were written of Moses, but they may today be applied not unfittingly, I think, to blessed Benedict. For since he was filled with the Spirit of all the saints, it is reasonable to believe that he had not a little of Moses’ spirit. If the Lord took some of the spirit of Moses and put it upon the whole group of elders who assisted him and were chosen to share his ministry, how much more must he have put that spirit on a man who more truly and more spiritually carried out every ministry in its fullness? Moses led those who came forth from Egypt; Benedict was leader of those who forsook the world. Moses was a legislator: so was Benedict. Moses was minister only of the letter that kills; Benedict was minister of the spirit that gives life. Moses wrote much that is difficult to understand and inapplicable today or impossible to put into practice; Benedict is the author of a very sound rule of life that is clearly written and remarkable for its discretion. Finally, the leader of the children of Israel did not bring into the promised rest those he had led out of Egypt. Our leader, as the standard bearer of an army of monks, has gone before us by the straight way, the way stretching east, into the kingdom of heaven. It is therefore not unreasonable to think that he equaled in merit one whom he actually surpassed in ministry. Nor does it seem unfitting to apply to him what scripture says of Moses: Though his faith and gentleness the Lord sanctified him, especially since Benedict, who lived what he taught, teaches us those two virtues in particular.”

Oblates receive complimentary tickets to the Saint Benedict Festival and can get additional tickets at 50% off.

For those interested, Oblates can receive Abbey Bach Festival tickets at a discounted rate.

We will have an Oblate Day of Prayer here at the Abbey from 9-5 pm on Tuesday, August 13. Please reply to this email if you are interested in attending. Rooms are available in the guesthouse if necessary. If you have a prayer request you would like us to pray for, please click here.

The videos for the oblate novice conferences have all been finished and can now be accessed here. There are conferences by monks on the Holy Rule, Lectio Divina, the life of St. Benedict and the Liturgy. You will need to ask permission to access the videos.

Oblate Calendar

July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
July 6, 2024

Dear Oblates,

One of the monks showed me a note to oblates written by Abbot Damian Jentges (Abbot from 1950-1974) when he was Oblate Director in 1946. I share his reflection on this last verse of the Prologue of the Holy Rule now with you.

“Many make the mistake of abandoning whatever they have undertaken, as soon as hardships or obstacles make their appearance. Nothing can be more harmful. Once having made a certain that the goal is good and worth the effort, errors in forsaking his resolutions, just because difficulties arise. We can find no goal of greater value than perfection and union with God, they mean, eternal happiness. No sacrifice, then, can be too great for that.

How many have departed from God‘s ways just because his religion asked for a certain restraint! How many Christians, as soon as the extra prayers, etc., became routine, have abandoned the resolution to make a greater effort in their spiritual life, to live their Christian life more perfectly so as to gain a closer union with God!

A similar temptation can, and will confront those, in order to devote more attention to their spiritual life, happy come oblates. The evil one was strive to draw them away from their resolutions; will, in fact, make it a special point to do so. He will strive to make the spiritual life seem difficult , yes, or try to convince them that it is impossible to lead a good life out in the world.

This is all fallacy. The list of saints includes every rank and status of life. Whoever wishes follow Christ must take up the cross, and from this Christ made no exception, be priest, or layman, religious or one out in the world. Those who easily become discouraged in this struggle would do well to read and meditate upon Saint Benedict words which he selected to conclude the introduction of his rule.

Merrily not to depart from God’s guidance is not enough, however; we must persevere, and until death. This means that we must struggle up the steep path that leads to perfection. But this should not frighten one who has no intentions. He must look to go, to the end of all his endeavor, namely, union with our Lord Jesus Christ. The struggles are but the prelude and the price of our entry into the kingdom of God . “Indeed of God, and joint errors with Christ; but if we suffer with him, so that we may be glorified with him“ (Romans 8:17).”

Oblates receive complimentary tickets to the Saint Benedict Festival and can get additional tickets at 50% off.

