Conception Abbey
O Antiphons
The monks gather in the Basilica five times a day to pray for the Church and the world. During this season of Advent, we have been preparing ourselves for Christ’s Coming at Christmas. As Christmas approaches, the monks take part in the Church’s long tradition of the “O Antiphons.” The O Antiphons are ancient liturgical…
Fr. Joachim Schieber passes away
Fr. Joachim Schieber, O.S.B., a Benedictine priest of Conception Abbey, died at 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. Fr. Joachim was the oldest monk of the Abbey. He professed vows on August 30, 1939, and was ordained to the priesthood on September 23, 1944. He was the last monk to have ever met our…
What’s for dinner?
Many people are surprised when they find out that the monks eat almost all of their meals in silence. Okay, maybe they are just surprised to hear that I do not talk during meals. My experience has been that even when you are not talking with the people around you at meals, there is still…
Frost
A dense fog and a bit of moisture rolled in this morning, creating havoc for travelers, but beautiful sights for photographers. He showers down snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. -Psalm 147:16
Br. Etienne Professes Solemn Vows
Today, in the presence of his family, friends, seminarians, and his monastic confreres, Br. Etienne Huard professed solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey. In the ceremony, Br. Etienne made a perpetual commitment to live as a monk of our monastery, vowing obedience, stability, and conversion of life. As you can imagine, this is…
Solemn Vows
Today, in the presence of his family, friends, seminarians, and his monastic confreres, Br. Etienne Huard professed solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey. In the ceremony, Br. Etienne made a perpetual commitment to live as a monk of our monastery, vowing obedience, stability, and conversion of life. As you can imagine, this is…
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
There is a great benefit to operating a seminary that is culturally diverse. Not only are we able to learn more about other cultures, but we get to celebrate more as well! The diversity of the seminarians are only a reflection of the variety of races and cultures of the people who live in the…
Winter Weather
The white, powdery snow has fallen and given our campus a new look. The sun continues to cast those long shadows across the ground. I bundled up in my warmest clothes and took these pictures on a stroll around campus yesterday afternoon. May we recognize God’s beauty in creation, and God’s goodness in all things.…
A Visit to our Neighbors
I am assigned for the week as the chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, in Clyde, Missouri. Each week a different priest from the Abbey is assigned to celebrate the morning Eucharist in their main chapel. It is just a short two-mile drive over to the Sisters’ monastery, but this week the weather…
Immaculate Conception
Today the monks of Conception Abbey celebrate their patronal feast day. Normally celebrated on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was transferred to December 9, since in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar, yesterday was the Second Sunday of Advent. Yesterday marks 140 years of the founding of Conception Abbey,…