Notes to Oblates of Mount Angel Abbey

Fr. John Paul Le, OSB, director of the oblates of Mount Angel Abbey, writes frequent notes to the oblates of Mount Angel Abbey. The oblates are a vibrant and active community of lay people and priests who strive to live the Holy Rule of St. Benedict in the spirit of Mount Angel Abbey, as far as their state in life permits. The notes are a mix of spiritual reflection, instruction, and updates on current events within the community of monks and oblates.

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
April 26, 2025

Dear Oblates,

The Risen Christ at Meal

It is perhaps surprising the number of times food is mentioned in the resurrection accounts. After explaining the scriptures to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, Jesus breaks bread with them. On Thursday, we heard Jesus asking his disciples, “Do you have anything to eat?” And yesterday, he said to the disciples, “Come, have breakfast.” The number of references to food seem a bit much does it not? But surely, the Holy Spirit must have guided the hand of the evangelist to recount these events.

So what does it mean? It seems that the persistent food references has strong Eucharistic undertones. The meal at Emmaus points to this theme in that St. Luke describes the meal as the breaking of the bread. Even the words used are the same words that we hear at every Mass. “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” Then after the two disciples recount this to the other disciples, Jesus appears again and says “peace be with you,” which is another echo of the Mass. After that, we read about Jesus on the shore inviting St. Peter and the other fishermen to a meal. The text then says that Jesus takes the bread and gives it to them. Another echo of the Mass.

What we see here is not Jesus simply eating for the sake of eating, but we see that he is sharing a quasi-Eucharistic meal with the disciples. He desires that the disciples develop the habit of sharing the Eucharistic together. It is amazing to think that he immediately after rising from the dead he would want to teach his disciples of the importance of the Mass. However, this should not surprise us because the Mass is precisely the re-presentation of Our Lord’s Paschal mystery.

May we who glory and the Lord’s resurrection, be united to him in the most holy Eucharist.

Our next Oblate Sunday is on May 11^th. Fr. Martin will be speaking about John Cassian’s 1^st Conference: The Goal and End of the Monk/Oblate. To sign up for in-person, click here. For remote-option, click here.

You can now read Br. Ambrose’s latest article, “Chocolate Eggs and Jesus Risen”.

Br. Thomas will be leading the September (19-21) Oblate Retreat. His retreat is entitled, “From Head to Tail: Life and Death in the Book of Jonah”. The description is as follows, “The book of Jonah is so simple and entertaining that it has become a children’s favorite. But there is much more lurking, whale-like, under the surface. It is a story of forgiveness, and of the refusal to forgive. It is about generosity and honor, and about complacency and disrespect. Its hero is its villain, and its villains, heroes. It is in fact a story meant for those who have lived and died and lived again.” To sign up please contact retreat@mtangeledu.

Prayer request. Please pray for the eternal rest of Pope Francis. Please also pray for the eternal rest of Fr. David “Benedict” Janes, who passed away two weeks ago. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Oblate Calendar

2025
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. Martin – John Cassian On the Goal and End of the Monk.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles. On Self-Knowledge According to St. Catherine of Siena.
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas. From Head to Tail: Life and Death in the Book of Jonah.
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - April 19, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
April 19, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Easter Vigil

The Church proclaims in the Exultet tonight the glory and wonder of the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection. The following is a commentary on some of the verses in the Exultet.

“This is the night that . . . banished the darkness of sin.” Ever since the fall of man, we have been living with the consequences of the rejection of God’s love. On earth, we are met with pain, suffering, mourning and tears, but this night vanishes the darkness of sin, and its consequences, so that those who mourn will be comforted, those who weep will laugh and those who walk in darkness will see a great light.

“This is the night, when Christ broke the prison bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.” On this night, we are set free from the bondage of Egypt and the eternal promise land is been opened up for us. Christ, by taking on the sins of the world and becoming obedient unto death, became for us the source of freedom and new life. We are no longer prisoners to sin and death but have been set free by his resurrection.

“The night shall be as bright as day.” It seemed that with the death of Christ all hope was lost. Those who witnessed his bloody passion were right to go home confused and in despair. However, it was in this very darkness that the light of Christ shone all the brighter. This night held the brilliant glow of the transfiguration. In God there is no darkness and the resurrection confirms this truth.

“The sanctifying power of this night.” The resurrection of Christ is God’s marvelous deed. Indeed, if Christ is not raised from the dead, our faith is in vain. Now, through his resurrection, God sanctifies humanity. Our faults are washed away, hatred is driven out and concord fostered. By man’s effort alone this is not possible, but with God, who is all powerful, all things are possible.

“On this your night of grace.” This is such a grace-filled knight for the whole church. We who have observed the Lenten practices for 40 days now spring forth with new blossoms. What graces do we still need? Ask God for it tonight. How can the Father refuse any grace, He who did not spare his own Son out of love for us. Ask and you shall receive.

Let us pray that this night of the Lord’s resurrection may truly be a transformative night and may its power ripple throughout the entire year.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - April 18, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
April 18, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Good Friday

Today, the Church remembers the passion and death of our Lord. At the last supper St. John tells us that Christ loved us to the end (Jn 13:1), and the end is on the cross, where the depths of love and sorrow meet. How great a mystery, the author of life dies upon the cross. How great a love, the sinless one slain for sinners. The great spiritual masters teach us that one of the truest and surest ways of growing in sanctity is to meditate upon the passion of Christ. In the imitation of Christ, we read, “The religious who concerns himself intently and devoutly with our Lord’s most holy life and passion will find there an abundance of all things useful and necessary for him.”