For those interested, Oblates can receive Abbey Bach Festival tickets at a discounted rate.

We will have an Oblate Day of Prayer here at the Abbey from 9-5pm on Tuesday, August 13. Please reply to this email if you are interested in attending. Rooms are available in the guesthouse if necessary. If you have a prayer request you would like us to pray for, please click here.

The videos for the oblate novice conferences have all been finished and can now be accessed here. There are conferences by monks on the Holy Rule, Lectio Divina, the life of St. Benedict and the Liturgy. You will need to ask permission to access the videos.

The Oblate Pilgrimage to Switzerland and Italy is from June 19-30, 2025. To learn more and register, go to the website at https://www.206tours.com/cms/mountangelabbey/ . The Login is “Saint” and the Password is “Francis206”. You will need to create an account with 206tours before being able to register. When you have completed all the steps, click “complete order”, and a pop-up for your credit card information will appear. Please contact Sandra Koceja for any questions at (619) 607-0365 (c) or romevilla11@gmail.com.

Prayer Requests. Please pray for the 27 seminarians, who will begin their propaedeutic stage of formation tomorrow. Please pray also for the success of the iconography retreat which starts next Monday. We have 5 monks attending the retreat and a few oblates. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Thursday is the Solemnity of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict. Under his guidance, may we go together unto everlasting life.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

New Hispanic Oblate Novices

Angels vs. Saints, Part III. The monks are now 0-3 against the students of Chesterton Academy

Br. Townsen handles the soccer ball

Br. Zack on the attack

Oblate Calendar

July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
June 28, 2024

Dear Oblates,

The crowd is the aspect of the gospel that caught my attention. We can infer that the crowd was interested in what Jesus had to say, saw his miracles and heard his teachings. However, this experience of Jesus did not touch them personally, for they themselves were pressing upon Jesus, and yet there is no record of anything happening to them. In contrast, it was the woman, who was suffering from hemorrhages, that was truly touched by Jesus when she touched his clothes. I wonder what the crowd might have thought. Perhaps, they might have thought to themselves, “I was pressing upon Jesus, but I didn’t experience his powerful healing.” Did it move them to conversion?

I think we can relate to the crowd in the gospel. Like the crowd, we follow Jesus. Like the crowd, we hear this teaching. Like the crowd, unfortunately, we remain the same even after encountering Him. When we received the Eucharist, does it really make a difference in our lives? After receiving absolution, are we converted or do we quickly go back to our sin? Yes, we can oftentimes be like the crowd. This is not a judgment but a mere description of reality. The woman, on the other hand, was touched and transformed by Jesus when she touched him. Why was she transformed? She was transformed because she had a daunting faith and truly believed that Jesus could heal her. She was transformed because she was desperate and had no other hope except in Christ alone. As we come to the Eucharist on Sunday, let us bring our ills, trials and sufferings to the Lord, and allow ourselves to be touched and healed by his grace.

Oblates receive complimentary tickets to the Saint Benedict Festival and can get additional tickets at 50% off. To volunteer, click here.

For those interested, Oblates can receive Abbey Bach Festival tickets at a discounted rate.

The videos for the oblate novice conferences have all been finished and can now be accessed here. These videos are for all oblates, not just novices. There are conferences by monks on the Holy Rule, Lectio Divina, the life of St. Benedict and the Liturgy. You will need to ask permission to access the videos.

Br. Ambrose latest article, entitled, “What’s in a Name?” can be access by clicking here.

Prayer request. Please pray for Deacon Anthony Shumway from the diocese of Salt Lake City. He is an alumnus and an oblate and will be ordained to the priesthood today. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Abbot Jeremy with the new superiors

Deacon Anthony Shumway

Oblate Calendar

July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
June 22, 2024

Dear Oblates,

Saint Benedict makes us a promise. He tells us that if we persevere in this way of life, we will make progress toward Christian perfection and will arrive at that perfect love, which casts out fear. Indeed, love is what the Christian journey is all about. “God is love” and those who belong to Christ are called to be images of the Father. St. Therese knew well this purpose, for she wrote, “in the heart of the church, my mother, I will be love.”

