Weekend at St. Vincent's

Despite the treachery of constant sleet falling on the turnpike, a few brave Penn Staters drove to the archabbey to experience the prayer and work of the monks of St. Vincent's Benedictine monastery.

It was only my third trip to the abbey, but I still remembered many of the monks by name. They are always so welcoming to their visitors; they are willing to discuss anything under the sun and they radiate Christ even in the little things they do, from serving dinner, to reading the scriptures, to telling a joke.

Praying as a monastic community is one of the most beautiful gifts the religious order has. The monks come together three times a day to pray the Divine Office. Morning and evening prayer is chanted slowly, meditatively. The words of the psalms are made real. They sink into the mind and heart like water soaks into cloth.

St. Vincent's is far from cloistered - they have a large congregation who the brothers minister to - and on Friday the basilica was packed for the stations of the cross. Praying together with everyone, and then prostrating ourselves before the Lord in Eucharistic adoration, I truly felt the joy of "being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing" (Phil 2:2).

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Altar and apse of the basilica.