Christmas in the Convent

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

13 hours ago, truthfinder said:

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. 

Sorry, I didn't do the virtues. I think it was AnneLine who drew virtues and continents. AnneLine no longer posts, although I see signs that she visits once in awhile because she gives props. I'm not the right person to draw virtues and continents, because I'm not Catholic. Perhaps someone else can.

Also, I think Lil Red has drawn saints in the past. However, I'm not sure about this year because she is very busy with a new baby. Perhaps someone else will volunteer.

[Comingback]

1 hour ago, IgnatiusofLoyola said:

Sorry, I didn't do the virtues. I think it was AnneLine who drew virtues and continents. AnneLine no longer posts, although I see signs that she visits once in awhile because she gives props. I'm not the right person to draw virtues and continents, because I'm not Catholic. Perhaps someone else can.

Also, I think Lil Red has drawn saints in the past. However, I'm not sure about this year because she is very busy with a new baby. Perhaps someone else will volunteer.

Hi Iggy!  I keep trying to send you a message but phone won't let me.  Will keep trying.  

[truthfinder]

4 hours ago, IgnatiusofLoyola said:

Sorry, I didn't do the virtues. I think it was AnneLine who drew virtues and continents. AnneLine no longer posts, although I see signs that she visits once in awhile because she gives props. I'm not the right person to draw virtues and continents, because I'm not Catholic. Perhaps someone else can.

Also, I think Lil Red has drawn saints in the past. However, I'm not sure about this year because she is very busy with a new baby. Perhaps someone else will volunteer.

Thanks Iggy, I can't seem to keep everyone straight in my head. 

[Spem in alium]

This past Christmas - my first Christmas in the convent - was the most meaningful I've ever had (apart from when I arrived home from a four-month overseas trip on Christmas day, completely jetlagged, and told by my family on the way home that we were having all our extended family over. I was a zombie that day.).

[marigold]

52 minutes ago, Spem in alium said:

This past Christmas - my first Christmas in the convent - was the most meaningful I've ever had (apart from when I arrived home from a four-month overseas trip on Christmas day, completely jetlagged, and told by my family on the way home that we were having all our extended family over. I was a zombie that day.).

I am having such a wonderful Christmas at home, but there's the thought in the back of my head that I can't wait for (God willing) next year, when I can experience it in the monastery. 

Glad you are having a good one

[sr.christinaosf]

"Christmas in the convent" this year was interesting for me... kept me on my toes.

Decorating chapel and having tons of people here for our Mass...coming down with a little cold...going to Midnight Mass at the local parish...working as personal care aide in the evening, not a dull moment!  

[AveMariaPurissima]

I'm torn because I really want to ask the Sisters what Christmas is like in the convent and what they do to celebrate, but I also wonder if it would be better to keep it a surprise if that is indeed where God is calling me!

[Spem in alium]

4 hours ago, marigold said:

I am having such a wonderful Christmas at home, but there's the thought in the back of my head that I can't wait for (God willing) next year, when I can experience it in the monastery. 

Glad you are having a good one

I pray for you to be able to experience that.  Glad you are enjoying yours too.

[nikita92]

12 days of vegetables scares me!! I'm not a big vegetable eater... Peas and onions especially! I can't imagine only having them to eat day after day!! Salads no problem though! Lol

For the enclosed contemplatives... how do they manage to "gift" their sisters??

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

8 hours ago, nikita92 said:

12 days of vegetables scares me!! I'm not a big vegetable eater... Peas and onions especially! I can't imagine only having them to eat day after day!! Salads no problem though! Lol

For the enclosed contemplatives... how do they manage to "gift" their sisters??

We don't. At least we don't here. 

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

1 hour ago, Sr Mary Catharine OP said:

We don't. At least we don't here. 

I hit the enter key too soon and got called away.

We choose by drawing, the name of another sisters at the beginning of Advent and our gift is to pray for her especially. We can do hidden, (sneaky) little charities, etc. but we decided not to do gifts. Partly because by our vow of poverty we don't have anything. We all have little do-dads (or as the English say, bits and pieces) given to us that we may keep but usually we keep those to give to someone for a special feast day, or for some special reason to someone outside the monastery. For example, one year I received a really lovely tiny crucifix on a chain but someone who thought I could wear it under my tunic. I saved it and got permission to give it my niece for her graduation.