The image of this growth in love as we follow the Benedictine way is that of an expanding heart. Our hearts will grow in its capacity to love as we faithfully put into practice what St. Benedict recommends, namely, regular prayer, lectio divina, silence, humility, discipline, service and the tools of good works. I love the way Saint Benedict puts it, “our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” He is saying that there will be such an abundance of love within us that it will overflow out into the world. Just as God’s love cannot be contained, neither can our love. This love is characterized by an inexpressible delight. To love is to be filled with joy. This is the reward of seeking God with all of our heart and preferring nothing whatsoever to Christ. We will become like him in love. We will be sharers in the divine nature.

Questions for reflection. Am I growing in love? Where is God calling me to greater love?

Oblates receive complimentary tickets to the Saint Benedict Festival and can get additional tickets at 50% off. To volunteer, click here.

For those interested, Oblates can receive Abbey Bach Festival tickets at a discounted rate.

The videos for the oblate novice conferences have all been finished and can now be accessed by this link. There are conferences by monks on the Holy Rule, Lectio Divina, the life of St. Benedict and the Liturgy. You will need to ask permission to access the videos.

The Oblate Pilgrimage to Switzerland and Italy is from June 19-30, 2025. Family members of oblates are invited. To learn more and register, go to the website at https://www.206tours.com/cms/mountangelabbey/ . The Login is “Saint” and the Password is “Francis206”. You will need to create an account with 206tours before being able to register. When you have completed all the steps, click “complete order”, and a pop-up for your credit card information will appear. Please contact Sandra Koceja for any questions at (619) 607-0365 (c) or romevilla11@gmail.com.

Prayer request. Please pray for alumni James Ladd and Brent Durschmidt who will be ordained to the sacred order of the priesthood today. Please also pray for the success of the various novices groups. God has blessed us with many new novices this year. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

From the Oblate Picnic

For video click here

Oblate Calendar

July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
June 15, 2024

Dear Oblates,

Stability is key to advancement in the spiritual life. It is easy to make a sincere resolution, a good beginning, but it is challenging to persevere to its completion. We all have experienced this reality. The Benedictine way though neither “harsh” nor “burdensome” can be challenging and difficult at times. The commitment to prayer, lectio and the monastic disciplines can become mundane and acedia can easily slip in. Saint Benedict encourages us to stay the course, and not to be daunted by fear.

Fear can be such a strong force in our lives; it drives our actions, moves our interior life, and can wipe away are good intentions. Perhaps, you have been moved to fear at the prospect of having to be faithful to such a lofty calling as an oblate. “I can’t fulfill these promises I made,” you say to yourself. Even though there may be fear, take courage, the Lord is near, and do not run away. The way laid out to us is the road to everlasting life. It is the most important journey we will ever make; it is the journey back to God from whom we came. Therefore, while this road may seem narrow and restricting at the outset, it will become broader and open the gate to many graces. Yes, we need stick to the straight and narrow, not going off to extremes on either side. The way has been shown to us. All we must do is commit to it.

The Oblate Pilgrimage to Switzerland and Italy is from June 19-30, 2025. On June 19th, 2024, I will open this up to family members of oblates.
To learn more and register, go to the website at https://www.206tours.com/cms/mountangelabbey/ . The Login is “Saint” and the Password is “Francis206”. You will need to create an account with 206tours before being able to register. When you have completed all the steps, click “complete order”, and a pop-up for your credit card information will appear. Please contact Sandra Koceja for any questions at (619) 607-0365 (c) or romevilla11@gmail.com.