Our Lady can help us with this meditation. In the gospel according to St. John, we read that Our Lady was there at the foot of the cross with Jesus during his last agonizing hours. Today, with Mary, we gaze upon the pierced one, crowned with thorns and soaked in blood. Let us prayerfully reflect upon the passion of Christ through the eyes of Mary. She more than anyone knew and felt the bitter anguish our Lord experienced as he hung victimized upon that cross. She, as his mother, experienced in the depths of her heart what he experienced in his body. As the Stabat Mater reads, “Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, All his bitter anguish bearing. Now at length the sword has passed.” We can imagine that, even after the death of Our Lord, Our Lady would have reflected prayerfully on our Lord’s scourging, crowning with thorns and crucifixion. How she must have been moved at such a remembrance, such agony, such love. Mary as our mother can teach us how to ponder the mystery of the Word made flesh, slain and crucified. This is the depth of the meditation on our Lord‘s passion to which we are called, especially on this Good Friday.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - April 17, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
April 17, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Holy Thursday

At the Last Supper with the twelve, Jesus instituted the Eucharist as a memorial of the sacrifice he would undergo less than 24 hours later. The institution narrative from Saint Paul, reads, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Also, “this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

In these two short verses, we see how Christ desires to be remembered. He does not want to be primarily remembered for his miracles or even his teaching but rather for his love. He says, “This is my body that is for you.” His entire life was one of offering his body for our sake, and his offering was culminated by his sacrifice on the cross. In the same way, taking the wine, he says, “this cup is the new covenant in my blood.” As it was through the blood of the Paschal lamb that the covenant between God and the Israelites was established, so now through the blood of the true Lamb of God, we enter more profoundly into that covenant with the Father, which saves us from the deadly plague of sin and destines us for eternal life. It is this blood of Christ of which only a single drop can cleanse the world of sin that we receive at Holy Mass.

Christ anticipates the giving of his body on the cross by the giving of his body through the washing of his apostles’ feet. Here he is, Lord and master, creator of the universe, stooping low like a slave to cleanse the dirty feet of his friends. Behold, the humility of God. Behold, the love of Christ. We can sympathize to Saint Peter’s words, “Lord, you will never wash my feet.” Just imagine the Son of God stooping down, bending over and scrubbing your dirty toes, yet so he does, and he always does. This is his body that is for you.

Then he says, “I have given you a model to follow.” Yes, like Christ we ought to give our bodies in service to one another through sacrificial love. This is not always easy because to love requires that we be humble, selfless and willing to suffer much. Christ, who gives us the command to love, gives us the grace to carry it out. May we give of our bodies in loving service to one another so that in all things God may be glorified.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - April 11, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
April 11, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Holy Week

I like to say that Benedictine spirituality is liturgical spirituality. If this is the case, then this week ought to be for you and me the most important time of the year. For nearly 40 days now the people of God have engaged in the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and now we are near the point of all these practices, that is, the fitting and worthy celebration of the Holy Paschal Triduum. On Sunday we will begin Holy Week with the solemn celebration of Palm Sunday. Like the other liturgies during Holy Week, there is deep symbolic meaning in the gestures and elements of the liturgy. By reenacting the last week of our Lord’s life, we not only remember what he taught and did, but we also represent and make present now what took place 2,000 years ago. As the saying goes, “in the liturgy, history passes into mystery.”

On Sunday, we will join with the crowds with palm branches in our hands as Christ enters Jerusalem riding on a colt. These palm branches are a sign of the ultimate victory Christ will have over sin and death and over the power of evil. The whole city is roused and in eager anticipation of the one who comes in the name of the Lord. They shout their hosannas and even if they did not, the rocks will sing the praises of God. All creation is taken into the saving acts of the Son of God.

And yet as we enter the church after the procession, the tune takes a shift as the long passion narrative is read. The praise our Lord receives is not enduring; it lasts but a moment, and then we begin the cries, “crucify him, crucify him.” How quick we are to abandon our Lord in time of adversity, yet he knows and understands our weakness and simply looks upon us with mercy and compassion.

I hope and pray that all of you can make this week truly holy and enter more fully into the Lord’s passion so as to celebrate more suitably the glory of his resurrection.

Prayer request. Pray for the eternal rest of Fr. Nathan Zodrow, O.S.B, who passed away on April 8^th. The funeral Mass will be on April 12^th at 10am in the Abbey Church. Please also pray for oblate Gary “Gabriel” Spanovich, who passed away on March 20^th, and for Georgann “Monica” Reel who passed away on April 3^rd. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Oblate Day of Recollection in Sumner, WA.

Oblate Calendar

2025
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. Martin – John Cassian On the Goal and End of the Monk.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles. On Self-Knowledge According to St. Catherine of Siena.
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - March 28, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
March 28, 2025

Dear Oblates,

The Prodigal Son

The parable of the prodigal son is arguably the most beloved of all the gospel parables. It tells of the moving story of a son, who chooses a life of selfishness and sin, which makes him end up in the muck and the mire. At rock bottom, the son has a conversion experience and decides to come back home, where he is lovingly welcomed by his most merciful father. There are many points of the story that can be fodder for fruitful meditation, but I would like to focus on simply two points: the circumstances of the conversion and the joy of the father at the son’s return.

