Christmas in the Convent

[Yinepu Sanctimonialis]

46 minutes ago, marigold said:

Books or films?

I guess they were watching the film :)) The marathon have sense/realise just together and in front of the screen ...:)

[marigold]

11 minutes ago, Yinepu Sanctimonialis said:

I guess they were watching the film :)) The marathon have sense/realise just together and in front of the screen ...:)

You're right, that does make sense

[Lilllabettt]

5 hours ago, marigold said:

Books or films?

films

[dominicansoul]

I would share, but my past community has a veil of secrecy over its traditions.  I nicknamed it "the dominican code."  "Don't be breaking the Dominican code!"  I have to smile when I see others using that term. lol.

The reason for the secrecy was pretty basic.   Mother didn't want us spoiling surprises for the postulants.  It was their first year and they should not have known what we were up to until they experienced it for themselves, which to me makes alot of sense.

Of course, our Dominican brothers have no problem sharing EVERYTHING on the internet, so you can pretty much see what Dominicans do for Christmas in their communities.  AT the same time, communities are different and do have variety in their traditions...

[marigold]

24 minutes ago, Lilllabettt said:

films

Boy, that's like 11 hours or something, isn't it? I did that a couple of times with one of my friends who is a LOTR nerd. Kind of surreal afterwards...

[Spem in alium]

1 hour ago, dominicansoul said:

I would share, but my past community has a veil of secrecy over its traditions.  I nicknamed it "the dominican code."  "Don't be breaking the Dominican code!"  I have to smile when I see others using that term. lol.

The reason for the secrecy was pretty basic.   Mother didn't want us spoiling surprises for the postulants.  It was their first year and they should not have known what we were up to until they experienced it for themselves, which to me makes alot of sense.

Of course, our Dominican brothers have no problem sharing EVERYTHING on the internet, so you can pretty much see what Dominicans do for Christmas in their communities.  AT the same time, communities are different and do have variety in their traditions...

Haha, that does make sense! We have a fun pastime/practical joke that happens at Easter, and Sisters were very secretive about it so I was really surprised! They were ALMOST successful with Christmas, too. Part of our custom is the breaking and sharing of the wafer, and one Sister proceeded to tell me all about it while another was saying, "Nooo! It was meant to be a surprise!" LOL. I reassured her I'd try to forget it by Christmas, so I could be surprised again.  

14 hours ago, Swami Mommy said:

Spem in alium, how about blank faux-leather bound journals as gifts for your superior and formation director to use as spiritual journals for themselves?

Thanks for your suggestion! I was also thinking a journal for my superior, or some nice tea, but I wasn't sure. I'm quite tempted to go with a voucher (for 2) to high tea, or a twilight cruise on the harbour, because if she doesn't use with her sister she could always go with another person and it's valid for a year.

I've already got my director a present, so no worries there  

[Charbel]

3 hours ago, Lilllabettt said:

films

 

2 hours ago, marigold said:

Boy, that's like 11 hours or something, isn't it? I did that a couple of times with one of my friends who is a LOTR nerd. Kind of surreal afterwards...

Me and my twin would do this every 3 day weekend with the extended 5 hour additions (they are closer to the books) with 1 movie a day.

We used to get asked what we were doing for the long weekend and we'd always respond "Watching all 15 hours of the Lord of the Rings movies!" After a while they caught on

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

A bit OT: For those of you who are animal lovers, you might want to reconsider before watching The Hobbit, depending on how you feel about animal abuse.

More than 27 animals died during the filming of The Hobbit due to abuse by the New Zealand company hired to provide animals for the filmmakers. (Most films made in the U.S. that include animals are overseen by the SPCA, and have a statement to that effect in the film credits.) My vet was very sad about this, because The Hobbit is one of her favorite books and she couldn't in good conscience see the movie.

I know that not everyone shares my values about the importance of respecting the lives of animals, but I thought I'd include this as an FYI.

Also, I know nothing about the LOTR movies with regard to treatment of animals. I've never been a LOTR fan so I've never seen any of the movies, in any case.

[MarysLittleFlower]

On 12/8/2015 2:37:27, Spem in alium said:

It's going to be a simple image of the Baby Jesus, with the words "I come to you as...". Light, joy, peace, simplicity, etc.  

I'm also organising our patrons for next year. On the feast of Epiphany, we each draw a card which has a patron saint (connected to te congregation), a particular intention to pray for throughout the year, and some words from the Holy Father (these will be taken from Misericordiae Vultus).  

And this year we're also doing Secret Santa! Going to be so much fun! Some Sisters are making lists of what they want...I'm happy to just go with it and see what happens!

I really like that idea with the virtues do you choose a virtue for each person or is it at "random"? 

[Spem in alium]

2 hours ago, MarysLittleFlower said:

I really like that idea with the virtues do you choose a virtue for each person or is it at "random"? 

I'm doing it at random  The patron cards will also have virtues to practice, and I believe they're also drawn at random by Sisters. 

