Tag Archive: Reflections
The Perfection and Fragrance of a Wax Plant
Mount Michael’s Abbey is home to lots of different house plants of all types. Some of them required tender loving care and others basically care for themselves. In the Entrance to the original abbey building is a Wax plant which…
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…
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Twenty three years ago today, I was In Mexico City for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Indeed, it was a memorable experience, which I will always remember. I came to realize at this time that the black ribbon…
Saint Isidore
Today, May 16, according to our Benedictine Ordo, we celebrate St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. The windows that are posted here are on the north side of our chapel. I see these windows every day. The artist who…
Simple Monastic Beauty – by Fr. John Hagemann
For many, many years now Br. Jerome Kmiecik has very unassumingly created our chapel with a simple environment that is always beautiful — spiritual — monastic. After the Christmas splendor, it is a very awesome feeling to enter the chapel…
IN PRAISE OF THE USELESS LIFE
MY PRAISE OF — IN PRAISE OF THE USELESS LIFE by Fr. John Hagemann OSB On occasion an alum of Mount Michael or a fellow monk, (a confrere) will give me a book to read and then want me to…