Thomas Aquinas and Karl Marx had twin babies, and their names were Herbert McCabe and Alastair MacIntyre. I will not be taking questions at this time.

Hot take: Thomas Aquinas has a "monastic" inheritance that only comes out when one realizes that a great deal of his repeated Christian auctoritas are Augustine, John Chrysostom, Jerome, John of Damascus, Ps-Dionysius, and Gregory Nazianzus

I find it interesting when visitors, guests, and retreats are curious about how monastics think about, well, anything going on in the world or in ecclesiastical circles. I don't know what they expect in terms of answers or perspectives.

“We are of course honored that our Holy Father has chosen one of our own to this important position of leadership and service for our Church." - Archabbot Kurt Stasiak https://www.ncregister.com/interview/belleville-s-benedictine-bishop

"To 'presume to defend another', or another’s opinion, in a forceful (passionate) manner leads to needless contention in the community." https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/seminary-blog/echoes-from-the-bell-tower/avoiding-needless-contention/

Monks like peanut butter. You like peanut butter. Everyone likes peanut butter....

After more than three years, Peanut Brother is again available in three varieties: 🥜 Original Grind 🍯 Heavenly Honey 🍫 Chocolate Covenant You can find all three in-store at Saint Meinrad Books & Gifts, or online at peanutbrothermonks.com.

Blessed be God, ever merciful and compassionate.

Afternoon holy leisure: Learning about the reception of Aristotle in Leontius of Byzantium, Maximus the Confessor, and John of Damascus.

The quintessential human predicament.

Auxiliary Bishop-elect Robert Boxie III of Washington will be consecrated July 7 at the National Shrine Basilica, the archdiocese has announced. He is set to become the nation's youngest Catholic prelate and the latest such African-American in D.C. www.blackcatholicmes...

Saint Meinrad Archabbey has been formally recognized as a 2026 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health recipient by Mental Health America (MHA). https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/news?story=16927

Spring semester final exams are finished. *Phew*

I always tell students in my early Christianity class that if they can make it through Gregory of Nyssa's On the Holy Spirit Against the Macedonian Spirit-Fighters on their own, no document or dossier a boss can throw at them will *ever* be challenging and it's true

Excuse me, sir! We are about to begin the Eucharistic procession!

Synodality, for myself, resonates with Chapter 3 of the Rule of Saint Benedict concerning ecclesial communion and discernment. It's not a threat or nor is a magic bullet. It's just...kinda baked into being a cenobitic monk. Again, I don't know why we Catholics strangle each other over this term.

"Those who seek personal, earthly power consume whatever they want without regard for the needs of others. Power-full people overflow with the love of God and delight in emptying themselves for the sake of others." https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/seminary-blog/echoes-from-the-bell-tower/powers-that-be/

HOW TO READ A PAPAL ENCYCLICAL - wait until it is available - read it all - think about it for a while - now you can talk about it THE END

Praying Vigils & Lauds? Lawn mower. Praying in Lectio Divina? Lawn mower. Worshipping at the Conventual Mass? Lawner mower. Tis that time of the season for grounds care!

Rest in peace, beloved confrere.

Brother Andrew Zimmermann, OSB, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, died May 1, 2026. He was 91 and in the 70th year of his monastic profession. https://www.saintmeinrad.org/news?story=16923

This has nothing to do with conversation, but nevertheless: do we find it interesting how many versions of Thomism sprang up after Aterni Patris? It's the historian in me, but it's also me being a reader of Thomas without a dog in that particular fight.

A shrine to Venerable Augustus Tolton was formally announced this week in Illinois, where Tolton escaped to from slavery before becoming the nation's first openly Black Catholic priest. Two bishops spoke, honoring the pioneering minister who died in 1897. www.blackcatholicmes...