I think most of us like to do the female thing: baking or cooking something special for a sister for her feast day or birthday, etc.

[nikita92]

Make do with what you have as they say!  Thank you

[Pia Jesu]

Christmas and New Year blessings to all!  I'd like to post this before the Solemnity of Mary...so, I'll frame it (a little) like the poem, "The Night before Christmas"...

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the (mother) house, not a creature (nun) was stirring...except for me, a very homesick postulant.  Instead of being "nestled all snug in my bed" with visions of being a white-veiled novice-soon-to-be-a-Bride-of-Christ in my head, I gazed outside my third-floor window onto a nearby freeway...wishing I was heading to Starbuck's (for a latte) in my old Toyota!  Lo and behold, I heard a knock on my door.  It wasn't St. Nick...but my postulant mistress asking me if I would please go down to the chapel and help decorate the creche and Christmas trees!  Someone had obviously told the provincial council that I had an "artistic eye."  The holiday homesickness disappeared--along with the insecurities of getting used to (mostly forgetting) the many rules and rituals of religious life--of not feeling fully integrated into community life, of communal prayer, (lots) of cleaning, classes, etc.  I dressed, headed downstairs only to find one junior professed sister and all of the council members working in the sanctuary!  We worked until 1:30am...when (wonderfully!) our Mother Superior brought us all a plate of cookies and milk!  I felt truly at home.  With what the sisters called "good" tiredness, I went back to the novitiate thinking only of Psalm 27...simply, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life..."  So, again...as the poem ends (and St. Nicholas says) "Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!" 

[vee]

 

[vee]

Btw that Carmel is in Iceland!

http://www.karmel.is/eng/index.html

[marigold]

10 hours ago, Pia Jesu said:

Christmas and New Year blessings to all!  I'd like to post this before the Solemnity of Mary...so, I'll frame it (a little) like the poem, "The Night before Christmas"...

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the (mother) house, not a creature (nun) was stirring...except for me, a very homesick postulant.  Instead of being "nestled all snug in my bed" with visions of being a white-veiled novice-soon-to-be-a-Bride-of-Christ in my head, I gazed outside my third-floor window onto a nearby freeway...wishing I was heading to Starbuck's (for a latte) in my old Toyota!  Lo and behold, I heard a knock on my door.  It wasn't St. Nick...but my postulant mistress asking me if I would please go down to the chapel and help decorate the creche and Christmas trees!  Someone had obviously told the provincial council that I had an "artistic eye."  The holiday homesickness disappeared--along with the insecurities of getting used to (mostly forgetting) the many rules and rituals of religious life--of not feeling fully integrated into community life, of communal prayer, (lots) of cleaning, classes, etc.  I dressed, headed downstairs only to find one junior professed sister and all of the council members working in the sanctuary!  We worked until 1:30am...when (wonderfully!) our Mother Superior brought us all a plate of cookies and milk!  I felt truly at home.  With what the sisters called "good" tiredness, I went back to the novitiate thinking only of Psalm 27...simply, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life..."  So, again...as the poem ends (and St. Nicholas says) "Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!" 

This is the loveliest thing on this thread so far

[4LoveofJMJ]

This was a question that kept coming to me this Christmas much to my surprise. I have been trying not to think about the idea of religious life lately since I wanted to take a break from discerning and focus on my family, my friends, and my job. The idea of belonging completely to God, living under His roof so to speak on the eve of His birth just made my heart fill with peace and joy. This idea usually tends to pop up at this time of the year. I don't know if I'm over romanticizing this or not but I don't doubt it's special.

Edited December 30, 2015 by 4LoveofJMJ

[marigold]

17 hours ago, 4LoveofJMJ said:

This was a question that kept coming to me this Christmas much to my surprise. I have been trying not to think about the idea of religious life lately since I wanted to take a break from discerning and focus on my family, my friends, and my job. The idea of belonging completely to God, living under His roof so to speak on the eve of His birth just made my heart fill with peace and joy. This idea usually tends to pop up at this time of the year. I don't know if I'm over romanticizing this or not but I don't doubt it's special.

Sigh, I know... I am not usually very fluffy or romantic but Christmas in the convent just seems idyllic.