Archived Chronicles - 2013 text only

JANUARY 2013
TUESDAY 1 - New Year's Day. As usual we met in chapter after Lauds to exchange greetings for the New Year and calendars were distributed, of all art forms and religious persuasion.
WEDNESDAY 2 - During Christmas time the antiphons and chants are not so familiar to us. This made the cantors work harder.
FRIDAY 4 - We had another big snow storm. The greenhouse is nearly buried.
SATURDAY 5 - We did not have too many guests during Christmas week. Presumably due to the weather.
SUNDAY 6 - Epiphany. We were invited to lunch our Trappistine sisters across the road. We had a wonderful atmosphere and mountains of turkey.
We received the news of the death of Dom André Letarte, former Abbot of Rougemont. He died peacefully at 70 years of age, after a long battle with cancer.
TUESDAY 8 - Today is Father Abbot's 70th birthday! The Lord has blessed him with excellent health making it possible for him to do good work in other communities as well.
WEDNESDAY 9 - Father Wesley Wade and Father Zoël Saulnier are with us on retreat for a few days.
THURSDAY 10 - Father Abbot left today to go to the funeral of Dom André Letarte at the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth at Rougemont, Québec. After this he will leave for Europe to visit some communities there.
SATURDAY 12 - Today is the feast of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, foundress of the Congregation of Notre-Dame. This congregation has done much good work here in New Brunswick.
SUNDAY 13 - The feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Tom Garvey and his wife, Gaye, longtime friends of our community, have arrived to spend several days with us on retreat.
MONDAY 14 - In the Liturgy, (the Mass and the Divine Office), we have entered Ordinary Time. Mary Lee of Massachusetts USA has come for a week on retreat. We have lost a lot of snow because of warmer temperatures.
TUESDAY 15 - The sister-in-law (Gloria Daigle) of one of our deceased monks, Father Noel, has passed away.
THURSDAY 17 - Today is the feast of St. Anthony (born in 250AD), the founder of monastic life.
FRIDAY 18 - Today we celebrated Brother Leo's birthday who turned 86. He is still very capable of participating in all the liturgy as well as doing a great job as door-keeper.
SATURDAY 19 - Several coyotes have been around lately looking to feast on our cats.
SUNDAY 20 - The 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.
MONDAY 21 - The week got off to a promising start: intense cold forecast throughout the week.
TUESDAY 22 - The faithful of the diocese of Bathurst will soon have a new bishop. The appointment has just been announced by the Vatican. Bishop-elect Daniel Jodoin from Sherbrooke, in Quebec, will be Archbishop Valéry Vienneau's successor. The current administrator of the Diocese of Bathurst was here a short while ago on retreat.
FRIDAY 25 - Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. One day during the octave of prayer for Christian Unity the Abbot was pleased to have the opportunity to take part in Evensong in Westminster Abbey.
Sister Ida Nowlan of Moncton came again with her group for two days. They had Loraine Bourque accompanying them as their spiritual guide. There were eighteen of them, more than our system can really cater for. The theme of the retreat was "Transformation at the heart of one's being." They were discreet and edifying.
SATURDAY 26 - The Feast of our Holy Founders of Cîteaux, Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding.
SUNDAY 27 - Brother Gilles went to pick up the Abbot in Moncton. He had dropped in on Brother Henry on his way back from England.
MONDAY 28 - This morning in chapter, the Abbot spoke about his journey to Europe, in some detail. He left two weeks ago to go to England and visit his relatives. He had also in mind the idea of going to Norway to Citeaux' foundation of Munkeby, where Father Rufus of Mount Saint Bernard was staying. But bad weather in New York had prevented his plain leaving on the day foreseen for London. The Abbot had to abandon his idea of going to Norway. He stayed in his family in England. He was able to spend the Sunday in London with Father Rufus. But that same Sunday saw a lot of snow in London, so that the plane the Abbot had planned to take to Rome was cancelled. So the Abbot had to abandon the idea of what he was going to do in Rome. This gave him more time in England to see his cousins. At the end he had a free day and took the opportunity to visit Windsor Castle! On the journey home complications at Newark Liberty International Airport resulted in a further 24 hour delay. The Abbot was, however, able to say Sunday Mass for the residents of the care home where Brother Henry is in Moncton. As the Abbot says - a trip where nothing went according to plan from one end to the other, but pleasant enough all the same.
TUESDAY 29 - What a contrast with the extreme cold of last week. This week it rained and all the snow has nearly gone.

FEBRUARY 2013
SATURDAY 2 - Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. We had the usual Candlemas liturgy with procession and a sermon by the Abbot. Father Roger, as a sign of his definitive return to the community, renewed his promise of obedience at the end of the Office of Sext. We had a festive dinner, with Brother Henry present. Unfortunately Brother Henry fainted at the end of the meal, but was right enough later to return to his residence in Moncton, driven by Father Innocent.
SUNDAY 3 - Today, it is snowing generously and we are right back in our Canadian winter.
TUESDAY 5 - We took a vote in chapter this morning for the third member of the Abbot's Council. Father Roger was chosen.
WEDNESDAY 6 - Our neighbour and former handyman, mechanic and carpenter, Rhéal Desroches, died unexpectedly while recovering from an operation to remove a tumour on the brain.
Brother Stephan had a difficult morning. A cow fell into the slurry pit which is about 12 feet deep. Unfortunately the pit was only about one third full of liquid manure. This made getting the animal out more difficult than if the pit was full. In fact, getting her out was a tremendous job and Br. Stephan revived an old wound in his shoulder, a torn rotator cuff.
THURSDAY 7 - Our community Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Rhéal Desroches.
SATURDAY 9 - A tremendous blizzard blew all day from the North East.
SUNDAY 10 - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunshine and gleaming snow everywhere. We had guests from St. John and Moncton. Mrs Irène Desroches, Rhéal's widow and some of the family were at our Mass this morning where we again recalled Rhéal.
MONDAY 11 - A big surprise before the Mass, the news of the Pope Benedict XVI's resignation.
TUESDAY 12 - I have to go to Moncton to see my specialist, Dr. Marcotte. Father Graham drove me and was able to undertake some errands.
WEDNESDAY 13 - After the gospel, the Abbot was very generous with the ashes. All but two of the brothers assisted at the funeral of Rhéal Desroches, our former handyman, at Collette. The church was packed and his achievements were well summed up by his daughter-in-law at the conclusion of beautiful ceremony, where the Collette choir's contribution was well appreciated. We did not stay for the reception afterwards in the civic centre. We had to return to the monastery to fast on bread and water. But what beautiful bread our cook provided fresh!
FRIDAY 15 - I went to Miramichi to see Mr. Lupin, the surgeon, about two hernias I seemed to have. Ultimately he told me they were not hernias and I did not need an operation. Excellent news!
SUNDAY 17 - First Sunday of Lent. This morning after Lauds we had chapter for the reading of the Rule on the Observance of Lent and the distribution of the Lenten reading books that each had chosen. The Abbot then went on to tell us something about what was happening in Rome as the Pope took his leave and people prepared for the Conclave.
MONDAY 18 - A book by Pope Benedict XVI on music, which was being read during dinner in the refectory, has been finished. The book reveals the vast knowledge that the Pope has of sacred music and of the great composers. He writes, for the most part, of the place and importance of music in the liturgy of the Church. The Pope is a good pianist.
TUESDAY 19 - This morning we started our special lenten reading. Each monk chooses a book which he reads in silence in the scriptorium for a half hour after Lauds everyday except on Sunday. Brother Stephen drove Dom Bede to the Moncton airport this morning. He is on his way to the Abbey of New Melleray near Dubuque, Iowa for the American Regional Meeting of Superiors as delegate for the Canadian Region.
FRIDAY 22 - The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Brother Gilles drove Brother Leo to the clinic. This was quite an event for Brother Leo as he rarely leaves the monastery. At 86 years young, he is the eldest in our community.
SATURDAY 23 - We are digging out from the worst week for snow this year. Fortunately we have a good tractor-snowblower operated by a very competent employee, Rémi Martin, who started work as early as 5:00 AM to keep our roads clear.
SUNDAY 24 - The second Sunday of Lent.
