ST JOSEPH'S ABBEY, SPENCER MA

There are three stages of the soul's growth in love, of its advance toward perfection. First comes the forgiveness of sins, then the grace that follows on good deeds, and finally that contemplative gift by which a kind and beneficent Lord shows himself to the soul with as much clarity as bodily frailty can endure. The heartfelt desire to admit one's guilt brings a person down in lowliness before God, as it were to his feet; the heartfelt devotion of a worshiper finds in God renewal and refreshment, the touch, as it were, of his hand; and the delights of contemplation lead onto that ecstatic repose that is the fruit of the kiss of his mouth. ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

My soul, say to God: ‘Who are you, Lord, that I may know you?’ You alone are what you are and who you are, that is, that than which nothing greater can be thought, nor anything better, nor more joyful. You are life, wisdom, light, truth, goodness, eternity, the one who all need that they may exist and be happy. My soul, you have found what you were seeking; you were seeking God and you have found him to be the highest of all, that than which nothing greater can be thought, and this is life, wisdom, light, truth, goodness, eternal beatitude, blessed eternity and all that is good. God the Father, this good is you, and this good is also your Word, that is, your Son; for you are simple, and what is born of you is yourself. There is one love and communion between you and your son which is the Holy Spirit who proceeds from you both. Nothing can proceed from that which is most simple other than itself. A 12th century Cistercian

Several weeks ago the Abbey was hit by a strong thunderstorm with very high winds, and a beloved 200+ year old beech tree with a 4½ ft. diameter trunk sustained major damage. On close inspection it became clear that the tree has been rotting from the inside for many years and needed to be completely taken down. This was a special tree with incredible character and presence in the courtyard which abuts two of the monk's dorms. It will be greatly missed. Fr. Simeon is pictured here with two sections of the trunk on the day of the tree's removal.

Love boils over, does not contain itself, overflows itself, rivals immensity, while it knows not how to set a limit to its affections. It is oil which cannot stop it's flow until no other container is available, except that not even then can it be checked. Love shows a characteristic of new wine which, by fermenting as it is born and by wantonness as it ages, bubbles up and overflows unable to contain itself, always seething and fermenting with fresh affection. In its infirmity, love does not excuse but accuses itself. Nothing is enough for love, nothing less than itself. Love cannot be satisfied with itself and yet love can feed only on itself; it is food delicious enough for itself. Love wants nothing more than to love. What will a person give in exchange for love? What will one give or will one receive? Nothing is impacted more graciously than love, nothing is experienced more gently. Love is delicious in desire and in enjoyment; love is delicious in joy and sorrow. Truly love i...

‘Be careful’, says the apostle, 'to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’. This unity is exceedingly delicate. This is why, very often, when we have some encounter that is less devout or some thought that is less cheerful than we had yesterday or the day before, or when through carelessness, we break out into any indication of having less patience, we are thrown off balance. We are angry and quick tempered, with the result that we learn in our wretchedness how fragile charity is. JOHN OF FORDE Sermon 91

To seek God is a great good; in my opinion the soul knows no greater blessing. It is the first of her gifts and the final stage in her progress. It is inferior to none, and yields place to none. What could be superior to it, when nothing has a higher place? What could claim a higher place, when it is the consummation of all things? What virtue can be attributed to anyone who does not seek God? What boundary can be set for anyone who does seek him? The Psalmist says: ‘seek his face always’. ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX