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BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 3

5 KEYS TO A TRUE CATHOLIC LIFE

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"We mustn't be cranks. Rather, we should be joyful!"

Goodness. Hospitality. Beauty. Generosity. Wisdom. Join Fr. Hugh Barbour and Fr. Ambrose Criste in this uplifting and edifying five-part video series exploring the characteristics of an authentically Catholic life.

Watch 5 Keys to a True Catholic Life

New episodes are posted weekly throughout the month of September.

Day Nineteen | The Great Fast

No one can come to the knowledge of God, except through humility. Today, as we fast, let us do so in an effort to grow in humility.

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Want to learn more?

There's a wealth of great content by Fr. Hugh Barbour on the Abbot's Circle for you to explore.

An Advent Retreat

It's not Christmas yet! Fr. Ambrose and Fr. Hugh discuss a few things you can do to make the most of the final days of Advent.

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O Virgo Virginum

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after thee...

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Key Five: Wisdom

Wisdom is the knowledge that comes through loving union. We become wise, able to judge spiritual things and the highest things in relation to our life and other people, because of our union with God. The wise person is never overcome with fear.

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The Chapel of St. John the Baptist

The art in a church is much like the art in our homes: it tells a unique, personal story and helps us feel an affection for the space around us.

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The Power of Feasting!

Catholics love a good party - and for good reason. Regular feasts provide needed foil to our fasting, lift our spirits for spiritual causes, and give us a foretaste of the community, celebration, and joy that is promised to us in heaven.

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Key Four: Generosity

Generosity is practicing an open heart and a willingness to make use of our time, talent, and treasure – putting these in the service of others. Our Lord says, "by this they will know that you are my disciples, by the love you have for one another."

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WATCH THIS STARTING FEBRUARY 24

Fasting: Why does the Church want us to do it?

Presented by Fr. Norbert Wood, O.Praem.

WATCH THIS STARTING MARCH 3

Journey With Christ During Holy Week

Presented by Fr. Hugh Barbour, O.Praem.

WATCH THIS STARTING MARCH 10

Musical Meditation: Miserere sung by the Schola

Presented by Fr. Edmund Page, O.Praem.

WATCH THIS STARTING MARCH 17

A Closer Look at the Triumphal Arch: Meditating on the Paschal Mystery

Presented by Enzo Salvaggi

WATCH THIS STARTING MARCH 24

The Veiling of Sacred Images in Passiontide

Presented by Fr. Frederick Schmit, O.Praem.

WATCH THIS STARTING MARCH 31

Why Did God Have to Die?

Fr. Ambrose Criste interviews Fr. Sebastian Walshe

The Abbot's Circle is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of God.

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Hidden in the stillness of southern California’s desert mountains, St. Michael’s Abbey goes about a timeless and supernatural mission: the common worship of God. This is a place for all to encounter the unfathomable beauty of God and to enter into the mystery of His unrelenting love.

Our Story

Against a culture in ever desperate need for beauty, St. Michael’s Abbey stands as a refuge for reverent liturgy, inspiring art, and captivating sacred music and chant. Through our work, we are laying the foundation for the sanctification of our society and a renewal in our Church.

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5 KEYS TO A TRUE CATHOLIC LIFE