MONDAY 25 - We began reading new books at dinner. Each book we read, if we listen as we should, gives us new lights. We just finished, in French, Benedict XVI's book on music, and, in English, "The End and the Beginning" a book about John Paul II, by George Weigel. Now, we have started, in French, "On Nous Appelait des Sauvages" by Dominique Rankin, a book about the First Nations' culture in Canada. In English we are reading Benedict XVI's book on Jesus' infancy.Brother Gilles went to see his doctor. His was given a clear bill of health and will soon be celebrating his seventieth birthday.
WEDNESDAY 27 - I had an appointment at the Miramichi hospital, to have a large wart removed from my right forearm.
THURSDAY 28 - During the afternoon the Abbot came back from his trip to the United States.

MARCH 2013
FRIDAY 1 - The Abbot gave us a brief presentation of the U.S.A. Regional Meeting. What seems to have impressed him the most was the strength of the fraternal relations between the superiors. They are a group that has long worked together and they have honed a deep pastoral sharing. In the United States also there is a dearth of vocations.
SATURDAY 2 - This week the weather has been awful, snow, rain, thaw, freeze up. This has not encouraged people to come as guests and share in our life of prayer.
SUNDAY 3 - Third Sunday of Lent. We pray in union with the whole Church for the election of the new Pope.
TUESDAY 5 - Father Adrien was born on this day in 1934. My family came to share a good dinner and lots of talk! Father Graham took Brother Henry to his specialist for a regular check up on his cancer situation. He was declared clear.
THURSDAY 6 - The Abbot went to see his massage therapist in Miramichi.
FRIDAY 8 - The Abbot announced changes in the Mass to avoid awkward pauses. The concelebrants will go to the altar during the lavabo and we will use two chalices, one for the community and people and one for the concelebrants.
SUNDAY 10 - Fourth Sunday of Lent. Laetare Sunday. Day of Joy, which was the focus of the Abbot's homily. The clocks were moved forward an hour, but between Vigils and Lauds, so that we did not lose an hour's sleep, but there was an hour less between Vigils at 3.40 and Lauds at 6.20.
TUESDAY 12 - This morning we had a solemn Mass for the guidance of the Cardinals assembling in Conclave to elect a new Pope. Father Innocent was at the hospital all day for a hernia operation.
WEDNESDAY 13 - Both bells rang out in the middle of the afternoon. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, from Argentina had been elected Pope, the first from the Americas. It is surprising to see a second Pope elected late in his seventies. The next days showed that there were a lot of other surprising things about this Pope.
THURSDAY 14 - The prayers of the Mass were for the new Pope, Francis. We reflected on the choice of name of the patron of Italy, the poverello of Assisi. We understood the accent on the poor and on peace. We noted that Pope Francis was the first to use a name not previously used by a Pope, since Pope Lando, elected in 913, and we understood the man is not bound rigidly to the traditions. We also observed a man with a sense of humour who can be himself before a prodigious audience and depart from his text.
Brother Gilles and I went to Richibuctou about my dentures. We travelled in our new Kia which we love.
FRIDAY 15 - Work changes. Father Roger will take over as accountant from Father Graham who will retain the infirmary and the library, two important jobs in a monastic community.
SATURDAY 16 - Glicerio (Glic) a 57 year old Filipino will be with us for a month, reflecting on the direction he wishes his life to take.
SUNDAY 17 - 5th Sunday of Lent and Feast of St. Patrick. Brother Henry came for the Mass and for lunch.
MARCH 19. Feast of Saint Joseph. Inauguration of Pope Francis' ministry in Rome. We adjusted our schedule so as to be able to watch celebration live on our computers. Those who did not have their own computer access gathered in the Abbot's Office. Altogether, we enjoyed a splendid day.
FRIDAY 22. We learned from Brother Stephan a said piece of news. The Abbot with Father Innocent as driver was on his way to Moncton to see Brother Henry and a few bits of business. Three quarters of the way there, near Coal Branch, the driver lost control of the vehicle and they finished up in the ditch. Fortunately neither occupant was really hurt, just rather shaken. The damage to the car is yet to be assessed.
SUNDAY 23. The Abbot presided at the Palm Sunday liturgy, despite spending most of the weekend resting after the accident. Father Innocent preached.
MONDAY 25 - With the rest of the Church we began the Great Week. Brother Stephan went to give a conference at a convention of farmers from Eastern Canada. The convention took place at Truro in Nova Scotia and Brother Stephan's theme was: "Going Organic".
TUESDAY 26 - We have an aspirant doing a monastic experience with us. He will be here for a month. He is a very generous worker. He seems to be fitting in well.
THURSDAY 28 - Mass of the Lord's Supper. Fr. Graham preached. The Abbot, helped by brother Leo, washed and kissed the feet of the brothren, without kneeling down. A sign that old age is catching up around here.
FRIDAY 30 - Good Friday. The Passion according to St. John was read in English by the Abbot, Father Graham and Glic (Glicerio) our aspirant.
SATURDAY 30 - Brother Stephan gave us a singing class for the Paschal Vigil. The Abbot also explained the order of the celebration. We were able to have the Liturgy of Paschal Light starting at the new fire outside in front of the Pietà. This was because the weather was milder than it sometimes is on a night in March.
SUNDAY 31 - Easter Sunday. The Paschal Vigil did not finish till nearly 7 am. We had Lauds at 8.30 and the Day Mass at 10 am. This made Father Roger's job as cook a bit of a tight squeeze, but the dinner was lovely. Brother Henry was here for the Mass and dinner.

APRIL 2013
MONDAY 1 - There are two priests from the diocese of Gaspé staying in the guest-house. But they really belong to a diocese in Benin and are working in the Quebec Province as part of the "Fidei Donum" missionary programme.
TUESDAY 2 We had the administrator of the Diocese of Bathurst with us, promising to send us invitations to the installation of their new bishop.
WEDNESDAY 3 - A young man spent a week here making a serious retreat. Impressive!
THURSDAY 4 - Brother Gilles left this morning for Montreal to visit his brother and family. He will be back Sunday evening.
FRIDAY 5 - The Abbot went to Moncton to do some significant shopping, a new laptop and a projector for use in the community. He also took the opportunity to call in on Brother Henry.
SATURDAY 6 - Our cleaning lady in the Guest House, Lea Gallant, is unwell and having to be replaced until she can get back to full health.
SUNDAY 7 - Octave of Easter. Sunday of the Divine Mercy. The Abbot presided the Mass. Those who wished were able to watch Pope Francis take his place on the Roman Cathedra, via the Vatican website and our new projector.
TUESDAY 9 - We heard that our Kia Optima, involved in the recent accident, had bee written off by the insurers.
WEDNESDAY 10 - The ajuster from the insurance came today to inform us that the insurance would fully cover the entire loss of our car. In the afternoon the Abbot and Brother Gilles who looks after the community vehicles went to Moncton Kia to see about a new vehicle.Brother Stephan spent the day in Prince Edward Island looking for spare parts for his farm machinery.
FRIDAY 11 - The guest-house has been empty all week, but our cleaning lady came back.
SATURDAY 12 - The train brought Brother Charbel of the Cistercian Community of Rougemont in Quebec. He is going to preach our community retreat, starting tomorrow. The Abbot set up some new equipment in the guest-house library so that Brother Charbel can illustrate his conferences with a Power Point display.
SUNDAY 14 - The retreat begins this evening before Compline. Then there will be two conferences every day, one after Lauds and one after Vespers, until Friday. The final conference will be on Saturday morning after Lauds. The theme of the retreat is: "The Word is in your heart... (Dt. 30:14). A journey: Leave yourself and return to God."
MONDAY 15 - This our weekly epic begins with our annual retreat. Brother Charbel, Cistercian monk of Rougemont, of what we call the ordinary Cistercian observance, rather than the stricter observance that we attribute to ourselves, at the beginning of the retreat gave us a little bit of homework to do: prepared a document that would begin with the words, "I am a cathedral....". He would read the resulting texts to us on the Saturday morning.
TUESDAY 16 - Our Filipino aspirant, Glic, left us after a month to think about coming back. He seems to want to. He has qualities that recommend him. He likes to pray and to work.
