Second Sunday of Easter
Second Sunday of Easter
April 24, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Easter always makes me feel rather nostalgic because Easter is a nostalgic time, remembering childhood egg hunts and little seersucker suits.
Remembering going to Church on sunny days, it always seemed to have been sunny.
Easter Tuesday
Easter Tuesday
April 19, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel
Two very distinct outfits lay neatly across the equally neat chenille bedspread in his room.
Priesthood Promises
Priesthood Promises
March 10, 2022
Very Rev.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
March 2, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return
As you all know, I can become incredibly obsessed with some things, even mundane things like television shows and movies.
Ash Wednesday Rector's Conference
Ash Wednesday Rector's Conference
March 2, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Preparing for Lent
I would like to begin my conference today by reflecting a moment on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. I want to start with a personal story.
Deacon Promises
Deacon Promises
February 24, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
This you have been called to do, so you may receive a blessing as your inheritance.
My brothers and sisters, our gathering this evening speaks volumes about the ideal of vocation.
St. Scholastica
St. Scholastica
February 10, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Scraps, crumbs, leftovers.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 13, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Blessed are the …
If you google the words “beatitudes poster” you will get several thousand hits, one more beautiful than the other, I dare say.
Feast of the Presentation - Candlemas
Feast of the Presentation - Candlemas
February 2, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
There is a wonderful quote by the American literary critic, Barbara Johnson.
"Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness."
How appropriate for our feast today.
Opening Day - Spring Term 2022
Opening Day
January 31, 2022
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
He asked him, “What is your name?”
He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.”
Whitfield was, and is, the shorthand name for Mississippi’s most famous, perhaps infamous, public mental health hospital.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus
St. Therese of the Child Jesus
October 1, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
My brothers and sisters, there can be very little doubt that some are in and some are out. Jesus has been traipsing around the Holy Land, picking up people, 72 of recent vintage and seemingly, picking up grudges as well.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2021
Very Rev.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 12, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
St. Peter is in a pickle. Perhaps that is not unusual, it seems that Peter is always at least flirting around the briny lip of the pickle jar. The first pope has all of the answers of course. You are the Christ.
Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
St. Gregory the Great
September 3, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The fifth chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel comes halfway through what might be termed, Jesus farewell tour of Palestine. Well, frankly, it’s also his inaugural tour of Palestine.
Jesus was baptized by John and he hits the road.
Feast of St. Bartholomew
Feast of St. Bartholomew
August 24, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The Gospel today is a little tricky in that there is something unnerving about celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew and everything in the Gospel is about some fellow called Nathanial.
Opening Day & Blessing of the Faculty
Opening Day & Blessing of the Faculty
August 30, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Saint Meinrad Summer Update
Summer Update
April 11, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings from Saint Meinrad.
Rector's Conference, 2020-2021 Formation Year
Rector’s Conference
April 11, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
This evening, I would like to take a slightly different approach to the rector’s conference. As we embrace the Easter season, we have four weeks left in this formation year.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
March 24, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Covid quarantine does strange things to us. It changes us, or perhaps makes us more of who we really are.
Priesthood Promises
Priesthood Promises
March 11, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Whoever is not with me is against me.
Trials
Stark words, final words, penetrating words from the mouth of Christ.
Deacon Promises
Deacon Promises
February 25, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The weather has been quite mysterious lately. Snow and freezing temperatures give way in just a few days’ time to warmth and birdsong.
Chair of St. Peter
The Chair of St. Peter
February 22, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
I wish today we could whisk ourselves off to Israel, to Caesarea Philippi and see for ourselves the great solidity of the Gospel, this Gospel passage unfold for us. Here in Caesarea Philippi, St. Peter receives his commission.
Feast of St. Agatha
Feast of St. Agatha
February 5, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Let love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 31, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!
They knew. The devils knew. Do we?
My brothers, these days are days full of consternation and trouble.
Look around and see.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 17, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The image of young Samuel picking at the sleeve of the old priest Eli. You called me. No, I did not. You called me. No I did not.
I wonder what old Eli thought.
Baptism of the Lord
Baptism of the Lord
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
January 10, 2021
A voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Beginnings. We have had so many ceremonial beginnings in the past two months, liturgically speaking.
Christmas Weekday
Christmas Weekday
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
January 8, 2021
We have had a week. We are having a week.
We have seen death. We have seen human greed and folly. We have seen mouths of every stripe spitting and fighting. We have seen power struggle.
Is This Who We Are?
Is this who we are?
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
January 7, 2021
In 1966, my father, a lifelong army man, relocated to Washington D.C. for his posting.
Solemnity of the Epiphany
Solemnity of the Epiphany
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
January 3, 2021
Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage."
They came from far away, by the guidance of a star.
The Nativity of the Lord: Mass During the Night
The Nativity of the Lord: Mass During the Night
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
December 25, 2020
The great Spanish poet, Federico Garcia-Lorca once wrote:
Solo el misterio nos permite vivir, solo el misterio.
Only Mystery makes us live, only mystery.
Christmas Greetings
Christmas Greetings
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
December 25, 2020
My dear brothers and sisters,
Christmas blessings from Saint Meinrad! We have come to the end of a Christmas day that I am sure for most of us was like no other.
Christ the King
Christ the King
November 22, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The entire city of Oxford had been torn asunder by the recent election for the coveted office of mayor. The incumbent, Donnie Mac Gump who had served as mayor for four years had been challenged by the former sheriff, Joe Hob Bieber.
Mass for Declaration of Candidacy
Mass for Declaration of Candidacy
November 5, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
It seems to me that November is the time to call the roll. As the autumn days ware on, names drop like leaves from the trees, each wonderfully colored, each unique.
Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and Companions
Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and Companions
October 19, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
Order in the Court!
Order in the Court!
Listen! These readings today are like an episode of Judge Judy.
Second Rector's Conference, 2020-2021 Formation Year
Rector's Conference
October 11, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 11, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
On the 17th of March of this year, we prayed together, as a full community for the last time in this chapel.
Memorial of St. Denis & Companions
Memorial of St. Denis & Companions
October 9, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
I received an emergency text from a buddy of mine yesterday, a Fr. So and So at 3:57 in the afternoon wishing me a happy feast day in advance and cleverly asking what I would say about St.
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 4, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
One thing seems certain. Where the Bible and vineyards are concerned, there is just not a lot of Good News.
Consider Ahab and Naboth, thanks to Jezebel, that real estate deal went south fast.
Feast of the Archangels
Feast of the Archangels
September 29, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
They were called the Alabama Angels because they originally hailed from Paradise, Alabama, a tiny town outside of Tuscumbia of no real importance except in being the village naissance of the angels.
First Rector's Conference, 2020-2021 Formation Year
Rector’s Conference
September 20, 2020
Very Rev.
Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
September 18, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
One of the most interesting things about St. Luke, in the Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles is how he is able to shine a spotlight on obscurity.
Triumph of the Holy Cross
Triumph of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
When you are an old priest, certain feasts and certain readings will creep up on you and bite you with the sharp incising of memory.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB
The whole thing began with what could only be described as “the fall”. It was never forgotten among the folks of Oxford. The occasion was the funeral of Aunt Earlina Pettit.
Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
September 3, 2020
Very Rev. Denis Robinson
The disciples were tired of fishing. And why not?
They had been at it all night. The boys were pooped. They saw very little profit from a lot of hard work.