The context of the son’s repentance is quite bleak. He had freely spent all of his inheritance on a life of dissipation, and, as a result, was tending swine and longing to have a bit of their portion. The selfish choices he made had finally caught up with him. Now, he was face to face with the consequences of his separation from his father and the actions that followed. However, in this dark period of his life, there was a ray of light that shown through, which led to his conversion. As the father would later say, “this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” This is true for us as well. It is often when we encounter great difficulties that our faith grows the most and we come to know Christ best. Within every cross, there is a current of grace ready to be released. Many times our attitude during these challenging times is pivotal. Can I see God’s providence in these ugly circumstances and reach out to him or do I simply complain and draw inward?

The second point that stands out is the rejoicing that occurs when the son returns. The father says, “Bring the finest robe . . . put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.” Immense joy is experienced by these gestures of welcome, and we can imagine what the son must have felt. He was ready to work as a hired hand and now he is immediately restored to sonship. Did he think to himself, “I do not deserve this? Isn’t my father’s supposed to punish me?” So, too, when we return to God after falling into sin, we may have similar thoughts, “God is unhappy with me. I’ve been a bad person.” However, God does not have those thoughts, rather, he is simply delighted that we would return to him, acknowledge our faults and trust in his mercy. The father’s words are a clear indication of how he feels, “we must celebrate and rejoice.” Every time we repent and turn back to God, the angels in heaven rejoice and celebrate. We, too, are invited to join the celebration of which we are a pivotal player. The mercy of God is beyond human comprehension; this parable is a good attempt at helping us understand this royal truth. During this Lenten season and throughout the year, may we never be too fearful to approach the throne of mercy to receive grace and forgiveness.

We are now about half way through Lent, so keep up the good work. If you find that you are less than 50% successful at a Lenten resolution, feel free to drop it.

You can now read Br. Ambrose’s latest article, “O Come, Let Us . . . Weep?”

Prayer request. Please pray for Fr. Nathan, who is entering the last phase of his life. Pray that he may grow in faith, hope and charity, and that he may be ready to meet the Lord when the Lord calls him. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Spring is in the air.

Oblate Calendar

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - March 22, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
March 22, 2025

Dear Oblates,

On Repentance

The gospel for this 3^rd Sunday of Lent focuses on the theme of repentance. Jesus says to the crowd two times, “if you do not repent, you will all perish.” Repentance is a life-saving remedy. By repenting, we humbly acknowledge to God our offenses and sins, and his response is always mercy and forgiveness. St. Faustina tells us that the greater the sinner, the greater right he has to the mercy of God.

We can ask ourselves, how sincere is my repentance? Am I really interested in conversion and transformation in Christ, or has repentance become routine? Do I just go to confession and walk out the same person?

The parable that follows, which at first seems unconnected to the theme of repentance, actually sheds light on the type of repentance Jesus is speaking about. The parable is about a fig tree that does not bear fruit, and so the gardener asks for an extra year to fertilize and cultivate around it. What does this have to do with repentance? Everything. If our repentance is not bearing fruit, we need to make changes. This is not to say that we will not have those sins of habit that haunt us, but that we can ask ourselves, “how sincere am I in cutting myself off from sin?” In truth, we commit sin because it does something positive for us. We want to hold on to our judgments, anger, prideful attitude and pleasures of the flesh. They have become a part of who we are, but Jesus is saying to us during this Lent, repent from the heart, cry out to God, hunger and thirst for righteousness and take concrete steps to overcome sin. This is true repentance. We may not bear fruit right away, but each time we sincerely repent from the heart we are watering the garden of our souls, and slowly but surely, the trunk, branch and fruit will appear.

Prayer request. Please pray for our four new postulants, who entered the monastery two days ago. Please also pray for our seminarians who are on Spring Break. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Br. Allen, Br. Jeremiah, Abbot Jeremy, Br. Sean and Br. Andrew

Oblate Calendar

2025
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Fr Martin – John Cassian On the Goal and End of the Monk.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles. On Self-Knowledge According to St. Catherine of Siena.
Jun
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
Aug
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
Sep
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat. Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
Oct
Nov
7-9 – Oblate Retreat. Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
Dec
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - March 14, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
March 14, 2025

Dear Oblates,

“Be reconciled to one another”
– Gospel for Friday of the 1^st Week of Lent

The church gives us a key theme during this Lenten season, and it is reconciliation. Yes, prayer, fasting and almsgiving are all important, but if it is not complemented with forgiveness, they are empty gestures.

In his book Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody, Allen Hunt recounts 12 stories showing the graces and power coming forth from forgiveness. One story took place during World War II. During this time, the ten Boom family organized a movement to rescue Jews, and because of this work, 800 Jews were saved. However, the ten Boom family were arrested by the German Gestapo. Shortly thereafter, the father died and the two daughters Corrie and Betsy were transferred to Ravensbruck brook near Berlin, where Betsy died 10 months later. Through divine Providence and a clerical error, Corrie ten Boon was released.

After she was released, Corrie received many invitations to speak about her rescue efforts, courage and survival. At one of the talks, she was shocked to see a former guard at Ravensbruck, and he was one of the cruelest of all the guards. Interiorly, she crumbled, she had flashbacks to the horrible experience of the camp. And now this man was standing before her. He said, “I was a guard at Ravensbruck, but I know that God has forgiven me, will you forgive me?” Corrie’s emotions raced. She remembered the pain, horror and her sister who had died. And now this man was simply going to reach out his hand and say it’s okay? After an inward struggle which lasted seconds, but felt like hours, she writes of what happened next, “I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.” Through this gesture, Corrie extended the fullness of forgiveness that Christ came to bring and was reconciled to her brother.

