Alleluia! He is risen! The New Creation has begun in the Person of our Resurrected Lord, and every created thing shows forth His glory in a unique way. One of our novices caught a glimpse of this while visiting some of our spring flowers, and she was inspired to write the following hymn of praise — think Daniel chapter 3, Kentucky-style!
Read MoreIndeed, Easter is the beginning of a “new day” — the “day” of redemption! So, during this Paschal Season, how can we not “rejoice and be glad” that Christ has won the victory for us? Here in the monastery, this joy overflows from the liturgy to everyday life. Enjoy a glimpse of our community’s “rejoicing and gladness” this Easter!
Read MoreAlleluia! He is Risen! May the peace of the Risen Christ fill your hearts and minds this sacred day. Know that you and your loved ones are held in our prayers today and always.
Read MoreSt. John could have truthfully written that “The dwelling of God is in the heavens, and He will reign as sovereign forever.” However, what the Lord said to him was rather different: “The dwelling of God is with the human race. He will dwell with them … and God Himself will always be with them as their God.” Of all the features He could have chosen to highlight in His description of the new creation, God focuses on His closeness to humanity.
Read MoreTo all mothers …
Like Jesus the Good Shepherd, you are called to guide and nurture those under your care — whether as a physical or as a spiritual mother, or both. THANK YOU for saying “yes” to your call!
Read MoreThe great “feast of feasts” was two weeks ago today … but the celebration is far from over! Holy Mother Church wants to make sure her children prolong the observance of Easter, and so the liturgies during these 50 days of joy are replete with that victorious Resurrection cry: Alleluia!
Read MoreOne of the most striking parts of the Easter Vigil liturgy is the blessing of the “new fire.” The orange flames leaping into the dark sky are a vivid image of the power of the Resurrection, by which Christ, the Light of the World, shatters the darkness of our sin and death.
Read MoreSpeak, Mary, declaring
What thou sawest wayfaring:
”The tomb of Christ, Who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ Resurrection!”
We inadvertently posted the wrong times for two of our Easter Sunday liturgies! Solemn Lauds will be at 7:15 AM, and the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection will be at 8 AM. We apologize for the mistake and still look forward to seeing many of you next week!
Read MoreWe no longer live a merely earthly existence, since Christ has claimed our souls for His Kingdom through the Sacrament of Baptism, but we still await the fulfillment of this reality in the world to come. So while we do not yet experience the Beatific Vision, we nonetheless are connected to Heaven in an amazingly intimate way.
Read MoreThe readings for this Sunday are all focused on the mystery of love – God’s love for us, and our love for Him and for our neighbor. Such a seemingly basic topic is actually the profoundest mystery of our Christian religion. After all, as our Second Reading reminds us, “God is love”!
Read MoreThe Paschal Mystery in us is both a preparation for and a foretaste of the Trinitarian life of Heaven: we live the Passion by giving of ourselves, and the Resurrection by receiving the grace that God pours out in return.
Read MoreOne Sister was particularly struck by the emphasis which Jesus lays on the sheep being His “own.” In a sense, this must be our primary identity; we must first and foremost remember that we are His, and that as such we are infinitely precious to Him.
Read MoreWhen we approach the Word of God, do we recognize that it is truly a grace to understand it as God intends us to? Biblical exegesis and research can do much for us, and they certainly have an important place in Scripture study, but ultimately the ability to penetrate the deeper meaning of the sacred texts is a gift from the One Whose Word they are.
Read MoreThe Sisters were very ready to break out into alleluias and celebration after a long forty days of fasting, prayer, and waiting, so on Easter Sunday the novitiate led us in a unique Easter egg scavenger hunt.
Read MoreSister Cecilia Maria takes us to the scene of Our Lady’s seventh Sorrow: the Burial of Jesus. Though Holy Saturday is often forgotten in the rush to prepare for Easter, this is the Marian day par excellence; let us live it in a close spiritual union with her, even if our external lives are busy. Then, on the long-awaited third day, we can rejoice with the Church and with all of creation in the Resurrection of Christ!
Read MoreWhile the Church may not celebrate today with quite as much external “pomp and splendor” as she does the Resurrection or the coming of the Holy Spirit, a close reading of the liturgy reveals that the Ascension is far more important than we might initially think!
Read MoreToday’s readings reflect the Church’s excitement that Pentecost – her “birthday” – is drawing ever closer!
Read MoreYou may have wondered before, “What does a Passionist nun do during the Easter season?” After all, the Church is focused throughout these days on the glorious mystery of the Resurrection. It might seem that a Congregation devoted to promoting devotion to and grateful remembrance of the Passion is irrelevant at such a time.
Read MoreThis Sunday’s Gospel is taken from Jesus’ beautiful Last Supper discourse in the Gospel of John. We began our discussion at the very start of the passage, where Our Lord states clearly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
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