“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Our Lord Jesus Christ
As a rule, I don’t promote giving to specific causes, but I recently wrote about the importance of almsgiving during Lent, and now, I’ve become aware of an opportunity to do just that. Allow me to break my own rule and share a little about this opportunity.
The Need
The Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration are a wonderful and unique community under the leadership of Dom Mark Kirby. The monks currently reside at Silverstream Priory in Stamullen, County Meath, Ireland, and their specific charism is to give themselves to perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in a spirit of reparation and prayer for the sanctification of the priests of the world.
I’ve read Dom Mark’s blog, Vultus Christi, for some time now, and it is my favorite blog. Dom Mark writes and preaches like a living saint, and it is evident from his movingly profound meditations that he has been transformed by his constant presence before the Lord.
While the community at Silverstream Priory is growing, it still faces serious financial challenges, the greatest of which is purchasing the property where they currently reside. Stability is critical for a monastic community, and the monks greatest desire is to give themselves to prayer, not to worry about where their next mortgage payment is going to come from.
Because of their ongoing financial challenges, Dom Mark has reluctantly issued an urgent appeal for help. You can read it and learn more about the community of Silverstream Priory here.
The Challenge
This very morning, I was reading the Gospel of Matthew chapter 19, in which the rich young ruler comes to Jesus and asks what he can do to obtain eternal life. The young man assures Jesus that he is already living a virtuous life and obeying God’s commands. But Jesus knows there is something still missing. He knew the young ruler needed to empty himself by giving until it hurt.
This Lent, we have an opportunity to practice sacrifice and almsgiving. We can give generously to support this growing community of brothers in Christ and support their life of prayer and adoration of Our Lord. Let’s not make the same choice as the young man in the Gospel and reject the call of Jesus. Instead, let’s make this a wonderful Lent for the monks of Silverstream Priory.
Click here to donate.