Forgiveness is not always easy. Allen Hunt writes, “giving grace to those who deserve vengeance seems unjust-at least to us humans. We like our grudges. We hold on to them in hopes of arriving at that day when we can give the offender his or her comeuppance. That is human. But God is not human-anything but. Grace provides a breathtaking snapshot of the heart of God. In forgiving, you experience the radical love of God, and you can actually feel his heart.”

As long as we are alive, we will experience the devastating consequences of original sin. Sometimes, we will be in the wrong. At other times, our neighbor will be in the wrong. In both cases, forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door to communion. We have a choice to make. We can either harden our hearts or seek understanding. We can either hold on to resentment and anger or let communion take its place. We can either bind ourselves in chains or we can set ourselves free by the power of forgiveness.

Who do we still need to forgive?

I gave my last conference on the 8 Evil Thoughts (acedia and pride) this past Sunday. You can now access it here.

An oblate mentioned to me a good podcast that I now share with you. It is the Desert Fathers in a Year podcast.

Prayer request. Please pray for our seminarians who were instituted as lector and acolyte on Wednesday (pictures below). Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Oblate Calendar

2025
March
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - March 8, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
March 8, 2025

Dear Oblates,

“Jesus . . . was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.”
– Gospel for the 1^st Sunday of Lent

The gospel reading for Sunday reminds us that we are not on the Lenten journey alone, but that that our Lord is accompanying us through these 40 days. We fast and do penance because he himself did. What was the context of Jesus’s temptation? Well, it happened immediately after he was baptized, where the Father said, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). This scene gives us a lot of comfort, but immediately following it is a scene more shocking and repugnant to our sensibilities. The text says that Jesus “was led by the spirit into the desert.” The spirit guided our Lord to that place where there was no food, no water. It was a barren and dry climate. This happens to us as well. It is not unusual for someone who has just received Holy Communion or gone to confession to be put in very challenging circumstances, to be given a very heavy cross. I have also heard from oblates that shortly after making their final oblation some burdensome trial befalls them. They then asked, “why is this happening?” Perhaps, there is no clear answer, but maybe we can be comforted in knowing that Christ, immediately after his baptism, was thrown into the desert where he was alone and there was no sustenance.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. In the desert of Sinai or in the desert of our lives, the devil will tempt us. He will tempt us to seek consolations for our flesh through food and drink. He will tempt us to materialism offering us the glamor of the world to take our mind away from our sufferings. Lastly, he will tempt us to test God rather than abandoning ourselves to God’s will. What are we to do in such circumstances? We are to imitate Christ. He, who is the word of God, spoke back to the devil with the word of God. Coincidentally, my oblate Sunday conferences have been exactly on this topic, that is, when we are tempted by a thought of the devil, we are to “talk back” to him with the word of God. Thus, Jesus says, “One does not live by bread alone,” “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve,” and, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” God’s word is stronger than the devil’s words. The devil is the father of lies, but the truth of God ultimately triumphs. We have to continually remind ourselves of these truths and be rooted in God’s word.

The text then says that the devil, “departed from him for a time”. Thank God, but unfortunately, he will come back, and probably when we are in a weak and vulnerable state. But in the meantime–it does not say this in Luke only in Matthew–the angels came and ministered to him. How wonderful to hear these words. If the demons are attempting and attacking us, how much more are the angels present to us and protecting us. Therefore, when we are in the barren darkness of our lives, let us call upon the assistance of the holy angels, especially our guardian angels, who were sent precisely to minister to our needs.

You can now read Br. Ambrose’s latest article entitled, “The Pure Love of Brothers.”

Happy feast day of Saint Frances of Rome (March 9), who is the patron of all oblates. You can obtain a plenary indulgence on this day given the usual conditions. I send a special blessing to all who take Saint Frances as their oblate patron.

Prayer request. Please pray for Abbot Jeremy as he celebrates the anniversary of his election on March 12 (9 years). Please pray for the Theological Symposium happening this week. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

P.S. – Ash Wednesday Mass pictures below.

Oblate Calendar

2025
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - March 1, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
March 1, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Lent 2025

Saint Benedict in chapter 49 gives us a wonderful statement on the observance of Lent, and I think it is neat that his monasteries were already engaging in this liturgical season.

Saint Benedict says that the life of a monk/oblate ought to be a continuous Lent, that is, we ought to be always dying to ourselves, so as to allow Christ to live in us, but Saint Benedict knows that we are weak and do not always do this. Therefore, he tells us to try to do this at least “during these days of Lent.” What ought we to be doing? He lists several points.

One, we are to “keep our manner of life most pure.” He desires that we have a pure heart and keep away from sin and impurity. Yes, we ought to always be far removed from this but let us do so especially now. He also writes that we are to wash away the “negligences of other times”. What have we/are we neglecting to do? I think particularly in regard to our state in life. We can easily yield to trivial matters and neglect what is most essential.

Then, in one sentence Saint Benedict gives four concrete actions. The first is to devote ourselves to “prayer with tears”. He wants us to pray often and to pray honestly, that we would reveal all that is in our heart to God. Tears is a gift, so we cannot force it out of ourselves. Second, we are to read. Saint Benedict says in another chapter that during Lent a monk should read a book straight through (48). In this chapter too Saint Benedict says that a monk should to divide his time between work and reading. Third, he calls us to compunction of heart. This is related to the prayer of tears, but it is especially the expression of sorrow because of our sins and the ways in which we have offended our Lord. Hence, it is a good practice to regularly do an examination of conscience and go to confession during this holy season. Lastly, Saint Benedict writes that we are to practice self denial. This includes fasting, alms giving and others works of penance. These are concrete ways in which we can unite ourselves to the suffering Christ. Indeed the whole Christian life is nothing else than the dying to self and the living for Christ. This is what Saint Benedict hopes for us during this Lenten season.