THURSDAY 18 - Brother Stephan is full of enthusiasm for organic ash. He has been buying truckloads to improve the soil on our fields. Some found its way into the greenhouse.
FRIDAY 19 - After Vespers we had the last conference of the retreat. The depth of insight and the excellent presentation made of this a retreat that all appreciated and benefitted from. Brother Charbel was particularly adept at drawing our attention to the fundamental values of the gospel with a new freshness. "God is rich in mercy."
SATURDAY 20 - After Lauds Brother Charbel met with us to share the contributions he had received from the community. We heard him liken a community to an orchard. A load of twisted, gnarled, ugly old trees that, nonetheless, produce beautiful and delicious fruit. We must look at the fruit of the community and not judge the individual nasty elements. Above all we must avoid judging. God is really present and at work in our community. "What a wonderful place is this." I realized that each person is a cathedral in which dwells the Mystery.
SUNDAY 21 - Fourth Sunday of Easter. Father Innocent presided the Mass and preached in both languages. Brother Henry came to take part in the Mass and join us at table, in order to be able to meet Brother Charbel. The festive meal was also our way of saying goodbye to Brother Charbel.
MONDAY 22 - The loss of our Kia car caused a lot of worries, especially for Brother Gilles, and a number of journeys to Moncton. But that is all behind us now and we have leased a new car.
WEDNESDAY 24 - Father Graham, my nurse, and I, went to see my eye-specialist in Miramichi. Everything is fine! Here in Rogersville we only have a General Practitioner.
THURSDAY 25 - The Abbot with Father Graham as driver went in the afternoon to Bathurst to be present at the Episcopal ordination of Daniel Jodoin. He was appointed by Benedict XVI but his ordination as Bishop of Bathurst has only come about in the papacy of Pope Francis. He is the ninth Bishop of Bathurst and the first from outside of New Brunswick. He brings to Bathurst a rich pastoral experience gained in the service of the diocese of Sherbrook in Quebec, for which he was ordained in 1992. He names his pastoral priorities as vocations and dialogue. The world has distanced itself from religion, violence and aggression have the upper hand. A new bishop has a new pastoral challenge to reverse the trend.
FRIDAY 26 - I planted 75 tomato plants in the greenhouse and began watching over the heating system therein.
SUNDAY 28 - 5th Sunday of Easter and sunshine worthy of the Resurrection.

MAY 2013
WEDNESDAY 1 - Father Maurice had an appointment at Miramichi for a scan.
THURSDAY 2 - The Abbot General arrived in the company of his secretary Father Thomas. The Abbot and Father Graham went to meet them at the airport.
FRIDAY 3 - The Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, had a meeting with the community at 11 am. He told us about the state of the Trappist Cistercian Order throughout the world. In the evening at 6.40 pm Father Thomas showed us pictures of monasteries they had visited in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
SATURDAY 4 - The Abbot General presided the Mass. In the evening, again Father Thomas gave us another slide-show. This time of the monasteries in the Western United States.
SUNDAY 5 - 6th Sunday of Easter. This morning, after Lauds, the Abbot General had a meeting with us to share his impressions of our community life after having spoken with each one of us. He was quite positive about our approach.
TUESDAY 7 - The Most Reverend Father General, having been with us since Thursday, went to see the nuns at Assomption.
WEDNESDAY 8 - Brother Gilles went to pick up Father Innocent from Moncton airport. Father Innocent had had to go to Ottawa to renew his Nigerian passport.
THURSDAY 9 - Today we experienced a day of intense heat. I put in 100 tomato plants in our greenhouse.
FRIDAY 10 - Bishop Robert Harris, Bishop of Saint John, came to dine with us. The farm workers finished spreading manure on our fields. Father Maurice saw a specialist at the hospital and came back quite happy, but he still has his fragile state of health to live with.
SUNDAY 12 - Ascension Day. Mothers' Day. After the Solemn Mass at which he had presided and preached, the Abbot and Father Roger left for the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Benoît du Lac for the Canadian Regional Meeting of all the Abbots and Abbesses.
MONDAY 13 - From the end of Lent the number of retreatants began to increase. A number of priests have been from different areas.
TUESDAY 14 - We began cutting the lawns. We have a few acres.
WEDNESDAY 15 - Father Roger's birthday was celebrated at Saint Benoît du Lac.
THURSDAY 16 - Brother Gilles has been working to clear the outlet of Brother Urbain's lake, further into our property. Lots of debris gets washed down at the snowmelt.
SATURDAY 18 - The Abbot and Father Roger came back from Saint Benoît du Lac. Chris McKee has come to continue his monastic experience for a couple of weeks. Brother Gilles was recalling the anniversary of his solemn profession.
SUNDAY 19 - Pentecost. The Abbot presided and preached at the solemn Mass.
MONDAY 20 - This morning Father Abbot gave us a brief summary of the Canadian Regional Meeting of superiors that he attended last week. He found the community of St.-Benoît-du-Lac, where the meeting took place, to be very welcoming and true to the tradition of well-executed liturgical chant. He spoke about the different topics of discussion and the voting that followed.
WEDNESDAY 22 - Today at Chapter it was Father Roger's turn to give his impressions of his visit to St.-Benoît-du-Lac as delegate. He too found the community to be welcoming, the monastery very beautiful as well as the liturgy, during which they sometimes use lots of incence. He found that there were too many meetings during the day and he was happy to come back to the regular life of our monastery.
FRIDAY 24 - Monseigneur Daniel Jodoin, the new bishop of Bathurst, had dinner with us in the monastery refectory where we were able to talk with him and ask questions about his diocese.
SUNDAY 26 - The solemnity of the Holy Trinity. Today in Rome before the recitation of the Angelus Pope Francis said that "The light of Easter and Pentecost renew every year in us the joy and wonder of faith that recognizes that God is not something vague, or abstract, but has a name: "God is love." He explained that the Holy Trinity is not the product of human reasoning, but the face with which God has revealed himself, walking with humanity.
Father Abbot left for Europe this afternoon to attend the meeting of the Central Commission of our Order at the monastery of Cîteaux in France.
As in the past, with others in the community, I asked Father Roger if he would write a short piece about his spiritual journey. Here it is :
"My spiritual journey began as a child within the Anglican communion but later, in my twenties, I became a member of the Roman Catholic Church. I discovered monastic life and soon entered Our Lady of Calvary Abbey in 1977, eventually taking solemn vows and receiving the priesthood. In 1990 my journey took a sharp turn though and I left monastic life with thoughts of marriage and raising a family.
I headed for Toronto where my chances of finding work were best. Through Providence I found a good job at U of T as well as an excellent place to live in a housing cooperative and a wonderful parish to be part of, three great communities in which I became active.
A few summers ago I started coming to Calvary for retreats on my holidays, the best vacations I'd had in a long time. Eventually I asked the abbot if I could return to monastic life and here I am after an absence of 22 years, the prodigal son! 'The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.' (Robert Frost)."
MONDAY 27 - This week notable events have been rather rare.
TUESDAY 28 - We are lucky to have Father Graham to look after our sick!
FRIDAY 31 - A group from Prince Edward Island, with a conventual Franciscan at their head, moved into our guest house for three days of retreat.

JUNE 2013
SATURDAY 1 - Chris McKee left us for an undetermined time. He does not seem to be able to make us his mind and commit himself to entering, after his sixth visit. He is a great worker!
SUNDAY 2 - Feast of the Blessed Sacrament - Corpus Christi.
Sister Emmanuel (Marguerite) Landry, one of our Trappistine Sisters of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption in Rogersville, was called by the Lord to his Father's House. She died in the infirmary of the Sisters of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur, at 125 King Street in Moncton, New Brunswick. She was 85 years old and had battled cancer for several years, she had also been blind for nearly 10 years. She had been looked after by the Sisters of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur for about the last three years. Her body was brought back to the monastery where the community and friends gathered around it in prayer and the funeral and burial took place on Wednesday 5th June, presided by the nuns' chaplain, Fr. Clovis Chiasson, in the absence of the Abbot. Sister Emmanuel was the sister of Brother Louis, who was an internal oblate of Our Lady of Calvary, before he moved to the monastery of Mistassini where he died about four years ago. May they both rest in peace.
