Quiet days of winter

Br. Robert James, our Superior, is in the last days of his stay with our South African Brothers at Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape Province).

Three of our Juniors, our two novices and our postulant are at a Religious Formation Program with Br. Josèp, in Mariandale, NY, for the weekend. That's eight people out. The "old guard" keeps the divine office going beautifully nonetheless.

The Council of the Order of the Holy Cross, after order-wide consultation, as mandated by our constitution, has given a warm approval of Br. Francis' request to make his Life Profession of the Benedictine Vow. It will take place at an 11 a.m. Eucharist on Saturday, March 14. We are rejoicing and asking for your prayers for Br. Francis. 

Quiet days of winter. From top left, clockwise: our Postulant, Jeremy Cannon, doing his usual meadow morning walk (two pictures); a barge and its tugboat making its way through the ice on the Hudson; the Coast Guard patrolling the river to check that navigation remains possible; graphic tree shadows on the snow.

With a covering of snow everywhere the silence is deeper than usual. From time to time, you can hear a low rumble as a ship crushes ice flows at its prow on the river.

Monastery scenes. A votive in front of St Benedict's icon in the church after curfew; Brothers conversing in the enclosure's atrium after supper.

Peace and all good to you.