Thank you for the many of you who have turned in your Bona Operas. It is always inspiring to read of your desire and effort to make progress in the spiritual life and grow in your love for Christ. It is not too late to turn these in. If this note has inspired you to do a little extra or make a change, please simply reply to this e-mail with your response.

Our next Oblate Sunday is March 9, and I will be giving the last of four conferences on John Cassian’s Eight Evil Thoughts. The notes for last month’s conference can be found here. This final conference will address the thoughts of vainglory and pride. The Oblate Sunday begins with Mass at the Abbey at 9am. It is followed by a potluck brunch after Mass in the guesthouse dining room, where you can visit with other Oblates. The conference starts at 11am in the Westminster Room, and the day is concluded with Noon Prayer in the Abbey Church. It is a free event for oblates. To register for in-person, click here; for remote option, click here.

I will be giving an Oblate Lenten Day of Recollection at St. Andrew parish in Sumner, WA (near Tacoma) on March 29, 2025 from 9am-2pm. To sign up, please click here. Schedule below:
9:30am – Mass
10:15 – refreshments
10:45 – talk
11:45 – Noon Prayer and lunch
12:45 – talk 2

Prayer request. Please continue to pray for the health of our Holy Father and Frs. Nathan and Liem. Please pray also for the success of the folk dancing tonight. You are welcome to attend this event in the Damian Center gym from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Oblate Calendar

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - February 22, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
February 22, 2025

Dear Oblates,

The Chair of Saint Peter

Today we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. It reminds us of the Apostolic origin of the Catholic faith and how Christ chose to build His church on Peter’s profession of faith. There are many things of note in regard to today’s feast and readings, but the line that stuck out to me today was, “I shall give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven”–perhaps, it caught my attention because I am the Abbey locksmith. How much trust God has in man, or rather, how good and powerful God is that he entrusts such a responsibility to a man, namely St. Peter and his successors.

When we look at Saint Peter, we can argue that he would not have been a good candidate for such a lofty office. He was a humble fisherman, probably not knowing the intricacies of the law or divine worship. When Christ initially called him, Peter said, “depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man,” and how true those words would be. Immediately after professing that Christ is the Son of God, Saint Peter denies the reality of the cross. At which point Christ says to him, “get behind me Satan.” Strong words for a man who was just made Pope. Then, at the trial before Pilate, Saint Peter denies our Lord three times. We would think that after the resurrection of our Lord, Saint Peter would have been more perfect but no. Saint Paul has to rebuke him publicly for being concerned about human respect.

However, Christ knew all this before handing Saint Peter the keys, and still Christ made Saint Peter guardian of the Kingdom. Here we see the providential hand of God guiding all things. What if Saint Peter was perfect? What if all popes were made perfect instantly upon their election? We could imagine how high a standard they would have made it to get into heaven. However, if the guardian of the kingdom is a man who is weak, frail and sinful, how much more will he extend mercy and kindness to others. Yes, God has chosen weak leaders for a weak Church, and when we lean into our weakness, then we are strong in Christ.

Let us remember to pray for our Holy Father this day, for his sanctity, for his growth in wisdom and discernment and for his physical health.

Our next Oblate Sunday is March 9, and I will be giving the last of four conferences on John Cassian’s Eight Evil Thoughts. The notes for last month’s conference can be found here. This final conference will address the thoughts of vainglory and pride. To see the notes from the last Oblate Sunday, click here. The Oblate Sunday begins with Mass at the Abbey at 9am. It is followed by a potluck brunch after Mass in the guesthouse dining room, where you can visit with other Oblates. The conference starts at 11am in the Westminster Room, and the day is concluded with Noon Prayer in the Abbey Church. It is a free event for oblates. To register for in-person, click here; for remote option, click here.

You should have received your Lenten Bona Opera by now. Please get this back to me by February 28, so you can receive it back with my blessing. If for some reason you did not receive it, please click here for the PDF. You can just print it out and mail it back to me.

Prayer request. Please pray for the meetings of the Abbey Foundation of Oregon this week. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Discerners. Please pray for them.

From the snow last week.

This is what happens to seminarians who grow cold in their prayer.

Oblate Calendar

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - February 14, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
February 14, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Father Ralph likes to quip, “celebrating Valentine’s Day in the monastery is like celebrating Father’s Day at an orphanage.” Therefore, inspired by this, I would like to focus on the two saints Mount Angel Abbey celebrates in the liturgy today, St. Cyril and St. Methodius. St. Cyril and St. Methodius (9th century) are perhaps most well known for their missionary activity among the Slavic peoples and translating the Bible into Old Church Slavonic using a newly created alphabet known today as Cyrillic.

For the Office of Readings for today, we read a selection from the old Slavonic life of Constantine (Cyril’s former name before becoming a monk). The reading points to his unwavering faith as he is struck with an illness that will eventually take his life. A phrase that he uttered as death approached was this, “From now on, I am not the servant of the emperor or any man on earth but of almighty God alone. Before I was dead, now I am alive and I shall live forever.”

There are two points of this statement. The first focuses on Cyril’s mission as a servant of God. He did not serve the emperor, his friends or any bishop. No, he could say with all confidence that he lived for God alone. His whole life of preaching and writing was a testament to this truth. The second part of the quote speaks of his faith in the eternal. St. Cyril saw the reality of life on earth as short and transitory, full of death and decay. He knew full well that death was the springboard to eternity, where he would be alive in a way never possible on earth. Thus, he could say, “Before I was dead, now I am alive.”