FRIDAY 7 - Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Heart, so generous, so loving, despised and disappointed by men - we would like him to show himself more decisively and solve our problems in his all-powerful way. But his is a saving love, disguised by a cross. Each one has to experience the mystery for himself. It was Brother Gilles' 70th birthday. Despite broken health he does a number of things for the community. He has always been a heroic worker.
SATURDAY 8 - Father Graham went to Moncton in torrential rain - the tail end of hurricane Andrea. In Moncton Father Graham managed to do some shopping for Brother Henry. The two had lunch together and listed to our midday prayer via Brother Henry's Skype connection.
SUNDAY 9 - 10th Sunday in Ordinary time. The Abbot was at Cîteaux celebrating the 9th centenary of Saint Bernard's entry into the monastery.
MONDAY 10 - In our refectory reading in French, we just finished a book about the American First Nations. It was interesting and informative. We have started anther book: "Vatican II, Dieu merci." ("Vatican II, Thank God."). The auther is Fr. Jean-Noël Bezançon, currently pastor in Val-de-Marne. He was once pastor in Notre-Dame d'Auteuil and then of Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas, Paris. "Christ is the Light of the Nations...": the grand vision of this Council is to re-establish all things, humanity, the world, under the gaze of Christ.
WEDNESDAY 12 - Father Graham's parents came to see him and to celebrate his father's 77th birthday. Brother Gilles, for his part, went to see the dentist for a check-up. The Central Commission finished at Cîteaux and the Abbot is on his way back, avoiding getting caught by a train strike in France.
SUNDAY 16 - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Fathers' Day. We try to let ourselves be lulled by the rhythm of events and find our rest in God as an infant in the care of his Father. He leads us by the hand through the hazards of our human existence, if only we can put our hand in his.
MONDAY 17 - Dom Bede came back from Fance where he had been for the meeting of the Central Commission at the monastery of Cîteaux, where our Order began in 1098.
TUESDAY 18 - With the summer's heat we use more electricity to keep the chickens cool. So we have had to install a generator to boost the electricity supply and cover any outages. The installation has just been completed.
WEDNESDAY 19 - The Abbot spoke in chapter about his visit to the little community of monks, established by the community of Cîteaux, in Norway, and about his visit to Mount Saint Bernard in England.
FRIDAY 21 - The Abbot spoke in chapter about the monastery of Cîteaux, where the meeting of the Central Commission took place.
SATURDAY 22 - Today, Dom Bede went to the graduation ceremony at the Secondary School, Assomption, in Rogersville. According to custom we provided a bursary.
SUNDAY 23 - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Brother Gilles fainted at the Mass, but was better this afternoon. He has been overdoing things and needs a bit of rest.
MONDAY 24 - Paul Breton, a former novice, left us this morning after a week's retreat. He is an impressive man of prayer.
WEDNESDAY 26 - This morning the Abbot spoke to us in chapter about the Central Commission of the Order - the meeting of which the Abbot took part in a couple of weeks ago at Cîteaux. The most substantial discussion centred on how to live with the declining situation of so many of our communities.
Melva, one of our cooks, who has served 18 years in our kitchen, took her due retirement, cooked her last meal and sat down at table with us to eat it. It was a little gesture of thanks and appreciation on our part to this devoted and discreet lady, who really knew how to cook.
THURSDAY 27 - This morning the Abbot called his council. He laid before us a proposal for buying more milk quota to allow us to milk ten more cows and increase our revenue correspondingly.
FRIDAY 28 - In chapter the Abbot read to us the last Visitation Report, in preparation for the new canonical visitation that will be taking place next week. The Order's Statute on the Regular Visitation tells us that the Visitation is the expression of the bonds of charity between the houses of the Order. A well prepared Visitation is a moment of special spiritual significance offered to each community, to ensure its growth in fidelity to the Cistercian grace.
SATURDAY 29 - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. We had another meeting of the Abbot's Council about buying quota.
SUNDAY 30 - 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The only purpose of a monk is to love Jesus!

JULY 2013
MONDAY 1 - Our Father Immediate, Dom Clément Charbonneau, currently Superior of our Mother House, the Abbey of Mistassini, arrived before Vespers. He will be here all week for the canonical visitation, which we have every two years.
TUESDAY 2 - After Lauds, Dom Clément spoke to us in Chapter about the nature of the Regular Visitation.
WEDNESDAY 3 - This morning our Father Immediate gave us news of his community of Mistassini. Dom Clément and our Abbot went to visit Brother Henry this afternoon and were back for Vespers.
THURSDAY 4 - Dom Clément met with the two councils at 11 am this morning to examine the finances of the community.
FRIDAY 5 - This morning, in chapter after Lauds, our Father Immediate closed the Regular Visitation, reading the Visitation Report to us. Mother Marie, the Abbess of the monastery of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil, at Saint-Benoît-Labre in Quebec, came with Dom Clément to spend a few days with our Trappistine sisters here in Rogersville. Mother Marie came with Mother Alfreda, the Abbess of our sisters, to join us for lunch.
SATURDAY 6 - Dom Clément and Mother Marie left early this morning to return to their communities.
SUNDAY7 - 14th Sunday in Ordinary time. The Abbot gave rather a long sermon and it was very hot in the chapel at Mass.
MONDAY 8 - Father Graham spent the day in Moncton, visiting his Father in the George Dumont hospital, where he had had an operation for an intestinal adhesion.
TUESDAY 9 - Father Adrien went to Moncton to see his doctor.
WEDNESDAY 10 -First Vespers of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict. One of the antiphons: "Live for God alone and abide in his presence, leave everything aside to obtain peace. Choose silence so as to understand the Word, to be that disciple on the look out for a word, an order."
THURSDAY 11 -After the solemn Mass of Saint Benedict here, the Abbot, Father Adrien and Father Graham, who drove, went to Saint John to Assumption parish for the ordination of Shawn Daley to the priesthood for the Scarborough Missionaries. Shawn was formerly a monk here.
FRIDAY 12 - Father Innocent had to go to Halifax to get clay for his pottery and a few other bits and pieces.
SATURDAY 13 - At 9 am we had a meeting with our accountant Jean-Guy Richard for the presentation of last year's accounts.
SUNDAY 14 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Roger presided the Mass and preached in both languages. To imitate Christ as the Good Samaritan is to show Christ to the world.
MONDAY 15. - Father Graham went to see his father who had just come out of hospital after a relatively long stay and an operation. He is doing well and Father Graham says that all he needs to do is put on weight.
Father Shawn Daley, newly ordained, said Mass here. He was a member of our community for about 12 years. Currently he is completing his formation in Toronto with the Scarborough Missionaries.
TUESDAY 16 - There have been a lot of repairs to the farm machinery that have kept Brother Stephan busy recently. These sort of things do tend to increase our costs.
THURSDAY 18 - Father Graham took Father Adrien to Moncton to do the rounds of three of his doctors, one for his feet, one for his hearing and one for his eyes!
SUNDAY 21 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Innocent preached a nice homily, all in French, on the unity of vocation of Martha and Mary. Brother Henry was with us for the Mass and midday meal.
MONDAY 22 - Raspberry picking. They are good, fat and juicy but not that plentiful this year.
TUESDAY 23 - Father Graham went to the station to pick up Michelle Rebidoux who was to give us six conferences on World Religions; two conferences each day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, for 45 minutes, at 9.15 and 4.15. Thursday was devoted Hinduism, Friday to Buddhism, and Saturday to Islam. The conferences were very interesting and well presented with the aid of power-point.
Michelle Rebidous is a native of southern Ontario, south of Windsor. Her first cycle of studies was completed at York University, Toronto, where she majored in art and philosophy. She did a master's degree in religious studies at the University of British Colombia and a doctorate in the philosophy of religion at McGill University, in Montreal. Since 2008, she has been assistant professor at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. There she lectures in philosophy, religion, the history of Christian thought and environmental ethics. Her latest book: The Philosophy of Michel Henri (1922 - 2002).
SATURDAY 27 - You might say that the chronicle is never very long. The fact is that as one gets old one goes more to the heart of things and expresses the essentials in few words. (Excuse me.)
