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The Benedictines Strike Back


puellapaschalis

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memory-singer

[quote name='puellapaschalis' post='1023695' date='Jul 13 2006, 10:48 AM']
It's random link time...

has anyone heard of [url="http://mountcaritasmonastery.org/index.htm"]Mount Caritas Monastery[/url]?

Love and prayers,

PP
[/quote]

I saw their web-site and was impressed. It sounds like they are wanting people who already have a depth of religious formation/experience in order to build a strong community.

Love and prayers and PAX,

Dare

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Here's another link of interest: [url="http://www.queenofpeace.info"]Queen of Peace[/url]

They have recently clothed their first novice--you can read more in their newsletter :saint: .

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memory-singer

Please remember to pray for the women attending the monastic experience at St. Emma's this week. Alas, I am not one of them...however August 13 is coming closer :rolleyes: :kitten:


Pax,

Dare

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puellapaschalis

[quote name='Mercy's Child' post='1026803' date='Jul 18 2006, 06:26 PM']
Please remember to pray for the women attending the monastic experience at St. Emma's this week. Alas, I am not one of them...however August 13 is coming closer :rolleyes: :kitten:
Pax,

Dare
[/quote]

Dare,

prayers from here! And you should do a countdown on this thread...it's how it originally started out, after all! Why don't you also pick the Rule readings for a day and comment on them?

Love and prayers,

PP

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puellapaschalis

Hello all,

please remember me in your prayers; I'm meeting with the bishop at the beginning of next month.

I'm a [i]wee[/i] bit nervous because he is, after all, the :bishop: , the meeting won't be in English (although hardly any part of my daily life outside the internet is in English these days) and, well, it's a topic close to my heart. I admire him a lot, and put great store by what he says, so - unlikely as it might sound - if he shoots me down I'd have to take it in obedience, albeit heartbroken.

Join me in praying that I keep my heart open. Although it does feel as though if I pray much more for an open heart, my ventricles will fall out (that's my latest lame attempt at a joke).

Love and prayers,

PP

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memory-singer

OK . Today begins the countdown to my visit at St. Emma's. July 19 --25 days to go.

As I pack my suitcase to got to my college room-mate's wedding, including the bridesmaid's dress in its special bag, I think about the next time I will pack (for St. Emma's) and of another "special dress" I hope to wear some day.

"This, then, is the beginning of my advice: make prayer the first step in anything worthwhile that you attempt. Persevere and do not weaken in that prayer. Pray with confidence, because God, in his love and forgiveness, has counted us as his own sons and daughters."

PROLOGUE, RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

Pax,

dare

[quote name='puellapaschalis' post='1027250' date='Jul 19 2006, 01:40 PM']
Hello all,

please remember me in your prayers; I'm meeting with the bishop at the beginning of next month.

I'm a [i]wee[/i] bit nervous because he is, after all, the :bishop: , the meeting won't be in English (although hardly any part of my daily life outside the internet is in English these days) and, well, it's a topic close to my heart. I admire him a lot, and put great store by what he says, so - unlikely as it might sound - if he shoots me down I'd have to take it in obedience, albeit heartbroken.

Join me in praying that I keep my heart open. Although it does feel as though if I pray much more for an open heart, my ventricles will fall out (that's my latest lame attempt at a joke).

Love and prayers,

PP
[/quote]

Praying away.

Dare

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[quote name='Mercy's Child' post='1023727' date='Jul 13 2006, 01:05 PM']
I saw their web-site and was impressed. It sounds like they are wanting people who already have a depth of religious formation/experience in order to build a strong community.

Love and prayers and PAX,

Dare
[/quote]

If Mt. Caritas Monastery is affiliated with the Still River Benedictine men's monastery, it is affiliated with a monastery with a "funny" past. A few years ago, I accessed their website, only to be hit with a huge banner of "EXTRA ECCLESIA NULLA SALUS" on its opening page, and a lot of references to Father Feeney and the Society of Pius X within. Father Feeney was a Jesuit, a conservative Catholic, who believed in salvation only thru literal baptism of water in the Catholic church, and an anti-Semite. He was excommunicated. He was active at a St. Benedict's Center in in Boston, and at Still River Benedictine Abbey. Recently the abbey appears to be reconciled with Rome; its website contained a discussion with the abbey and the Vatican, perhaps with the current pope when he was Cardinal and head of Congregation for Defense of the Faith.

The abbey website still contains a photo of Father feeney and his family and a download of its archives from 2000.

For more information on Father Feeney, consult google.com

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memory-singer

Hi.
It's July 20 and 24 days to go until I get to St. Emma's. Right now I'm at the airport, waiting for my flight to San Francisco and Sammie's wedding. Getting through security with my harp (I'm playing at the reception.)made me think of judgement day (sheep to the right, goats to the left etc.)
Thanks to frequent flier miles (yay work) I'm upgraded to first class which has me thinking of Heaven :welcome:

Anyways, this whole airport experience has put me in an eschatological frame of mind. (Which can only be good for the soul)

Here's my selection from St. Benedict's rule for today:

The first step of humility is to cherish at all times the sense of awe with which we should turn to God. It should drive forgetfulness away; it should keep our minds alive to all God's commandments.