May we, like St. Cyril, live our lives for God alone and fix our eyes on eternity.

I will be giving an Oblate Lenten Day of Recollection at St. Andrew parish in Sumner, WA (near Tacoma) on March 29, 2025 from 9am-2pm. To sign up, please click here. Schedule as follows:
9:30am – Mass
10:15 – refreshments
10:45 – talk
11:45 – Noon Prayer and lunch
12:45 – talk 2

For those of you are interested in following the Abbey liturgical year, here is the liturgical calendar for the Abbey for the year 2025.

Happy feast day! Say a little prayer for Br. Cyril.

Prayer request. Please pray for the 10 men who will be with us on the monastic discernment retreat this weekend. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

New Oblates. Kyrria “Paula” Martinez, Bryce “Micah” Webster, Kaitlyn “Zelie” Edmonds and Matthew “Joseph” Edmonds.

New Novices.

More new Novices.

Oblate Calendar

2025
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Cyril – Oblate Saints and Notables.
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - February 7, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
February 7, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Oblate Saints and Notables

A continuation on the saint theme of this year.

Today, Br. Cyril will be leading the oblate retreat entitled, “Oblate Saints and Notables.” Since many of you will not be here for this, I thought it might be good to write a few sentences about some of these figures, whom he will be speaking about.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274). St. Thomas is arguably the greatest theologian in the history of the Church. His uncle was abbot of Montecassino, and he was a child oblate there before leaving for the Domincans. However, it was through the education he received during his early years at Montecassino that he came to develop his intellectual prowess. We Benedictines refer to him as “the one who got away.”

St. Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681). St. Oliver was born in Ireland and went to Rome to study for the priesthood because of the persecutions happening back home. After some years as a priest, St. Oliver was made Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland. He remained as a faithful shepherd despite the continued persecution of the Church. In 1679, he was falsely accused of treason and was hanged, drawn and quartered.

Blessed Itala Mela, mystic (1904-1957). Blessed Ita was born in Italy and her upbringing was mostly non-religious. After lodging with nuns for a year, she was drawn to the Church and her liturgy. Ita desired to join a Benedictine monastery, but an unfortunate medical condition did not permit this. In lieu of this, she became an oblate of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in 1930. She was dedicated to the Mass and the liturgy of the hours. She cared for her ailing family members and offered spiritual advice to many who sought her counsel.

Blessed Hanna Helena Chrzanowska (1902-1973). Hanna was born to a wealthy family in Poland. Through her aunt’s care during an illness, Hanna felt the call to become a nurse. She spent most of her life as a nurse teacher and working for the abandoned and chronically ill. To help her with her exhaustive work, she dug deeply into her spiritual life and became an oblate of Tyniec Abbey. During her life, she worked closely with St. Pope John Paul II.

Servant of God Zita Bourbon-Parma (1892-1989). Zita was born of a distinguished lineage in Italy, her mother being the daughter of King Michael I of Portugal. At the age of 10 she was educated by the sisters of the Visitation, after that, with the Benedictine nuns of Solesmes. She was married to Archduke Charles in 1912, and they had eight children together. She found great spiritual solace praying at Benedictine monasteries and became an oblate of Sainte-Cecile in 1926.

Nadeem Feroze (d. 2012) – Nadeem was born in Pakistan, where the total Catholic population is under 3%, and it is an undisputed fact that there is a persecution of Christians. We know of Nadeem’s life through his emails, in which he writes of the daily cross he had to bear. Eventually, his faith in Christ and the spread of Christ’s message of love led to his martyrdom in 2012.

Here is a more extensive list:
Saints
Saint Henry, King of Holy Roman Empire
Saint Frances of Rome
Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón (1911-38), oblate with the Trappists in Spain
St. Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh (1625-81)
St. Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Cantebury
St. Thomas Aquinas, doctor of the Church
Blesseds
Bl. Itala Mela (Maria della Trinità), mystic (1904-57)
Bl. Hanna Helena Chrzanowska, nurse (1902-73) [friend of St. John
Paul II]
Bl. Mark Barkworth, Priest (1572-1601)
Bl. Thomas Tunstall, Priest (d. 1616)
Servants of God
Servant of God Dorothy Day, Oblate of St. Procopius Abbey (1897-1980)
Servant of God Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Empress (1892-1989)
Notables
Nadeem Feroze, Martyr
Joris-Karl Huysmans – novelist, including The Oblate
Jacques Maritain – philosopher
Walker Percy – novelist

Prayer request. Please pray for all those on the oblate retreat, especially for the four novices who will be making their final oblation. Please pray also for Br. Cyril, the retreat master. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

If you know of a man who is discerning a monastic vocation, please consider recommending that he visit the Abbey.

Oblate Calendar

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - January 31, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
January 31, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Viva Don Bosco!

As some of you may know, I volunteered and lived with the Salesians of Saint John Bosco for two years before entering the monastery. As a result, I was thoroughly “indoctrinated” with the love of Saint John Bosco and his educational method. His main concern was the eternal souls of the boys entrusted to his care. He was like a good Abbot teaching by word and example. He would allow them to “run, jump and shout” as long as they did not sin. He said that in correcting the boys “we must lay aside all anger,” and “we are to use mercy for the present and have hope for the future.” All of these quotes show how Saint John Bosco loved the young. They all can be summarized with this one great quote, “It is not enough to love the young. They must know and feel that they are loved.”