SUNDAY 28 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The festive atmosphere of summer has its impact. We can even accept sudden tropical downpours with a certain equanimity.
TUESDAY 30 - The Abbot and Brother Stephan went to Moncton to see Brother Henry. Brother Stephan also did a few bits of business.

AUGUST 2013
FRIDAY 2 - An IT expert was here all afternoon trying to add a visual dimension to Brother Henry's link with our chapel. He did not quite get it working. He was however able to correct a malfunction in Father Maurice's computer.
SATURDAY 3 - After the Mass, at 8.45 am on all the Saturdays of September we are going to have a reading workshop. It is primordial to be able to proclaim the Word of God well.
This afternoon I went to see my sister, Léocadie, who lives in a care home in Saint-Louis-de-Kent. Her health is not very dependable.
Then I went to see my brother, Albert, who lives at l'Aldouine. He had his children visiting him, his seven daughters. His wife, Maria, is very welcoming!
SUNDAY 4 - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Christian's true riches are the love of God, not money and possessions.
MONDAY 5 - Father Adrien was not feeling well, so Father Graham took him to the Georges Dumont Hospital in Moncton. There the were lucky enough to find his specialist at work, despite the fact that it was New Brunswick Day. The doctor decided that Father Adrien should stay in the hospital under observation for the time being. He needs his medication adjusting and he does not want anybody to worry about anything.
TUESDAY 6 - As a follow up to our discussions on silence the Abbot gave each one a memorandum on the topic, that ran like this:
1. General principle: avoid loud talking, especially in the hallways in front of the rooms and in spaces open to the rest of the house.
2. Avoid talking in the scriptorium, the chapel, or where you can be heard in the chapel.
3. Avoid visiting the kitchen and distracting the cooks from their work by chatting with them - one monk after another makes life difficult for the cooks.
WEDESDAY 7 - The Abbot and Brother Gillees went to Moncton to visit Brother Henry at the care home and Father Adrien in hospital. Father Adrien seemed really disappointed at not being able to come back with them to the monastery. The doctor also told them that Father Adrien would not be home for the weekend as he had hoped. He must remain under observation for the time being.
This morning the statues were restored to the Lourdes grotto. The former ones were vandalised a couple of years ago. Sad to see people with so little respect and appreciation of the Blessed Virgin. A new statue of Saint Bernadette was also put in place.
FRIDAY 9 - We have had a lot of rain and thunderstorms recently. This has played havoc with the dirt roads. Last night it rained a torrential non-stop downpour for 12 hours.
SATURDAY 10 - The Abbot and Father Innocent went to see Brother Henry and Father Adrien. They found Father Adrien much better.
SUNDAY 11 - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Roger cooked, presided the Mass and preached the homily on the radical poverty of the monk.
MONDAY 12 - The week opened in the beauty of nature. The Word and Spirit of God had re-created all and we got a lot of work done.
Father Graham brought Father Adrien back from hospital this afternoon. But they had instructions to return to the hospital to see the doctor on Wednesday!
TUESDAY 13 - Father Graham looked after Father Maurice today, taking him to the clinic in Rogersville for a regular blood test and to Miramichi in the afternoon to a hearing specialist.
WEDNESDAY 14 - As expected, Father Adrien went back to the hospital, with Father Graham, and the doctor decided to keep him there for further observation.
THURSDAY 15 - Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Patronal Feast of the Acadians, of the Cistercian Order and of our sisters in Rogersville at the monastery of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption. Brother Henry joined us for the inside of the day. We had the solemn Mass at 9 a.m., followed by the dedication of the new figures in our Lourdes Grotto. At the sisters' invitation we joined them for Midday Prayer followed by a barbecue. The weather was perfect for it, and we ate and drank happily.
Mr and Mrs Touchie came to spend a few days, with their son Jason, Father Graham's brother, who currently works in the Vatican office for Catholic Education.
FRIDAY 16 - An IT expert came to work on the video link we are trying to set up between Brother Henry and our chapel. The wi-fi service to the guest house was also improved and some problems solved on the computers in the accounting office. The Abbot went to see Father Adrien and found him considerably better than on Monday. But they want to keep him in hospital for a few more days, because they need to find the right levels for his medication.
SUNDAY 18 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary time. The Abbot went with Father Innocent to see Father Adrien in hospital. He found him slightly improved from Friday but not yet fully on form.
TUESDAY 20 - Solemnity of Saint Bernard. The antiphons of the feast of our Father, Saint Bernard, tell us that his glory was the fear of the Lord. He was always mindful of the Lord. All his teaching was about the commandments of the Most High. What has the world to offer to someone who carries within him the Creator of the world?
WEDNESDAY 21 - The focus this week has rather been on Father Adrien. The Abbot and Father Graham, the infirmarian, have been going back and forth between the monastery and the Georges Dumont hospital in Moncton to visit him. The specialist and his team are diligently trying to find the right balance in his medication to guarantee him the best quality of life.
Today it got very hot, 30ºC.
THURSDAY 22 - Our venerable old barn, built in wood in 1929, needs quite a bit of upkeep. This time the entrance ramp to the upper part needed completely replacing before anyone fell into the hole below with a tractor.
FRIDAY 23 - Brother Stephan is making a new fitting for the Thomas skid-steer which will allow him to push up the feed in front of the cattle in the morning, instead of forking it by hand.
SATURDAY 24 - We learned of the death of Dom Ambrose, former Abbot General of the Order, who was abbot at Mount Saint Bernard when our abbot entered there. Ambrose Southey entered Mount Saint Bernard in 1940 and was solemnly professed in 1945. He became Abbot in 1959, and Abbot General in 1974, until 1990. He had been 72 years a monk and 64 years a priest. He is remembered for his attentive personal concern for all our communities and for his work on finalizing the Constitutions of the Order.
SUNDAY 25 - 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Our whole life ought to be a smiling "thank you" to God.
MONDAY 26 - This morning in chapter the Abbot commented upon Chapter 57 of the Rule of Saint Benedict, The Craftsmen of the Monastery. We are all craftsmen, we all have our gifts to be used in the service of the community. The Abbot went with Brother Stephan to sign the documents concerning the sale of our property at Shédiac, too far from here for us to be able to make any reasonable use of it. The Abbot also updated the page on the Grotto on our website, with photos of the new statues and a little video of the blessing of the renovated Grotto. A heifer escaped into the woods and was still wandering around a week later.
TUESDAY 27 - It was Brother Gilles' turn to go out. He went to see the eye specialist, Dr. Vijay Sharma in Miramichi. Everything is fine for now. Brother Henry came with his brother who had with him most of his family.
WEDNESDAY 28 - Feast of Saint Augustine. After a dissolute life, Autustine undertook a deep search for God which culminated in his becoming an effective pastor and an inspiring writer who was able to communicate his faith. Sometimes the saints have things in their past. All sinners have a future! Some Micmacs have set up a tepee down the road a couple of houses from here. They are protesting against shale gas fracking.
THURSDAY 29 - Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. The man who spoke the truth stirred up hatred. I admire the forthright language of this brother. He knew how to put across his message. He said what the world did not want to hear. Father Graham went to see Father Adrien this afternoon in Moncton. For the moment there is no change in his condition. His doctor will be back from holiday next week. The Abbot went to see Dr. Blanchard, our general practitioner in Rogersville, about the provision of a course of physiotherapy for Father Maurice.
FRIDAY 30 - Father Maurice has got a new hearing aid for a three-month free trial. Brother Gilles took our Kia to Moncton for its first oil change. The Abbot and Brother Stephan had things to do in Miramichi.
SATURDAY 31 - The Abbot went to see Father Adrien and did not find him very well.

SEPTEMBER 2013
SUNDAY 1 September - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Abbot presided the Mass and gave the homily. At the intercessions he referred to the Pope's appeal for peace.
MONDAY 2 - The Abbot had the excellent idea of reading to us what the Pope had said at the Sunday Angelus : My the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and let themselves be led by the desire for peace. To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, in the Middle East and in the whole world.
These words inspired us with the zeal to do our part on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY 4 - Brother Stephan does not spare himself in keeping some our aging machinery going. It is a headache at times. The Abbot read in chapter a letter from our Sisters in Syria. Work began on excavating a manure lagoon behind the heifer barn.