Chapter 7, Rule of St. Benedict

Pax,

Dare

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daugher-of-Mary

How exciting! Continued prayers!

PM me if you think you'll have some free time and would like a tour of St. Vincent Archabbey. I'd be glad to oblige!

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memory-singer

Hi Everyone,

It's me again. July 21 and 23 days till St. Emma's. Last night I met Sammie's fiance and his family.
There was a big dinner for the families and close friends. Everyone seemed infused by the joy of this new beginning and Sammie and James' obvious love for each other. We are "infected" (wonderfully) by their love and willingness to commit their lives to one another. This morning after Mass I took a look at my own love and desire for commitment. How wonderful if someday we can "infect" people by the contagiousness of our love and commitment for the Lord and His Church.
Well, in my case there's a way to go. But the Lord can do anything. :cloud9:

Here's a bit from St. Benedict's Rule for today:

We really must be quite clear that our prayer sill be heard, not because of the eloquence and length of what we have to say, but because of the heartfelt repentance and openness of our hearts to the Lord whom we approach.
Chapter 20 Rule of St. Benedict

(I'm just skipping around to whatever touches my heart on a given day.)


Now to a day of shopping and lunch with the ladies. Wedding rehearsal this afternoon followed by the rehearsal dinner. (P.S. I'm wearing flats as I'm the same height--5'8" as my escort--of course I brought heels. :) )

Love and prayers,

Dare

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memory-singer

Hi again,

Happy feast of St. Mary Magdalen who was so close to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

July 22 and 22 days until St. Emma's. Life is getting interesting. Last night my former room-mates
and the Bride's mom gathered in my room to chat etc. after the rehearsal dinner. Id left my bible open on the bed and a card from Sr. Maria (novice mistress) fell out. Cress picked it up and "I was outed." After 20 minutes or so of "You're going to do what..." in several forms, we had some fruitful conversation and I am really touched and humbled by their loving support. What would we do without our friends? Still, it felt like I was skinless.

I've noticed that this discernmnent/application process is really showing me parts of myself i'd rather not existed. When talking with Mother I mentioned how "absolutely sucky" this in between time in my life is. All this letting go....stuff. Her response was along the lines of "What did you think would happen when you offered the Lord whatever He wanted of you? (Great, huh :annoyed: )

Is this happening to anyone else?

Please pray for Sammie, James and all of us who today witness their vows.

And now from St. Benedict:

The entry of postulants into the monastic life should not be made too easy, but we should follow
St. John's precept to make trial of the spirits to see if they are from God.
Chapter 58, Rule of St. Benedict


Somehow it seems appropriate.

Love and prayers,

Dare

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puellapaschalis

Oh yes. Oh so yes.

A few months ago one of the readings at Matins was from St. Augustine. He spoke about people being wineskins, about to be filled with new wine. First, however, we need to be emptied of all the vinegar...and that this emptying out is painful, especially when we're not totally convinced that it's all going to end ok. I'll look up the passage for you if you like - it really touched me and I blogged a bit about it.

I think, though, that the pain of being emptied out and prepared for holiness is something that happens to everyone, several times in their life, [i]especially[/i] if they are believers. Maybe it's simply more emphatic or traumatic or painful for people discerning religious life because it's so bizarrely out of this world, and the wineskin gets scrubbed as well as emptied out.

Being outed is freaky. My tactic is usually to "confide" in a few well-placed friends, including some whom I know really can't keep their traps shut. Then it'll slowly weave its way around my acquaintances, and the number of "confrontations" I deal with decreases drastically. It's pretty cowardly though.

Love and prayers, especially for your friends joining to one another today. May God bless them abundantly in their new life together.

PP

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memory-singer

Hello friends,

Today is July 23. 3 weeks from today I'll be flying to St. Emma's. I flew home early this morning from the wedding (which was all that such an occasion can be.) In an hour I'll be driving to a memorial for my friend and her mother who were killed 12 days ago. I've been asked to play something for that too. I hope when the time comes I can do it in away that brings comfort. I'm too wrung out to do more than quote a particulrly appropriate (for me today) part of St. Benedict's Rule.

Only those...should come forward to sing and read who have the ability to fulfill this role in a way that is helpful to others.

Chapter 47, Rule of St. Benedict

That's Benedict--moderate and tough. No ego, no performance, no personal grief to be displayed; just serve as you can.

Let's continue to pray for one another.

Pax,

Dare

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puellapaschalis

I was talking to my landlady earlier this evening, and we were talking about the word [i]overtuigen[/i], which in English means to convince or to persuade. Over the past few years I've come to a different understanding of the word: no longer simply using reasoned arguments, or putting forth points of view in a debate, but instead helping people to open their hearts, especially to the longing for God that sits deep inside of us all. This latter approach does, I believe, better what you spoke of, of Benedict: people come [i]as they are[/i], without excessive pomp or ceremony, and Benedict helps us all mould ourselves to Christ. Is a huge personality change necessary? No, but a growth into one's [i]true[/i] personality is.

Love and prayers, especially at this tough time for you.

PP

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