In saying this, Saint John Bosco was telling the Salesian family and us that love has to be manifested concretely and effectively communicated. If I am reprimanding a child in anger even if the intention is for the child’s good, and do not have love, the reprimand does little good. If I spend all day making money or cooking and cleaning so my child can have a good life, but do not show them sure signs of affection, the child is being deprived of love due them. Saint John Bosco tells us that the child must know and feel that he is loved and this comes through our actions, words and subtle gestures. A child can easily intuit when he is being loved versus simply being taken care of or addressed as a problem.

I think this concept can also be applied to God’s love. It is not simply enough to tell somebody that God loves them, but they must feel that love and warmth. Sometimes, the love of God is experienced through personal prayer. Other times, God’s love is communicated through people. In a world that is far removed from God and his love, we Christians are called to communicate his love to the world by our kindness and generosity. As Saint John writes, “no one has ever seen God; but if we live love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 Jn 4:12).

On this feast day of Saint John Bosco, let us take his words to heart and not simply love those around us, but make them know and feel that they are loved. It is a slight nuance, but it makes all the difference.

Our next Oblate Sunday is February 9, and I will be giving the third of four conferences on John Cassian’s Eight Evil Thoughts. This third conference will address the thoughts of avarice, anger, acedia and sadness. The Oblate Sunday begins with Mass at the Abbey at 9am. It is followed by a potluck brunch after Mass in the guesthouse dining room, where you can visit with other Oblates. The conference starts at 11am in the Westminster Room, and the day is concluded with Noon Prayer in the Abbey Church. It is a free event for oblates. To register for in-person, click here; for remote option, click here.

Prayer request. Please pray for the continued healing of Fr. Liem and Fr. Nathan. Please also pray for the Salesian order and all the young people they serve. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

P.S. – The pictures below are from my time with the Salesian priests, brothers and sisters in East Timor.

Oblate Calendar

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Cyril – Oblate Saints and Notables.
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
9 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.

A Note to Our Dear Oblates - January 24, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
January 24, 2025

Dear Oblates,

St. Francis de Sales

The Fridays of this month are replete with amazing saints. Today’s saint, Saint Francis de Sales was a giant in terms of spirituality for the laity. His Introduction to the devout Life is a must read for all serious Christians. However, rather than reflecting on this book, I would like to cite a profoundly powerful quote written by him about the cross. It reads,

“The everlasting God has in his wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the All-Merciful Love of God.”

For me, this is one of the most beautiful statements about our crosses. Many times people share with me the extreme challenges and difficulties they are facing, whether it be personal struggles, relational hardships, financial insecurities or personal health. The crosses in our life are not always easy to understand, and we ask ourselves, “Why is this happening to me?” Saint Francis with this beautiful quote is giving us the perspective we don’t always take, and it is God’s perspective. I love how he says that this cross you are carrying is a “gift from his inmost heart.” It is as if God is saying, “I am giving you a share of my cross, a share of my heart.” Another phrase that sticks out is “that it [the cross] be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy.” We can say that God in his loving Providence has perfectly tailored this cross for us, and nobody else is to carry it.

With this, I am reminded of what Abbot Gregory always taught us novices, “grumbling a rejection of the cross of the present moment.” We can ask ourselves, “When do I grumble and what do I grumble about?” Am I rejecting this cross that God in his love is giving to me, or am I embracing the cross as Jesus did and uniting myself to him through it. With Lent coming up, it might be a good idea to pray this daily as part of your Lenten Bona Opera.

I will be giving an Oblate Lenten Day of Recollection at St. Andrew parish in Sumner, WA (near Tacoma) on March 29, 2025 from 9am-2pm. More details to come.

Our next Oblate Sunday is February 9, and I will be giving the second of four conferences on John Cassian’s Eight Evil Thoughts. This third conference will address the thoughts of avarice, anger, acedia and sadness. The Oblate Sunday begins with Mass at the Abbey at 9am. It is followed by a potluck brunch after Mass in the guesthouse dining room, where you can visit with other Oblates. The conference starts at 11am in the Westminster Room, and the day is concluded with Noon Prayer in the Abbey Church. It is a free event for oblates. To register for in-person, click here; for remote option, click here. THE LINK FROM LAST WEEK DID NOT WORK.

Prayer request. Please pray for Fr. Liem, who had heart surgery this morning. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Oblate Calendar

A Note to Our Dear Oblates – January 17, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
January 17, 2025

Dear Oblates,

St. Anthony (250-356) “Father of Monasticism”

St. Benedict in chapter 73 of the Holy Rule recommends reading books by the “catholic Fathers” and “their lives”. St. Anthony is one of the greatest of the desert fathers and his life written by St. Athanasius was the torch that set Western monasticism aflame. The wisdom of St. Anthony and the desert fathers is imbedded throughout the Holy Rule. There is a collection of the sayings of the Desert Fathers that is very practical and keen in spiritual and psychological insight. I will provide a few examples from the sayings of St. Anthony.

ON STABILITY
“He said also, ‘Just as fish die if they stay too long out of water, so the monks who loiter outside their cells or pass their time with men of the world lose the intensity of inner peace. So like a fish going towards the sea, we must hurry to reach our cell, for fear that if we delay outside we will lose our interior watchfulness.’”

ORA ET LABORA (PRAY AND WORK)
When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, ‘Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?’ A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, ‘Do this and you will be saved.’ At these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved.

ON MODERATION
A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, ‘Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.’ So he did. The old man then said, ‘Shoot another,’ and he did so. Then the old man said, ‘Shoot yet again,’ and the hunter replied If I bend my bow so much I will break it.’ Then the old man said to him, ‘It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.’

