HELLO EVERYBODY!

So what has been going on?  Well, we have had a lot of cold weather but then we have also had a lot of above normal temperatures this winter.  One thing for sure we have not had much snow.  Of course we don't necessarily want the big snows like they have had in some parts of the country but we do need moisture.  The ground is still very dry here in the mid-part of the country.

I have been out celebrating Masses on many of the weekends.  I do enjoy that work but do need a little extra rest when I get home.  I guess one of most interesting places I have helped out recently has been two  weekends at Red Oak, Iowa and Imogene, Iowa.  Red Oak has a rather modern church and a nice rectory.  But the little town of Imogene has a large church and it is absolutely beautiful.  The altar is marble and they have a replica of the Pieta in Rome.  It was made in Rome out of marble.  It weighs 2 1/2 tons so I can only hope it is on a good foundation since it is in the church itself.  

The main altar, all marble.  Of course they have a smaller altar

out in front now that is used for Mass

Lent is fast approaching.  As usual each of the monks write out what they intend to do for Lent this year.  That is presented to the Abbot and then we receive a blessing from the Abbot as we try to be faithful to what we say we are going to do.  Lent is a beautiful season of the year but obviously different from the Easter season and/or the Christmas season.  

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

OR

REMEMBER YOU ARE DUST, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN

Two options used when we receive the ashes.

What about the big news received this morning.  Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down as Pope because of his age and health.  I admire him.  In April, I believe, he will be 86 years old.  He has spent many years serving the Church and we can only express our gratitude for his service.  He deserves to have some time to rest before God calls him to the heavenly kingdom.  In the history of the Church four other Popes have resigned, the last one being Gregory XII in 1415.  However, this news certainly came as a surprise to most of us.

Work continues on the roof of the monastery.  All other buildings are completed.  They hope to have the monastery completed by April, 2013. 

 In the courtyard where scaffolding is still up and

work is still in progress.

The west or front side of the monastery where scaffolding

is set up but work has not yet begun.

Yesterday, February 10, was the feast of St. Scholastica, sister of St. Benedict.  Since it was on a Sunday, we monks did not celebrate the feast, but for the Benedictine Sisters it is a solemnity so it took the place of the regular Sunday Mass.  As is traditional now the Sisters at Clyde invited the monks over to pray vespers with them and to enjoy a meal together.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

I hope you all have a blessed Lenten season.  As the days are getting longer we will see more signs of spring and usually all of us are happy to see the return of spring weather with the flowers, birds, planting of crops etc.