Our retreat closed on Saturday evening. The brethren were deeply grateful to Fr. John Denburger of our sister Abbey of Our Lady of the Genesee. His presentations were full of insight and wisdom and set the stage for our prayer and reflection. As the retreat closed, we came upon these words of Julian of Norwich: "Our Lord is full of mirth and gladness because of our prayer." How good to remember that Christ Jesus in his love for us is attentive and delighted by our efforts at prayer, our desires to please and praise Him, no matter how feeble or faltering we may believe them to be. It is good to wonder and imagine things from the other side, God's side.
Just before our retreat began we enjoyed our annual Fourth of July picnic on the monastery breezeway. We share below a few pictures taken by Brother Jonah.