Prayer request. Please pray for Br. Anthony on his first namesday (picture below). Please pray also for the many events happening here tomorrow: Ecumenical Encounters, Santo Nino celebration and Ukranian Divine Liturgy. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Please check our new vocation video “A Day in the Life [of a monk]”

Oblate Calendar

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Cyril – Oblate Saints and Notables.
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
12? – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)

A Note to Our Dear Oblates – January 11, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
January 11, 2025

Dear Oblates,

The Baptism of the Lord

Why would Christ have to be baptized if he is the holy one who purifies the world from sin? The Church Fathers tell us that the rivers of the Jordan and all the waters were polluted by the filth of our sins. They were like laundry water after washing muddy soccer socks. Therefore, Christ by his baptism was not cleansed of sin, but rather, he purified all the waters of the world, and indeed, even the very waters with which we were baptized. This act by the eternal Son of God shows the depth of his humility, for the bystanders would have thought of Christ as a sinner like the rest of humanity. Why this humility? Blessed Marmion notes, “the humiliations of the Incarnate Word are always accompanied by a revelation of His Divinity” (Christ in His Mysteries, 174). Through this baptism by water, the divine nature of our Lord was explicitly proclaimed by the voice of the Father when the heavens opened up saying, “you are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.” This happened when Jesus was baptized, that is, plunged into the waters, which symbolic of his descent into darkness, sin and death. His coming up out of the water symbolizes the new life, which emerges from death and decay.

This symbolic act of being plunged into the baptismal waters is a prefiguration of the life of our Lord in his public ministry. As we read in the gospels, Jesus is plunged into the darkness of the world of sin. He enters fully into it knowing full well how tainted are the waters, yet he does not fail to immerse himself into it. A few examples confirm this truth. Christ eats with tax collector and sinners; he touches the lepers, and he pardons the woman caught in adultery. In nearly every instance of Jesus’s public life, he is plunging himself, baptizing himself, into the reality of sin, but as surely as he comes forth from the waters of baptism, so too in his contact with sinners metamorphoses results. Tax collectors are pardoned, lepers are cleansed and sinners are given a second chance. New life flows forth from Christ’s baptism-like ministry.

Today would be a good day to renew your baptismal vows.

Prayer request. Please pray for some of the monks who are sick. Please also pray for the students, faculty and staff as we begin a new semester. Also, please pray for Abbot Jeremy, who is taking a few weeks of rest. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

P.S. Pictures below from the SEEK conference.

Oblate Calendar

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Cyril – Oblate Saints and Notables.
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
12? – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)

A Note to Our Dear Oblates – January 3, 2025

A Note to Our Dear Oblates
January 3, 2025

Dear Oblates,

Jubilee Year 2025

Once every 25 years, the Church celebrates a jubilee year in which she grants special graces to her members. For Christians, this practice began in the year 1300 with Pope Boniface VIII. However, many centuries before with the Jewish people as we read in the Sacred Scriptures, there was already the concept of the Jubilee Year. In Leviticus, it is read, “You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred. You shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to your own property, each of you to your own family” (25:10). There were three key elements of the jubilee year. First, all debts are forgiven. Two, there is restitution on the land (land returned to original owners). Last, servants are set free. Now, while we may not practice these exactly, we can see how sacred this jubilee year would have been for the Jewish people and how this jubilee year of 2025 should be sacred for us as well.

One of the major elements of the Jubilee year is the opening of the Holy Doors. The four major basilicas in Rome all contain a holy door, and each bishop can establish pilgrimage sites for his diocese. For the Archdiocese of Portland, there are 10 sites. A plenary indulgence can be obtained by making a pilgrimage to Rome or one of the local diocesan sites. The Holy Father desired that the plenary indulgence for this jubilee be more readily available.

In addition, it is important to note that the theme for the Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Yes, we who are here on earth are a pilgrim people making our journey toward our true and native homeland. While there are countless things that disappoint us, we are not without hope knowing that in Christ we have already won the victory.

I like to think that when Christ began his ministry, it was a jubilee year. May his words in the temple ring true for us throughout the year, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19)

Prayer request. Please pray for Fr. Odo, Fr. Charles and Br. Isaiah who are at the SEEK conference (national youth gathering) in Salt Lake City. Please pray also for the bishops of Region XII who will be here on retreat this week. Please know that you can always send your prayer requests through our Oremus program.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John Paul, OSB
Director of Oblates

Fr. Charles at SEEK conference with an oblate family.

Oblate Calendar

2025
January
February
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Cyril – Oblate Saints and Notables.
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Avarice, Anger, Acedia and Sadness.
March
5 – Ash Wednesday
9 – Oblate Sunday: Fr. John Paul on the 8 Evil Thoughts, On Vainglory and Pride
9 – St. Frances of Rome (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
21 – Passing of St. Benedict (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
April
20 – Easter Sunday
May
11 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part I.
23-25 – Oblate Retreat. Fr. Charles
June
15 – Oblate Picnic
July
11 – Solemnity of St. Benedict. (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)
12 – St. Benedict Festival
August
10 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part II.
27 – Oblate Day of Prayer
September
14 – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part III.
19-21 – Oblate Retreat: Br. Thomas
29 – Solemnity of Archangels (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates).
October
12? – Oblate Sunday: Br. Thomas. The Psalms, Part IV.
November
7-9 – Oblate Retreat: Abbot Peter
December
8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (plenary indulgence may be obtained by oblates)

Notes to Oblates of Mount Angel Abbey

For more information about the oblate program at Mount Angel Abbey, email oblates@mtangel.edu.