Prayer request. Please pray for the continued success of the Study Days for the Oblate Picnic on Sunday. Please also pray for the 10 men who are with us this weekend for the monastic discernment retreat. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Br. Brandon with the bees

Br. Jesse with a little friend

Oblate Calendar

June
16 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
June 7, 2024

Dear Oblates,

The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (today’s feast) is always the Friday after Corpus Christi, and indeed, these two feasts are intricately connected, for they both reveal the depth of God’s love for humanity. In the gospel for today, we read that after Jesus died, his side was pierced by a lance and blood and water poured forth. Tradition holds that the lance, which pierced his side, extended all the way to his heart, so we can rightly pray in the liturgy, “Come, let us worship Jesus, whose heart was wounded for love of us” (Invitatory Antiphon). Christ in showing his love for us does not hold anything back. He, as we read in the gospel according to John, “loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end” (13:1). Today’s feast reminds us that there is no limit to God’s love, and whenever we feel down and out, we can always find consolation and hope by resting in our head on Christ’s Sacred Heart.

This feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is related to the mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist in a unique way. Studies of Eucharistic miracles reveal that the consecrated Host is tissue from the human heart. These tests also reveal that the sample is fresh, that is, recently taken from the specimen. This confirms the teaching of the Church that the Eucharist is truly the living and risen Body and Blood of Christ. We who are observant Catholics can fall prey to routine and complacency. These findings on the Eucharistic miracles can help us keep fresh what we know and believe to be true. Therefore, when the priest elevates the sacred Host during the Mass or when you worship Christ during adoration, know that before you is the Eucharistic and Sacred Heart of Jesus that was wounded for love of you. Pray that the love, which is in His heart, may be in your heart.

This Sunday June 9th is our next Oblate Sunday, and Br. Jesse will be giving a conference on humility entitled, “Ladder to love.” For in-person, click here. For remote option, click here.

The Oblate Pilgrimage to Switzerland and Italy is from June 19-30, 205. To learn more and register, go to the website at https://www.206tours.com/cms/mountangelabbey/ . The Login is “Saint” and the Password is “Francis206”. You will need to create an account with 206tours before being able to register. When you have completed all the steps, click “complete order”, and a pop-up for your credit card information will appear. Please contact Sandra Koceja for any questions at (619) 607-0365 (c) or romevilla11@gmail.com.

Please pray for Father Teresio as he begins his term as prior of the monastery on Monday. Please pray also for the doctorate of ministry program, which will begin on Monday. Abbot Jeremy will be teaching the first week of classes. Lastly, please pray for the success of the oblate study days, which will start next Thursday. Thank you. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Please pray for us. For names, click here

Oblate Calendar

June
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Jesse on Humility.
13-16: Oblate Study Days: Christin McIntyre – Marian Mental Health and Spiritual Warfare.
16 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
June 1, 2024

Dear Oblates,

In a significant scene from the new film about Flannery O’Connor (“Wildcat”), the young Southern writer finds herself at the head of a table—reminiscent of Christ at the Last Supper—surrounded by a group of literary elites. Aware that Flannery is a devout Catholic, their conversation quickly turned toward the Blessed Sacrament. “Do Catholics really believe,” one of them asked, “that they’re eating the body of Christ—like cannibals?” The woman sitting beside Flannery, attempting to be diplomatic, described how she understood the Eucharist to be “a lovely, expressive symbol.” Flannery, never one to sugarcoat the truth, interjected with what has come to be her most-quoted line: “if it’s a symbol, to hell with it!”

Flannery elaborated on her abrupt defense of the Blessed Sacrament in one of her published letters: “That was all the defense I was capable of but I realize now that this is all I will ever be able to say about it, outside of a story, except that it is the center of existence for me; all the rest of life is expendable” (Habit of Being, 125). For Flannery, the Eucharist was not a symbol of something else; instead, “all the rest of life” was a symbol of the Eucharist.

