Still Have Some Natural Beauty —- Not All Manicured
Today, April 22, is Earth Day! It is a good day to post a photo directly behind the abbey building. Mount Michael is still fortunate to have some land that is pristine— totally natural. In fact, there are a number…
Monastic Life Always Demands Change
Abbot Theodore was my Novice Director years ago. He suggested that we, novices, keep a house plant in our dormitory room to observe how much it grew and changed during one year. He spoke about growth meaning constant change. We…
Second Sunday of Easter; Doubting Thomas
The 2nd Sunday of Easter used to be called Low Sunday or Doubting Thomas Sunday. Now it is more known as Divine Mercy Sunday. For numerous years, I taught a class entitled, Catholic Novels. An author whom the students grew…
A CONCRETE LESSON OF THE RESURRECTION IN YOUTH
As I grew up on our farm, I was enamored with all of our baby animals, their birth, their need for care, their growth. But perhaps I was most enamored with ducklings. One of my aunts on my dad’s side…
Passing Over — How We Are All Saved by the Passover of Jesus
I shall never forget the movie: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. Perhaps Mount Michael’s class of 2011 will remember how enamored I was with this film and its music. Embedded below is the passing over scene. It is worth watching again…
Palm Sunday — Hosanna—Hosanna—Hosanna
I have often thought about Hosanna. If you could see Hosanna, what would it look like? Some years ago, I started thinking of Hosanna as a huge vase of our pampas grass. We have several areas of this type of…
Alum Begins Novitiate
Mount Michael alum J.P. Lage ’95 began his novitiate at vespers on Sunday March 21st the Feast of Saint Benedict. In the ceremony he received a copy of the Rule and the monastic habit. More Photos
Fifth Sunday of Lent: Dying to Self
Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Although the seeds in the photo are not…
4th Sunday of Lent: Lift High the Cross
Fourth Sunday of Lent “… so must the Son of Man be lifted up.. Years ago, when I was working 24 hours a day in our school, I would often hear the students say: “I am going to go lift…
Third Sunday of Lent — Places of Sacred Worship — Temples
I, Fr. John Hagemann OSB, originate from Albion, Nebraska. St. Michael’s parish and church in Albion will always mean much to me for many, many reasons. But there are other churches near Albion that mean much to me as well…