THURSDAY 5 - Since we cannot yet afford to continue replacing our windows, the old wooden ones on the first floor are being repainted. Geese on the lake mean that the autumn migration is under way.
FRIDAY 6 - The farm team is working on a third cut of alfalfa.
SATURDAY 7 - In response to the day of prayer organized by the Pope, we had the Mass of Mary, Queen of Peace. The midday meal consisted of bread and water. We had Vespers at 5 o'clock, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for half an hour.
This month, every Saturday, after the Mass, we are having a singing workshop, led energetically by Brother Stephan. Father Graham brought Father Adrien back from the hospital for 24 hours, until Sunday evening.
SUNDAY 8 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. "Acquire interior peace and thousands around you will find salvation." A piece of topical advice from Saint Seraphim of Zarov.
MONDAY 9 - We completed our series of workshops on reading techniques and have now started a series on singing. The instructions in public reading have certainly reaped fruit. We like to think we are entering into the spirit of Pope Francis in getting the word and the message out to a world hungry for the love of God.
TUESDAY 10 - Father Adrien was discharged from hospital. Father Graham went to bring him back late in the evening. The hospital thinks it has done all it can for him. It is up to us now to do our best to look after him. The monastic council discussed the case of a former novice who wants to come back.
WEDNESDAY 11 - Father Innocent spent Wednesday to Friday at the hermitage. Father Clovis is reaping the fruits of hard work caring for out garden. The apples he is currently picking must have gone through some rough times with the weather before they came to maturity. Like the apples various interpersonal vicissitudes mature us too.
FRIDAY 13 - Father Jean Bernard Mallais spent the week with us and returned to his ministry. Born in 1946, he was ordained priest only in 1994 at the Moncton Cathedral. Since then he has seen service in 36 parishes in Westmorland, Northumbeland & Kent counties. A man with a refreshingly open mind. May the Lord keep him.
SATURDAY 14 - Holy Cross Day. This morning at the second nocturn we had a reading from a homily attributed to Saint Jean Chryostome: This tree is planted for my eternal salvation. I eat of its fruit and I delight in it. We anticipated our community feast that we normally have on the 15th September, Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which does not figure on the calendar this year because it is a Sunday - the 24th in Ordinary Time.
MONDAY 16 - Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyrs. It is no surprise that for such witnesses to the Faith the threat was more marked because the enemy was so enraged.
TUESDAY 17 - Father Jean-Marc Laporte, Jesuit, spent the week with us. He was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick in 1937. He joined the English Province of the Jesuits in Canada in 1958 and was ordained in 1967. Currently, he is the Director of the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality in Halifax, and also functions as priest-in-charge of St. Patrick's.
WEDNESDAY 18 - Father Serge Comeau also called by briefly to see us. The guest-house seems to be more frequented this autumn. Brother Gilles took advantage of a few days of sunshine to catch up on the grass-cutting.
THURSDAY 19 - I hope that this chronicle will help you to step aside from your ordinary life and provoke some reflection that will enable you to face the difficulties and challenges of life with new enthusiasm. The farm team is trying to finish a third cut of silage.
FRIDAY 20 - Sts Andrew Kim and Paul Chong, the Vietnamese martyrs. God's love was proven by the truth of his suffering. It is the martyr that makes the faith, rather than the faith the martyr. The Abbot went with Father Innocent to visit Brother Henry because it was his seventy-fourth birthday.
SATURDAY 21 - Feast of the Apostle and Evangelist, Saint Matthew. Like him we all need Jesus' mercy. The more we are enveloped in his goodness and forgiveness, the more we are able to understand and accept others. Father Graham went to Moncton to buy himself a new computer.
SUNDAY 22 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. There has been a change of chronicler. Father Adrien, in his eightieth year finds it has got beyond him. Brother Gilles is doing his best to take up the reins.
MONDAY 23 - (Saint Padre Pio). He entered the Capuchins at the end of the 19th century. For him, one could say, that forgiveness and Heaven were the essential things.
TUESDAY 24 - Father Graham went to Moncton with Father Adrien to see a specialist about his feet. Brother Gilles took Father Maurice to the clinic in Rogersville for a blood test.
WEDNESDAY 25 - The refectory reading was interrupted in order to give us the chance to reflect on the interview that Pope Francis gave to the Jesuit reviews, presented by Father Antonio Spadaro S.J. The Pope is not in the habit of giving interviews and this adds to the interest of this publication that lets us see more of his personality and the main lines of his spirituality and theology.
THURSDAY 26 - The Martyrs of North America. The Cross was their strength, keeping them united to Jesus in their sufferings.
FRIDAY 27 - The Abbot and Brother Gilles took Father Maurice to the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré Coeur in Moncton, where Brother Henry is. The aim is to give him some continuous physiotherapy to see if the muscles in his legs can be strengthened. He should be at the Résidence for a few weeks.
SATURDAY 28 - Rabbi Professor Michael Fox arrived. We are about to have a series of study days on the topic of the Wisdom Literature in the Bible. The seminar will begin on Monday 30 September and finish on Thursday 3 October. We will be joined by participants from Val Notre-Dame, our monastery near Joliette in Quebec, and from Mistassini in the North Quebec region of Lac Saint-Jean, and our sisters from Assomption.
MONDAY 30 - (Saint Jerome). It seems he was a thorny character. God has no problem making us saints, he just leaves us with the hair-shirt of our character. You will never know here below what level of sanctity you have reached! God builds his temple on the setbacks and ruins of our self-love, on our bad character. Even our incapacities make us holy.

OCTOBER 2013
TUESDAY 1 - (Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus). If the earth continues turning and the years follow one another, it is only to give us time to become children of God. The children of God are those who throw themselves on him. Getting back to community life: Father Graham took Father Adrian to see a urologist. The latter found no problems. Father Augustine of Mistassini, who is here for the workshop on Scripture, went with the Abbot to visit Father Maurice and Brother Henry, both in the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur. Both are currently on good form.
WEDNESDAY 2 - (Holy Guardian Angels). Saint Bernard had a great devotion for "these princes of the Kingdom of God who unceasingly take care of us. We owe them all our affection on account of their watchfulness and of the favours they bestow on us as a sign of their love. We ought also to follow their advice with a great deal of meekness." (Sermon XI on the Psalms).
THURSDAY 3 - Our workshop concluded with two conferences this morning followed by an excellent meal, with lots of luscious home roasted ham. Father Graham then drove the Abbot and Rabbi Michael Fox to the airport. The Abbot has to go to Rome to visit the community of Tre Fontane and Rabbi Fox was returning home. The Rabbi's study sessions had given us a great boost for a better appreciation of the wisdom literature of the Bible. Everybody was very happy with his treatment. We learned that Wisdom is, above all, Torah.
SATURDAY 5 - Brother Stephan's birthday (1958). This morning he went to pick up his brother, Peter, at Moncton Airport. They have not seen each other for 25 years.
SUNDAY 6 - The Abbot biked across Rome to the Pope's Angelus.
MONDAY 7 - Our Lady of the Rosary. By praying the rosary the Christian people calls upon the aid of the Holy Mother of God, as it meditates, under her guidance, the mysteries of Christ. She was involved in a unique way in the Incarnaton, the Passion and the Resurrection of the Son of God.
TUESDAY 8 - Father Graham was born on this day in 1965, and his parents came to see him.
WEDNESDAY 9 - I am happy to note that here the care of the environment is becoming more of a priority. We are understanding more and more that it is an essential part of our contemplative life, our relation with god and his creation. All is gift, a gift that we have to watch over with love. As one contribution Brother Stephan has had a lagoon dug to take the liquid manure from our new heifer barn. It is already in use and will not need a blessing ceremony!
FRIDAY 11 - At the moment our pullet raising operation has been suspended. The installations need renewing, but no producer will guarantee us a regular flock, so we are looking into other ways of using this barn.
SATURDAY 12 - We heard from Rome that the Abbot had taken part in the Pope's Marian Prayer.
MONDAY 14 - The pastor of Saint John the Bapist parish in Miscouse on Prince Edward Island came to spend a few days.
TUESDAY 15 - Saint Teresa of Avila (died 1582). She reformed Carmel and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Blessed John Paul II. A would-postulant from Saint Georges in the Beauce region of Quebec came to visit us for a couple of weeks.
WEDNESDAY 16 - Saint Margaret d'Youville, mother of a family, widowed, she founded the Sisters of Charity of Montreal. According to the spirituality of her era, she was convinced that "The cross is the instrument of love by which the Father of Mercies configures his chosen ones to his Son."
Father Adrien went to the hospital with Father Graham, our infirmarian, for a routine test, the outcome of which was that the urologist told him he was perfectly all right. The they went to a foot-specialist to pick up some specially made soles, which they had then to take the soles to his podiatrist for her to verify that they were right. Just fine! But then they were supposed to find some suitable boots but did not. The went to visit Father Maurice and Brother Henry, whom they found happy to be together.
THURSDAY 17 - Saint Ignatius of Antioch who was burned to death in 115. "There is no more fire in me for loving material things," he said, "but a living water that murmurs within me: ‘Come to the Father.'" The Abbot came back from his journey to Rome and Quebec.
FRIDAY 18- Saint Luke the Evangelist. Dante called him "The scribe of Christ's mercy." The on-going evangelization of our communities is a priority. Anniversary of Dom Bede's first profession in 1964, and of his solemn profession in 1967.
SATURDAY 19 - Once again Father Clovis Chiasson, the Eudist Father who is chaplain to the nuns, organized a team to make apple juice from the produce of our orchard. It was a good year, so we have some to sell.
SUNDAY 20 - 29th Sunday of the Year and Mission Sunday. Father Graham preached on the gospel of the day and encouraged us to always have confidence in God.
MONDAY 21 - In chapter this morning the Abbot announced that the reading at the end of dinner, currently the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, will be replaced by the reading of the Roman Martyrology, that he recently bought at the Vatican. In my opinion, this has more to offer us.
TUESDAY 22 - Blessed Jean-Paul II, Pope (263rd successor of Saint Peter) from 1978 until his death in 2005. We had the company of the Vicar General of the diocese of Bathurst on retreat for a few days in our guest-house.
WEDNESDAY 23 - The Abbot went this morning to a meeting of the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. One might have thought that the subject of the protests by the Micmac against shale gas exploration in the Province, since the confrontations with the police at Rexton were not very far away. But nothing was said. The farm team is busy bringing in the corn. About 140 acres was planted. Growing our own corn for the cattle cuts down our overheads and is good for the butterfat content in the milk.
THURSDAY 24 - We had our monthly Mass for vocations: Our sure vocation is summed up as offering God a heart that he can use to pour out his goodness. Only one virtue is needed: the knowledge of God as love and infinite forbearance.
FRIDAY 25 - In addition to several errands in Moncton, Father Graham went to visit Brother Henry and Father Maurice. Everything is going smoothly with them. Father Roger sent them some of our apples and some of Linda, our cook's, biscuits.
SATURDAY 26 - Brother Gilles chopped up a lot of leaves. Father Adrien packed away his greenhouse for the winter. Father Clovis rescued the last of his tomatoes and celery from the garden. Brother Stephan finally solved the problem with the chopper for the corn and now has peace of mind.
MONDAY 28 - Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude. Jesus speaks through them, two brothers who succeeded in laying hold of the hidden treasure of the gospel. Anniversary of the death of Dom Alphonse Arsenault, Titular Prior of this monastery from 1953 to 1960. Then its first Abbot from 1960 to 1991. He died in 1994.
WEDNESDAY 30 - This morning, as the second part of our chapter meeting, Brother Stephan gave us a singing lesson to prepare the feast of All Saints. This undoubtedly delighted the saints.
THURSDAY 31 - For some time now, in our Thursday evening slot, we have been watching the Video of the television series Downton Abbey. It has been distributed in over one hundred countries and has become one of the most watched series ever. It is all about the intrigues of a family of English aristocrats and their large domestic staff in the great stately home that they live in, in Yorkshire. It is very well done, and the abbot never fails to point out that Downton Abbey is fictionally situated in the very area he was born and grew up in.

NOVEMBER 2013
FRIDAY 1 - Solemnity of All Saints. The feast of God's victory in human lives. Solemn Mass presided by the Abbot at 9 am. Brother Henry was present and Father Maurice concelebrated. We had Sext and None together before lunch. We talked at lunch and the menu was worthy of the occasion. We rounded off the day with Benediction after Vespers.
Today was also the 111th anniversary of the founding of the monastery.
SATURDAY 2 - All Souls. The only thing that death teaches us is that it is important to love, don't you think? Father Roger left for Ontario to see his ninety-two year old mother and see his nephew get married.
SUNDAY 3 - 31 Sunday in Ordinary Time. The clocks reverted to solar time.
MONDAY 4 - Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan (died 1584). Burned up by zeal he gave himself to the point of exhaustion. "To give light a candle must be burned up.", he said to those who urged him to rest. A man assumes the worth of the interior flame that possesses him. Father Adrien had an infection on his left eyelid. Father Graham, the infirmarian, got him an appointment to see a doctor.
TUESDAY 5- In the farm they are currently busy spreading liquid manure on the fields. The cows produce it generously - we have five hundred thousand gallons! It is very effective for making the plants grow next year.
THURSDAY 7 - The Abbot and Father Graham went to Moncton to visit Father Maurice and Brother Henry at the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré Coeur. They took the opportunity to try and solve the problems with Br. Henry's television. In the end, after calling in a technician, it came down to buying a new one. Good for you, Brother Henry!
SATURDAY 9 - The feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica turned our eyes and hearts towards Rome.
SUNDAY 10 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Innocent went to pick up Father Roger from Moncton airport, after a week's absence. First snow. All melted.
MONDAY 11 - Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (died 397). The Churches of the East also call him "Saint Martin the Merciful." He was born in Pannonia in present-day Hungary, at the frontiers of the Roman Empire where his father as stationed as a soldier. Also today is Armistice Day, memorial day to the dead of all the wars of the twentieth century. Our prayer is that the Lord's gentleness will take over and put an end to the conflicts and hostilities between men. This morning in chapter the Abbot commented on the end of the Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 73. The end is the beginning and we are always on the point of starting, new every day, on our road of wonderful growth or conversion. We have to live with the humaneness of Jesus, making his love our love. Today was also the anniversary of Father Marice's ordination.
WEDNESDAY 13 - All Saints of the Order. Feast of the Benedictine family, of those who have lived under the Rule and have found in it a source of inspiration for their life. By coincidence we were back at the beginning of our reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict. "Listen". The invitation to step out of our self-centredness. We need to have a spirituality of listening, because listening focuses our attention on the other, was what the Abbot said in chapter this morning.
SATURDAY 16 - Memoria of Saint Gertude of the Cistercian monastery Helfta in Germany. Benedict XVI talking about her said her example "Showed that a happy life is established by the Lord's friendship, by the love of Scripture, of the liturgy and of Mary, sustained by a deep faith and by the continual seeking of God, the end of our existence."
Brother Gilles went to the station this morning to pick up Glic Jalea, a very nice Filipino, 58 years of age, who was arriving as a postulant.
MONDAY 18 - The Abbot's commentary on the Prologue of the Rule this morning was that the whole tone of Saint Benedict's spirituality is set by the Prologue.
THURSDAY 21 - Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple. There is nothing in the gospel about this feast. The apocryphal "Gospel of James" speaks about the event. Popular piety and marian spirituality have latched onto it, since it expresses Mary's availability and consecration to the will of God. Some in the community ask whey we keep it. The Abbot comments that for the Eastern Church this is a great feast of Mary as the Temple of God.
Our postulant Glic, Father Adrien and Brother Gilles were devoting themselves despite the cold to trimming back the raspberries (with the help of Brother Stephan and the bush-cutter) and putting in new posts and cords.
FRIDAY 22 - Saint Cecilia, virgin. In the Rome of her day she struggled with an arranged marriage. She is also by popular tradition the patroness of church music. The Abbot pointed out both elements in his introduction to the Mass.
SATURDAY 23 - A cousin of Father Adrien's, Ozélie Daigle (née Bordage), native of Acadieville, but currently in the care home Villa Maria in Saint-Louis-de-Kent, has attained the age of 105. She was the sister of our late Brother Gérard.
SUNDAY 24 - Christ the King. Not a king like the world imagines kings, said Father Roger in his homily. A King dedicated to service.
MONDAY 25 - The Abbot's reflection this morning on the end of the prologue of the Rule : find in our unceasing dialogue with God in prayer, the strength to overcome our resistance to doing the will of God.
TUESDAY 26 - Glic, our postulant, will be having liturgy classes from the Abbot covering the Advent and Christmas cycle. All the brethren are welcome to take part.
WEDNESDAY 27 - At the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur in Dieppe a new director has taken over and there was to be a meeting today that should include on its agenda the question of our Father Maurice remaining there. This is the same place where Brother Henry is being looked after.
THURSDAY 28 - The administration at Notre-Dame du Sacré Coeur in Moncton, has accepted Father Marice into their care home in Dieppe as a permanent resident. This means that the residents will be able to have a daily Mass.
FRIDAY 29 - Brother Stephan introduced us this morning in chapter to a new hymn for Advent. It is a prayerful one, with the notation all written out for each verse, and a simple plainsong style melody that should go well.
The Abbot decided to send Brother Leo to emergency at the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing, eating and drinking! The doctors could not find anything wrong and Brothe Leo came back as bright as a button, healed.
SATURDAY 30 - Saint Andrew Apostle and Martyr (✝ 62). From Bethsaida in Galilee, on the shores of Lake Tiberias. With his brother Peter he made his living from fishing. But he had a thirst for God. He had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, received his baptism of repentance most probably, and became one of his disciples. Faithful to his master's teaching, when he heard him say: "This is the Lamb of God.", he left all to follow the new Master.

DECEMBER 2013
SUNDAY 1 December - The First Sunday of Advent. We too are on the lookout for the Lamb of God. We also got our first 8 inches of snow.
MONDAY 2 - As he continues to show us the way, the Abbot gave his commentary this morning of the first chapter of the Rule. Two types of monks that Saint Benedict did not like: gyrovagues and sarabaites. He found them too immersed in the ego-centricity.
TUESDAY 3 - Saint Francis Xavier: Jesuit Missionary (died 1552). From noble but impoverished origins he became a companion of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the greatest missionary ever.
WEDNESDAY 4 - A telephone call from our Father Immediate, Dom Clément of Mistassini, gave us some news of his community. Brother Isidore has spent the last three weeks in hospital in Quebec City. It is four hours drive from the monastery, making it difficult for the brothers to visit him. He has problems with the circulation in his legs, but has had a bridge put in successfully.
The Abbot went with Brother Gilles to see Father Maurice and Brother Henry in Moncton.
THURSDAY 5 - Our postulant, Glic, is learning to milk the cows. He has also take over the serving of the Mass from Brother Leo who has done it for sixty years. We wish Brother Glic a prolonged perseverance.
SATURDAY 7 - Saint Ambrose. Elected Bishop of Milan by popular acclamation when he was still a catechumen, though Prefect of the City, he spent his fortune on care of the poor and was a most impressive pastor, full of charity, with a sensitivity to the liturgy and zeal for Christian instruction. He also worked hard to ensure the freedom of the Church. Father Graham was in Moncton on family matters.
SUNDAY 8 - 2nd Sunday of Advent. The snow has disappeared, but Environment Canada is promising us a cold spell, and this meant a wonderful display of stars in the sky on this Eve of The Immaculate Conception.
Monday 9 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Solemn Mass, with a homily by the Abbot at 9 am. Brother Henry and Father Maurice came for Mass and lunch, a splendid meal.
Tuesday 10 - World Human Rights Day. Brother Stephan is re-building his rock-picker. We are heading for Mark III.
Wednesday 11 - In Chapter 2 of the Rule of Saint Benedict: God does not make any differences between people. He always loves. Each person has to be respected precisely as person. Each person has to love the others just as they are.
Thursday 12 - The Abbot and Brother Gilles went to Miramichi where the Abbot had a health-care appointment. On the way they called to see Madame Flora Thibodeau, currently in the hospital, normally resident in Rogersville. She will be 113 years of age in March. They found her serene and smiling and completely lucid as always.
Saturday 14 - Saint John of the Cross, Carmelite Friar, Doctor of the Church (died 1591). To quote him: "At the end of the day, it is on love that you will be examined."
Sunday 15 - Gaudete Sunday. Huge snow storm!
MONDAY 16 - Commenting Chapter 2 of the Rule, the Abbot spoke about how Saint Benedict underlined tha the monastic life is always centred on the person of Christ. We have to keep that always in mind and know how to welcome him.
Winter seems to have really set in in these parts. After last night's storm there was on one brave soul from outside present at the Mass. During the night also, part of the monastery should have felt cold because a circulating pump had packed up. Nobody seemed to have noticed! Brother Stephan fixed it before Lauds.
TUESDAY 17 - Father Graham took the Abbot to Miramichi to see the optometrist. Father Adrien tagged along for the outing.
THURSDAY 19 - We marked the 11th anniversary of Dom Bede's arrival. A big "thank you". Father Graham had a very full day today. He took Father Maurice's hefty exercise bike to the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur in Dieppe at his request. He had to take Father Adrien to three places in Moncton for health-care matters. The Abbot tagged along to visit Brother Henry and Father Maurice.
FRIDAY - Brother Gilles' turn to go and see his dentist for a regular check-up.
SATURDAY 21 - Father Clovis Chaisson, the Eudist Father who is chaplain to our nuns and lives here, was celebrating the 47th anniversary of his ordination.
SUNDAY 22 - 4th Sunday of Advent. Father Roger preached and directed our attention to how Jesus was coming, at Christmas, into each of our lives.
For the chronicler it is Mary who has best grasped God's thinking. She opened here heart with an overwhelming desire for the fulfilment. So we learn how to wait.
MONDAY 23 - We have our display of new acquisitions for the library (French and English). A wonderful selection of spiritual books of all kinds which we can reserve for our personal immediate reading by putting a piece of paper with our name on it in the book. All generously arranged by Fr. Graham the librarian.
TUESDAY 24 - Christmas Eve. We ushered in the feast with First Vespers at 5 pm., followed by a festive meal, with traditional Acadian meat pies and talking, and some nice wine and beer to drink. Then we had the solemn Night Mass of Christmas, at 7 pm., presided by the Abbot who also preached. We then went to bed.
WEDNESDAY 25 - Christmas Day. We had all the offices at the usual Sunday times. At 9 am. we had another Solemn Mass, of the day, presided by the Abbot, at which Father Roger preached. Brother Henry and Father Maurice were supposed to come, but, because of snow on the roads were unable to make it. But they had a nice Christmas Day at the Résidence Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur. We had a lovely meal with stuffed local fresh salmon at the centre, and we talked again because it was foreseen that Father Maurice and Brother Henry would be there. After Vespers and Benediction we had more meat pies and more talking, just to round off the day. Of course the cows had to be milked and this caused Brother Stephan to have to work in the morning and Father Graham in the afternoon.
THURSDAY 26 - Saint Stephen's Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr around 35 AD. "Filled with the Holy Spirit he died like his Master, forgiving his persecutors, and so shows us that the coming of the Son of God into the world gives birth to a new civilization, the civilization of love, which does not hold evil against anybody. Stephen's witness, like that of all Christian martyrs, shows our contemporaries, often distracted and disorientated, in what to put their trust to make sense of their life." The martyr, effectively is one who dies knowing that he is loved by God.
FRIDAY 27 - The Abbot read us in chapter this morning, Pope Francis' Christmas Message. Let us not be afraid to let our hearts be moved! We need God's caresses. Let us never be afraid of tenderness and to let ourselves be touched by the goodness of God.
SATURDAY 28 - Holy Innocents.
SUNDAY 29 - Father Innocent presided the Mass and preached on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a model for our families and communities.
MONDAY 30 - We had our Christmas celebration dinner this evening with our employees. There was Vespers, first, at 5 pm to which our friends came in good number, then a reception and dinner in the community refectory. The most enjoyable time took us over the time for Compline.