This vision of reality was articulated more fully in one of Flannery’s most famous stories, “A Temple of the Holy Ghost” (providentially one of the four stories we studied during our recent community retreat). In the story’s final scene, its young protagonist (a delightfully-sassy little girl) is dragged into Eucharistic Benediction by a “big moon-faced nun” from the fictional convent of “Mount St. Scholastica.” During the chanting of the Tantum Ergo, the child began her mechanical litany of prayers: “Hep me not to be so mean… Hep me not to give her so much sass. Hep me not to talk like I do.” But at the moment the priest elevated the monstrance, the child’s mind unexpectedly wandered to the “freak” she had heard about from the local fair—in this case, a person who happened to be “a man and woman both.”

Earlier in the story, the child had dreamt of this “freak” as the presider at a Eucharistic liturgy. His lines from the circus performance—“God made me thisaway and I don’t dispute hit”—bled seamlessly into his Christian exhortation: “Raise yourself up. A temple of the Holy Ghost. You! You are God’s temple, don’t you know? Don’t you know? God’s Spirit has a dwelling in you, don’t you know?”

This vision draws together shocking contraries: circus and church, male and female, bread and body, sin and grace. But all of these paradoxes point ultimately to Jesus Christ, the God-man, who alone holds them together in himself. As St. Paul once said: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). And again: “he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh” (Eph 2:14).

As the child was being driven home from the convent that evening, she looked out the window and saw the sun. The “huge red ball” appeared to her “like an elevated Host drenched in blood.” As it sank, “it left a line in the sky like a red clay road hanging over the trees.” Her experience at Mount St. Scholastica had opened her eyes to see the whole created order, in all its majesty and mystery, as a road leading straight to the source of all grace: the most precious body and blood of Christ, which is the feast we celebrate tomorrow.

The annual Oblate Picnic will take place on Sunday, June 16th, 2024. Mass will be at 10am followed by the picnic. To sign up, please click here. Hispanic oblates can inform Br. Ignatius. The deadline is June 2nd.

Our next Oblate Sunday will be on June 9th, and Br. Jesse will be giving a conference on humility entitled, “Ladder to love.” For in-person, click here. For remote option, click here.

The skit that the Abbot did last week was truly something to remember. It was taken from Flannery’s O’Connor’s The Enduring Chill. To watch it, you can click here. To set up the scene, the Abbot writes, “It’s a scene from the story titled “The Enduring Chill,” which tells of an arrogant young man who disdains his poor Southern town and travels to New York City to become a sophisticated writer. But he fails at that and so makes himself, or imagines himself, deathly ill and comes home to die. He is spiteful and tries to find ways to annoy his mother, who refuses to let him die. One of the ways he thinks to annoy her is to ask for a visit from a Jesuit priest to speak to since he is dying. But the youth is an atheist, and the mother is a fierce Protestant. So, the request does very much annoy the mother, but she finally accedes to his “dying” wish, and a Jesuit comes from 20 miles away for the visit enacted here.”

Prayer request. Please pray for the Deacon Max Munoz, alumnus who just graduated two weeks ago, who will be ordained to the priesthood. Also, please pray for the success the recording of the oblate conferences. These are primarily for novices, but I will make them available to all the oblates once they are complete. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

P.S. Reflection above from Br. Ambrose.

New Oblates with Abbot Jeremy and I

Nine new novices were enrolled on the same day as the the final oblations

Six additional novices were enrolled a few days later. This is the Treis family, and they are friends of Fr. Teresio and I

Oblate Calendar

June
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Jesse on Humility.
13-16: Oblate Study Days: Christin McIntyre – Marian Mental Health and Spiritual Warfare.
16 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict
13 – St. Benedict Festival
28 – Hispanic Oblate, final oblations.
August
11 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
13 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
3 – Simple Vows
4 – Solemn Vows
8 – Oblate Sunday: Abbot Peter on Humility.
20-22 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Ambrose. Luminous Darkness: Encountering Christ in Uncomfortable Scriptures
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
October
November
8-10 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Matthew. Listening with the Ear of Your Heart: Meditations on the Prologue of the Holy Rule.
10 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, General Overview.
December
8 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Glutton and Lust
9 – Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
15 – Hispanic Oblate Posada

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride