ST JOSEPH'S ABBEY, SPENCER MA

The Solemn Profession of Sr. Maria Kim ocso - April 15, 2009 You have seduced me, O Lord, and I let myself be seduced. Jer. 20:7

"Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky, Heaven thunders forth its victor cry: The glad earth shouts its triumph high, And groaning hell makes wild reply. While he the King of glorious might Treads down death's strength in death's despite, And trampling hell by victor's right, Brings forth his sleeping saints to light. Hell's pains are loosed, and tears are fled; Captivity is captive led; The angel crowned with light, has said, 'The Lord is risen from the dead.' " -Latin hymn Fifth century

"In the crucified Christ forgiveness is offered and life is given. For humanity it is no longer a matter of fearing judgement or of meriting salvation, but of welcoming love in trust and humility." -Olivier Clement "It was necessary for us that God should take flesh and die so that we might have new life ... Nothing can equal the miracle of my salvation; a few drops of blood redeem the whole universe." -Gregory Nazianzen

"One who has surrendered to it knows that the way ends on the Cross -- even when it is leading through the jubilation of Gennesaret or the triumphal entry into Jerusalem." -Dag Hammarskjold

She did not cry, 'I cannot, I am not worthy,' nor, 'I have not the strength.' She did not submit with gritted teeth, raging, coerced. Bravest of all humans, consent illumined her. The room filled with its light, the lily glowed in it, and the iridescent wings. Consent, courage unparalleled, opened her utterly. From the poem "Annunciation" by Denise Levertov

"If there are artisans in the monastery, they are to practice their craft with all humility, but only with the abbot's permission." -from the Rule of St. Benedict "Only if the brothers prefer nothing whatever to Christ will the brothers be happy to persevere in a life that is ordinary, obscure, and laborious." -from the Constitutions of the Monks Brother Gabriel (2nd from top) and Father Isaac's (top) dedicated passion to creating fine works of pottery has been a labour of love now for over twenty years. The wood-fired downdraft kiln (bottom) they designed and built a few years ago yields on average, two to three hundred pieces per firing. The photograph taken of the "Klimtarion" 19" vase* has become a popular image these days down at the Abbey Gift Shop where it graces our potters' new business cards. The Abbey Gift Shop, situated to the right of the main entrance road to the monastery, displays and sells a wide variety of Gabriel and...

As the snow continues to fall upon winter-frozen land, signs of new life no longer remain buried beneath the ground. Springs early aspirations break the earth's restraints, refusing to be held back from the growing light that draws it. As we move more deeply into the heart of the Lenten season, the early emergence of such flowers is a fitting reminder for our hearts to strain and stretch; to reach ahead with ever greater faith and hope. For they point to and proclaim the promised Easter Bloom and beg us not to doubt God's utter faithfulness steadfastly building to burst forth and embrace us in the triumphant joy of our Lord's Resurrection.