Dear Friend of Clear Creek Abbey,
For his part, Saint Paul argued that talk about certain subjects should simply be eliminated from the conversation of Christians: “Let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints” (Eph. 5:3). It seems that in our sad times, we Catholics are obliged to hear of nothing else but those forbidden subjects. Where has innocence gone?
At least on Christmas, let us hope, we can leave aside for a moment the depressing news and focus our eyes and hearts on the perfect innocence of the Christ child. For this one day, nothing threatens the spiritual peace. Herod’s black riders, those fearful population-control henchmen, have not yet arrived in the streets of Bethlehem. The Child in His Mother’s virginal and immaculate hands does not yet have to set out for exile, and His little brothers about town can breathe easy for a few more days… The Holy Angels contemplate in perfect leisure the scene that gives them joy. Would that this image of perfect innocence of the Child and of the Holy Innocents destined for martyrdom could remain with us for a good while.
In any case, we monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, on the occasion of the incomparable feast of Christmas at the end of the year of Our Lord 2018, wish you and yours a generous share in the joys of the Incarnation and a spiritually prosperous year 2019, which will mark the 20th anniversary of our monastic foundation in America. May you be full of Catholic good cheer.
br. Philip Anderson, abbot
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Dear Friend of Clear Creek Abbey,
For his part, Saint Paul argued that talk about certain subjects should simply be eliminated from the conversation of Christians: “Let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints” (Eph. 5:3). It seems that in our sad times, we Catholics are obliged to hear of nothing else but those forbidden subjects. Where has innocence gone?
At least on Christmas, let us hope, we can leave aside for a moment the depressing news and focus our eyes and hearts on the perfect innocence of the Christ child. For this one day, nothing threatens the spiritual peace. Herod’s black riders, those fearful population-control henchmen, have not yet arrived in the streets of Bethlehem. The Child in His Mother’s virginal and immaculate hands does not yet have to set out for exile, and His little brothers about town can breathe easy for a few more days… The Holy Angels contemplate in perfect leisure the scene that gives them joy. Would that this image of perfect innocence of the Child and of the Holy Innocents destined for martyrdom could remain with us for a good while.
In any case, we monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, on the occasion of the incomparable feast of Christmas at the end of the year of Our Lord 2018, wish you and yours a generous share in the joys of the Incarnation and a spiritually prosperous year 2019, which will mark the 20th anniversary of our monastic foundation in America. May you be full of Catholic good cheer.
br. Philip Anderson, abbot