[miserere55]

Ahh Christmas in the Monastery.........brings back a lot of memories and all of them good.  We started with Matins and then went to Midnight Mass.  After Mass and thanksgiving we processed around the monastery to put the baby Jesus in the various cribs set up.  There were at least seven of them outside the chapel (i.e. novitiate, hallways, professed sisters' area, etc.).  Then we ended up in the refectory where it was lit by candles and at everyone's place was fruit, nuts, a little plate of Christmas cookies and hot cocoa.  After that we went back to chapel and exposed the Blessed Sacrament.  We all gathered around the altar and sang Christmas carols to the Blessed Sacrament.  When that was over (about 3:30am) we could stay for adoration or go to bed.  We could sleep in on Christmas till 6:00am - the only day of the year.  Of course we didn't get to bed till after 3:30!! 

Christmas day was quiet.  Feast Day meals and a free day to pray more and to sleep a bit if needed.  We didn't get mail or gifts from home till the 26th.  Then after the 26th our "vacation" started.  We could have home visits and write letters - we recreated every day all afternoon until January 13th,  We only did our work in the morning and then were "free" the rest of the day.  I really miss Christmas in the Monastery.

[MarysLittleFlower]

27 minutes ago, Spem in alium said:

I'm doing it at random  The patron cards will also have virtues to practice, and I believe they're also drawn at random by Sisters. 

That's neat! :) would it be possible to use this idea for a parish women's group or with friends? 

[Spem in alium]

Just now, MarysLittleFlower said:

That's neat! would it be possible to use this idea for a parish women's group or with friends? 

Go for it!  For mine, I bought everything from what you may call a "variety store" - it all cost me under $30. I bought some small brown cardboard gift boxes and assembled them, then lined them with some hessian and filled them with coloured straw. I'll put the image of Baby Jesus on top, but likely roll it so it's a sort of scroll (easier to fit and adds some extra mystery) and then tie all the boxes with string. I also made some little gift tags to put on which say "I've got a message for you -- Jesus".  Our table will be quite decorated and full for Christmas, so I wanted to make something simple and small.

[MarysLittleFlower]

34 minutes ago, Spem in alium said:

 

Thank you! :) I know there are traditions in monasteries about drawing a patron Saint for the year etc. But I always wondered if that's something that could be done with friends too!

[Spem in alium]

1 minute ago, MarysLittleFlower said:

Thank you! I know there are traditions in monasteries about drawing a patron Saint for the year etc. But I always wondered if that's something that could be done with friends too!

Of course! With our patrons, I chose saints that were either connected with my congregation or who would have a particular relevance and meaning for my Sisters. Some of the saints chosen just came to me without any real reason in my mind  Virtues and intentions were fairly straightforward, as was choosing the words from our Holy Father. I am working with another Sister on putting them together, and I think we are going to make small cards with an icon of the Holy Family on the front.

[MarysLittleFlower]

2 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

 

I'm glad its fine! I just really like the idea and I hope the Sisters do too, I'm sure they would!

[marigold]

3 hours ago, miserere55 said:

Ahh Christmas in the Monastery.........brings back a lot of memories and all of them good.  We started with Matins and then went to Midnight Mass.  After Mass and thanksgiving we processed around the monastery to put the baby Jesus in the various cribs set up.  There were at least seven of them outside the chapel (i.e. novitiate, hallways, professed sisters' area, etc.).  Then we ended up in the refectory where it was lit by candles and at everyone's place was fruit, nuts, a little plate of Christmas cookies and hot cocoa.  After that we went back to chapel and exposed the Blessed Sacrament.  We all gathered around the altar and sang Christmas carols to the Blessed Sacrament.  When that was over (about 3:30am) we could stay for adoration or go to bed.  We could sleep in on Christmas till 6:00am - the only day of the year.  Of course we didn't get to bed till after 3:30!! 

Christmas day was quiet.  Feast Day meals and a free day to pray more and to sleep a bit if needed.  We didn't get mail or gifts from home till the 26th.  Then after the 26th our "vacation" started.  We could have home visits and write letters - we recreated every day all afternoon until January 13th,  We only did our work in the morning and then were "free" the rest of the day.  I really miss Christmas in the Monastery.

I sympathise. It sounds  heavenly

(But the dummy in me asks, where were all the Baby Jesuses hiding until you got to put them in their cribs?)

Edited December 11, 2015 by marigold

[truthfinder]

4 hours ago, MarysLittleFlower said:

Thank you! I know there are traditions in monasteries about drawing a patron Saint for the year etc. But I always wondered if that's something that could be done with friends too!

We've done both patron saints and virtues draws here on phatmass - I think Archeology Cat the former and IgnatiusofLoyola the latter.  Typically, it would have started already, but maybe it's not happening this year. 

[HopefulHeart]

I remembered today that I visited the Daughters of St. Paul during this past Christmas season. The sisters set up Nativity scenes/pictures all around the motherhouse. Baby Jesus was everywhere! There was also a table in the dining room devoted to cookies and other Christmas sweets. It seemed that new treats appeared on the table every day. Baby Jesus and desserts: what could be more heavenly?  

[marigold]

10 hours ago, HopefulHeart said:

I remembered today that I visited the Daughters of St. Paul during this past Christmas season. The sisters set up Nativity scenes/pictures all around the motherhouse. Baby Jesus was everywhere! There was also a table in the dining room devoted to cookies and other Christmas sweets. It seemed that new treats appeared on the table every day. Baby Jesus and desserts: what could be more heavenly?  

Doubly delicious!