Words of Spiritual Wisdom from Dom Pius de Hemptinne, a Disciple of Dom Columba Marmion

Readers of the works of Blessed Columba Marmion, O.S.B., know firsthand the riches he spreads before us — a veritable banquet of the mystical life, rooted in Sacred Scripture and the Church’s traditional liturgy.

Relatively few, however, are aware of his disciples and the correspondence he conducted with men and women throughout the world, especially religious men and women who turned to him for spiritual direction at a distance. One of these disciples was a monk, Dom Pius de Hemptinne, O.S.B. (1879–1907), who left behind precious spiritual writings of his own.

Traditionalist publishing renaissance (5): The newly-established Cenacle Press

Many readers will already be familiar with the wonderful online giftshop of the traditional Benedictine monastery of Silverstream Priory in Ireland. The same monastery has recently launched Cenacle Press, with six classic reprints, all newly typeset -- four by Robert Hugh Benson and two by Dom Hubert van Zeller -- along with biography of a remarkable Polish nun, Sr. Maria Bernadette of the Cross, and a collection of new poetic works and poetic translations from Latin by the monks of Silverstream.

All titles are available from the online giftshop (ships to anywhere) and also at online retailers such as Amazon. Happy reading!

Long Out-of-print Benedictine Martyrology Now Available

For obvious reasons—it has been around for much longer, and its contemplative and liturgical way of life is entirely structured for prioritizing the pursuit of sanctity—the Benedictine Order numbers more saints, blesseds, venerables, and reputed holy men and women than any other order in the Church, especially if we include the many later branches and reform movements that, called by various names, nevertheless take Benedict’s Holy Rule as their guide.

Those who admire or follow St. Benedict will rejoice, therefore, in the republication by Os Justi Press of A Benedictine Martyrology. Published in 1922 and long out-of-print, this book is Alexius Hoffman’s English translation and adaptation of the Rev. Peter Lechner’s Ausführliches Martyrologium des Benedictiner-Ordens und Seiner Verzweigungen [Detailed Martyrology of the Benedictine Order and its Branches], published in Munich in 1855. The original was published in cloth; this reprint is paperback, but with the simple and formal cover design displayed above.

First-time retreats in the USA given by the Benedictine monks of Notre Dame Priory (Australia)

It is rare enough to find a good retreat master, and rarer still one who will offer Mass, hear Confessions, and lead hours of the Divine Office in their traditional forms. That is why these upcoming men’s and women’s 5-day retreats are such a great opportunity for Catholics in the USA.

Events: Traditional Catholic Retreats Offered by Dom Pius Mary Noonan, OSB

Recently I was blessed with an opportunity to meet Dom Pius Mary Noonan, OSB, founder of the Notre Dame Priory in Tasmanian, Australia, and to spend some days with his burgeoning community of Benedictine monks. Like Norcia and Silverstream, this monastery follows the traditional monastic Office and Holy Mass.