St. Benedict Church at Subiaco Abbey

Hello all!

This morning I trekked out to Subiaco Abbey, which is about 2 hours west of Little Rock.  It's a lovely drive and a lovely campus.

The church, named after St. Benedict, is rather large, considering it is near the middle of nowhere Arkansas.  It's rather plain on the inside, but in a good way.

As Subiaco is also a boarding school for boys in grades 7-12, the young men also participated in the Mass at 10:45 am, as lectors, servers and ushers.

All of the monks processed in.

Music:
It was a mix of chant and not chant.  The music was accompanied by an organ and a piano.
Entrance Chant:  I Am Your Savior My People
Gloria:  Missa Ubi Caritas
Preparation:  There is a Longing
Communion:  Loving and Forgiving
Sending Forth:  Sing of the Lord's Goodness (YAY! at the correct tempo!!)
The Our Father was chanted.  The Lamb of God was interesting.  It was sung in English, but Latin was  sung over it.

Mini-homily:  Jesus calls those to the vineyard.  Those who respond will have great rewards.

Homily:
From the 2nd reading, Christ is magnified is our bodies in life and in death.  This is true, provided we conduct ourselves in the way of the Gospel.  For Paul, this is a win-win.  The last line:  conduct yourselves worthy of the Gospel.  In the Gospel, the workers were called at different times but all were paid equally.  God calls us to be fruitful.  God rewards all with generosity.  All will receive mercy and generosity.  What about the workers who worked all day? (Call your union rep!)  Can any one really claim lifelong faithfulness?  Lifelong fruitfulness.  All receive generosity, more than they deserve.  Conduct yourself worthy of the Gospel.  No complaints (well..uhm...oops) No grumbling (uhm) Not being stingy.  God rejoices when we finally repent, even at the last minute.  It might be us that think, he's made his bed, now he has to lie in it, that is not God's way.  The vinter is not a good business owner (sure he is...)  The Gospel life is not miserly or focused on the bottom line.  It is open, generous, not fearful.  Belief requires Faith.  We can't see God and His mercy, we can only get glimpses.  God is love.  A life worthy of the Gospel entrusts us with this Love. Father then read the Prayer of Abandonment by St. Charles Foucauld.

Father used Eucharistic Prayer III.

Pictures:  (Thanks Brother Francesco who let me go behind the altar to take some pictures.)
(There are pictures about the life of St. Benedict...I like to have such things in order...so I'm reading about his life and will post later :D )

 

Links:
Subiaco Abbey
St. Benedict