Being

 The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
For “In him we live and move and have our being.”

 Acts 17:24-28

Happy, happy, joy, joy

"There was great joy in that city."

Acts 8:8

"Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God," said the Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Joy, of course, is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. In that Spirit, here is a lighthearted and well-done video produced by Holy Redeemer Catholic School in nearby Evansville, Indiana, as a year-end project. Here, students, staff, and faculty strut their stuff to the tune of Pharrell Williams' enormously popular global hit "Happy." Even the principal and pastor get in on the act. Perhaps you will find yourself doing the same as you watch and listen. Enjoy.

Drop by drop

"Listen readily to holy reading
and devote yourself often to prayer."

Rule of St. Benedict 4:55-56

The nature of water is soft,
that of stone is hard;
but if a jug of water
is placed above the stone,
allowing the water
to fall drop by drop,
it eventually wears away the stone.
So it is with the word of God;
it is soft and our heart is hard,
but the one who hears
the word of God often,
opens his heart
to the love of God.

Abba Poemen

Greek manuscript of 1 Corinthians 13

The color of May

A few photos from the monastery rock garden
this morning at Saint Meinrad Archabbey