November 2026

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT?

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT? The Church is the visible manifestation of God whom we cannot see. The Church, or gathering of believers, is the living Body of Christ on earth, but also those living in heaven, and also those awaiting purification. Many humans only view the Church as a building or something for old ladies […]

SEEKING GOD EVERY DAY

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO MEET THE HOLY SPIRIT Recently, I went to Starbucks, B.C. (before COVID-19), to get a cup of my favorite brew. By chance, I found myself standing in line with a friend of mine from Good Shepherd. We struck up a conversation about this and that when, out […]

ARE YOU GUILTY BECAUSE YOU CAN’T GO TO CHURCH?

THE CHURCH IS A GRAND GATHERING OF ALL THOSE GATHERED THROUGHOUT TIME WITH ONE CHRIST AS THE HEAD The Church Triumphant is a gathering of all those whom God has accepted as sons and daughters of the Father. The Church Militant are those of us gathered earth who still struggle with trying to love others […]

WAKING THE SPIRIT

As the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.” Contemplation is all about the resignation of self to let the Holy Spirit overshadow you. In reality, the term, “waking the Spirit” is a misnomer, an attempt by human words to say something about the Holy Spirit, that which has no […]

have you ever thought of…

I get random thoughts throughout the day. Some of them are just “out there” and have no connection to what I am thinking about at the time. Here are some of these thoughts. Have you ever thought of Purgatory as something where humans are given a second chance to love others as Christ loved us? […]

poetry in the silence and stillness of winter

As I usually do each morning, and today is no exception, I sit down to my computer, recite my Lectio phrase to begin my practice of contemplation, “have in you the mind of Christ Jesus,” then wait. Whatever comes my way, I try to write it down for you. I don’t presume to speak for […]

VOICES

One of the challenging topics that Lay Cistercians discussed at the Gathering, on October 11, 2020 was that of voices in our minds that say things. Once a month Lay Cistercian novices, juniors, and professed members, meet to pray together, share the Holy Spirit with each other, and listen to the words of the Trappist […]

HOW TO PLAY IN GOD’S PLAYGROUND

HOW TO ORGANIZE AND FOCUS ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST SEEKING GOD EACH DAY IN ALL THAT COMES MY WAY The following pages are samples of the horarium (hourly agenda) and Internet sites that I use to organize my day as a Lay Cistercian. Everyone who practices the Cistercian practices and charisms, for those, not […]

MONASTERY AND LAY CISTERCIAN PONDERINGS

I share with you what I have received via the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Georgia, and also from the Lay Cistercians (with permission). Blessings on you this day. Remember, peace is not the absence of conflict but rather the love of Christ in your heart. It is this that will […]