St Hildegard of Bingen, prolific writer, musician, and scientist

St Joan of Arc, who literally lead an army

Catherine of Siena, who was powerful enough to write to, and meet, and even scold the Pope

This is a lecture I gave a couple weeks ago called “Finding a Path in the Dark: Lonergan’s Guidance for Getting Oriented in a Disorienting World.” It’s not overly technical or academic; I tried to write it ‘person-to-person’. I hope it’s helpful: youtu.be/sI1Ap_KQuks

If you put Bernard, Anselm, Hildegard of Bingen, Bede the Venerable, Eriugena, Peter Damian, Maximus the Confessor, Cassian, Benedict, and Issac of Stella in a room and say to them that they belong to a school of theology...they would laugh and continue to argue over monastic customs!?!?!

I thank Jose Granodos books on the sacraments for getting me over this theological hump. It's very Benedictine of me to emphasize the ordinariness of the sacramental economy both in the Opus Dei and divine liturgy. Not to desacralize, but show how Christian living is ordinarily supernatural.

I do wonder, in terms of methodology, some Catholic postliberal thinkers are just reinforcing stereotypical readings of such modern political liberalism for their audience. Maybe I am expecting scholars to "Read your interlocutors with charity and understand their arguments better than them"

Old truth indeed- from the Desert Fathers: "A brother confessed to Abba Sisoes: 'I fell, Father. What do I do now?' 'Get up,' the holy elder told him." (1/2)

There is, also, a very good book Christian tradition that puts these thinkers into constellation with other "saints". Nothing Gained is Eternal: A Theory of Christian Tradition. However, I forget the author's name....

The political ideologies and eschatology paper is the first time I hint that contemporary Christian monasticism, for ongoing revelancy and meaning, needs to articulate a theological aesthetics (cat is out of the bag).

I may as well reshare it myself 😇

"Faith is a free choice to profess one's belonging to One greater than one's own self, to regularly renew our individual and collective commitment of belonging to God." https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/seminary-blog/echoes-from-the-bell-tower/believing-belonging-building/

Throughout the week, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in as well as to form and sing in a chant schola. Presenters Br. John Glasenapp, OSB, and Br. Joel Blaize, OSB, will be joined by Dr. Charles Weaver from The Julliard School. https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/news?story=16907

Delueze, Agamben, and Maurice Blondel on human becoming.

Xavier University of Louisiana are national champs in competitive cheer for the second time in four years, taking home the NAIA crown and dethroning three-peat champion St. Ambrose. It is the fourth overall natty for the nation's Catholic HBCU since 2022. www.blackcatholicmes...

At least, for me, theological aesthetics and theological dramatics have something going for them when Christians deploy them to place Jesus as the measure and judgment of Christian action and history.

In this workshop, participants will engage her music within the context of her extraordinary and novel musical theology and within the daily rhythm of liturgical prayer with the monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

*The perennial monastic shrug* We had a 19th liturgical movement because there were a lot of Trent shenanigans.

I received a copy of a friend's dissertation for her doctorinal studies in philosophy yesterday evening. The reading is amazing so far, and I am very proud of her work. Yay to the work of scholars and good friendships!

😳

Can confirm that said professor is a scholar of Augustine of Hippo and his writings on the Totus Christus. Also, she is very interested in the Augustinian inflections throughout Pope Leo's public addresses and catechetical reflections on Va2.

Supporting Students Where Faith and Formation Meet We are seeking a detail-oriented and student-focused part time Coordinator of Financial Aid to support our Seminary and Graduate Theology programs. Learn more and apply: www.saintmeinrad.org/jobs

Augustine rises from the grave just to yell at JD Vance about 'justice and war' on Fox News. Vance tells him he should get good at theology. DHS arrests Augustine for being African.

This week's reading/writing includes Trinitarian ontology, Edith Stein on meaning and being, why Gregory of Nyssa's defends of the Holy Spirit, and why certain conspiracy theories, political ideologies, and personality cults are eschatological mediation of meaning gone astray. Yay theological nerdom

Saint Meinrad Archabbey’s pilgrimages to honor the Blessed Mother at the Monte Cassino Shrine have been scheduled for the Sundays in May. https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/events?item=16892

Looking for a nursing role that offers more than the ordinary? As a Nightshift RN at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, you’ll care for the monks in our monastery infirmary—providing attentive, high-quality care in a peaceful, purpose-driven setting. www.saintmeinrad.org/jobs