[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
praying for Hollywood
http://www.the-tidin.../cloistered.htm

Quote

And the silence?

Another glance is exchanged from behind the grill. "Because you can't have prayer if you're talking, so silence enriches prayer," points out Sister Mary Pia. "And our prayers as practiced during the Hours of the Liturgy, they must go on all day. Contemplative life must continue throughout 24/7.

"We don't have sign language like some monasteries do," she notes. "We speak if it's necessary in a low voice and briefly. And it's really beautiful. You come into a busy place like our kitchen, people are silent. They're contemplating God and offering their work to God."

[InHisLove726]

Good for them! Hollywood needs all the prayers it can get. It's a very atheistic society there. God bless the nuns. :)

[CatherineM]

That's definitely ground zero for the culture crisis.

[Two Hearts]

Sr. Mary Pia, who has been prioress in the past, is an absolute dear! I spent some time discerning an Extern vocation with them(several yrs ago before they had the large gift shop and so many volunteers)...after the vocation visit they asked if I could come and fill in for the then Extern so she could "take some time inside". I went for 10 heavenly days. Although I did not feel called to that monastery, it was a lovely experience.

Anyway, Sr. Mary Pia was my favorite of all the nuns - she was so kind and joyful. Very nice community....and they have an interesting history with Hollywood. Back in the days when there was many Catholic stars, several were close friends of the monastery - Loretta Young, Bob and Delores Hope, Bing Crosby etc. The monastery has also been advisors for many films and TV programs.

If you are ever in the area and it's the right time of year, be sure to stop by and purchase some "Martin's Mints" (for Sr. Martin De Porres) - the nuns make the mints ...oh, so yummy! They only made the mints at certain times of the year..hopefully still do.

They are known for their Pumpkin Bread - alas, no shipping, so one must stop by the monastery.

Thank you for the link to the article! :)

This post has been edited by Two Hearts: 17 June 2009 - 08:02 AM

[Luigi]

As to the pumpkin bread, I read somewhere just recently that there big oven has died, so they are not even able to sell their pumpkin bread locally. I think they're trying to reaise funds to repair/replace the oven & get back into production.

[VeniteAdoremus]

Luigi, on Jun 17 2009, 08:04 PM, said:

As to the pumpkin bread, I read somewhere just recently that there big oven has died, so they are not even able to sell their pumpkin bread locally. I think they're trying to reaise funds to repair/replace the oven & get back into production.

They got a new one. Someone donated like $30.000.

[Luigi]

VeniteAdoremus, on Jun 17 2009, 01:36 PM, said:

They got a new one. Someone donated like $30.000.

EXCELLENT!! Thanks for the update - I hadn't heard. Blessings on the donor - they're back in the bread baking business, babies!