Ad coenam Agni providi,
Et stolis albis candidi,
Post transitum Maris Rubri
Christo canamus Principi.
The Lamb’s high banquet we await
In snow-white robes of royal estate:
And now, the Red Sea’s channel past,
To Christ our Prince we sing at last.
Dear Friend of Clear Creek,
Everything at Easter speaks of life. From the budding trees, to the sprouting grasses, to the worm that rears its lowly head in the dark soil — spring fills the very air we breathe. But Christ’s victory over death looms larger than even the rebirth of nature itself — so large that we may well miss it altogether.
Surrounded as we are (even, to some extent, in a monastery) with such threatening clouds as global terrorism and economic disaster, we might fail to comprehend the joy that comes to us in the paschal mystery. Do you find yourself depressed with the state of the world? Take a deep breath, and breathe in the revivifying air of Easter.
While false messiahs multiply in every corner of the globe and Ponzi schemes abound, where can we turn? Twenty-first century man is — more than ever before — a deeply wounded creature. Where are we to find a cure? Although our shelves are lined with pharmaceuticals, there is but one Physician. There is but one Lamb “standing as it were slain” (Rev. 5:6), and to His high banquet we must go in order to receive the strong food of healing and of eternal life.
Our Easter hymn speaks of “snow-white robes.” One critical dimension of the present struggle to preserve faith and sanity is the need to resist the all-out assault on purity that is being waged on every level of society. The Church has never advocated prudery as the means of dealing with human weakness and sin, but what a great consolation it is to encounter the innocence and purity that radiate from the Pascal mystery! Wounded Man needs once again to don the robe of Holy Baptism and seek forgiveness through the Sacramental remission of sins. Otherwise, he must inevitably be drawn into the abyss by the evil that eats away at any human society or any human heart that runs away from God.
Having crossed the Red Sea of His Passion, Christ the Vanquisher of death has entered into His glory. If only we could share in it! As political regimes rise and fall around the globe, as one administration follows another here at home, and as those who govern us choose to ignore the inviolable sanctity of human life — we begin to thirst for something more. As members of Christ’s one true Church we belong to a Kingdom that does not wane or waver, the Kingdom of Christ the King, the Prince of Life. This too is part of the Easter victory.
* * * * * *
At Clear Creek, we look forward to celebrating Holy Week and Easter in our crypt-Oratory, newly fitted with elegant tile flooring. It is amazing how much difference this makes. Other improvements are on the way, including beautiful works in wrought-iron and stone! The Divine majesty is honored by such small, but significant things. We are most grateful to all of you, our Friends, who, despite the harshness of the current financial situation, have continued to support us with your generous donations. We well appreciate what this must cost you at the present hour, when budgets are so tight. However, we believe that a slump in the economy is no excuse to stop working. If we cannot afford to construct large buildings right now, then we will make many small ones!
Our annual Work Day on March 7th was quite a success. We estimate that some 400 generous souls showed up to continue the rough work of building wire fences and a stone wall — among many other equally demanding tasks. Fortunately the doctors and nurses on hand did not have to tend to many injuries.
We thank God for the entry of several new Postulants in recent weeks. We are housing them in every nook and corner, even as we continue to construct rather primitive cells with our own means.
May the cry of Christ’s victory, the Alleluia, resound in our hearts ever more powerfully as the Church continues her pilgrimage through the vicissitudes of history, and may Our Lady, Regina Coeli, grant us a share in the incomparable joy that she enjoys amid the Angels of the Resurrection. Amen. Alleluia.
In Our Lord and Our Lady,
br. Philip Anderson, Prior
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Ad coenam Agni providi,
Et stolis albis candidi,
Post transitum Maris Rubri
Christo canamus Principi.
The Lamb’s high banquet we await
In snow-white robes of royal estate:
And now, the Red Sea’s channel past,
To Christ our Prince we sing at last.
Dear Friend of Clear Creek,
Everything at Easter speaks of life. From the budding trees, to the sprouting grasses, to the worm that rears its lowly head in the dark soil — spring fills the very air we breathe. But Christ’s victory over death looms larger than even the rebirth of nature itself — so large that we may well miss it altogether.
Surrounded as we are (even, to some extent, in a monastery) with such threatening clouds as global terrorism and economic disaster, we might fail to comprehend the joy that comes to us in the paschal mystery. Do you find yourself depressed with the state of the world? Take a deep breath, and breathe in the revivifying air of Easter.
While false messiahs multiply in every corner of the globe and Ponzi schemes abound, where can we turn? Twenty-first century man is — more than ever before — a deeply wounded creature. Where are we to find a cure? Although our shelves are lined with pharmaceuticals, there is but one Physician. There is but one Lamb “standing as it were slain” (Rev. 5:6), and to His high banquet we must go in order to receive the strong food of healing and of eternal life.
Our Easter hymn speaks of “snow-white robes.” One critical dimension of the present struggle to preserve faith and sanity is the need to resist the all-out assault on purity that is being waged on every level of society. The Church has never advocated prudery as the means of dealing with human weakness and sin, but what a great consolation it is to encounter the innocence and purity that radiate from the Pascal mystery! Wounded Man needs once again to don the robe of Holy Baptism and seek forgiveness through the Sacramental remission of sins. Otherwise, he must inevitably be drawn into the abyss by the evil that eats away at any human society or any human heart that runs away from God.
Having crossed the Red Sea of His Passion, Christ the Vanquisher of death has entered into His glory. If only we could share in it! As political regimes rise and fall around the globe, as one administration follows another here at home, and as those who govern us choose to ignore the inviolable sanctity of human life — we begin to thirst for something more. As members of Christ’s one true Church we belong to a Kingdom that does not wane or waver, the Kingdom of Christ the King, the Prince of Life. This too is part of the Easter victory.
* * * * * *
At Clear Creek, we look forward to celebrating Holy Week and Easter in our crypt-Oratory, newly fitted with elegant tile flooring. It is amazing how much difference this makes. Other improvements are on the way, including beautiful works in wrought-iron and stone! The Divine majesty is honored by such small, but significant things. We are most grateful to all of you, our Friends, who, despite the harshness of the current financial situation, have continued to support us with your generous donations. We well appreciate what this must cost you at the present hour, when budgets are so tight. However, we believe that a slump in the economy is no excuse to stop working. If we cannot afford to construct large buildings right now, then we will make many small ones!
Our annual Work Day on March 7th was quite a success. We estimate that some 400 generous souls showed up to continue the rough work of building wire fences and a stone wall — among many other equally demanding tasks. Fortunately the doctors and nurses on hand did not have to tend to many injuries.
We thank God for the entry of several new Postulants in recent weeks. We are housing them in every nook and corner, even as we continue to construct rather primitive cells with our own means.
May the cry of Christ’s victory, the Alleluia, resound in our hearts ever more powerfully as the Church continues her pilgrimage through the vicissitudes of history, and may Our Lady, Regina Coeli, grant us a share in the incomparable joy that she enjoys amid the Angels of the Resurrection. Amen. Alleluia.
In Our Lord and Our Lady,
br. Philip Anderson, Prior
