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Anyone else ever seemingly randomly feel like going to multiple liturgies/Masses in a weekend?

What?? As one example, the President's Malaria Initiative, established by President George W Bush and expanded by Obama, has saved millions of lives from malaria in the past two decades. It is hard to be extremely precise, because it prevents people who would otherwise get the disease, and then most would recover but some would die, so all we can do is estimate. But the number of malaria deaths has went way down in areas that the US has stepped in to help. Most deaths are also children under 5. This is part of USAID and Elon Musk and Donald Trump are trying to dismantle it. By some estimates, it only costs $3,000 per life saved, on average. This may be the most efficient way to save lives. And the world's richest man is hurting the world very poorest, all in the name of efficiency. If being a liberal is being a good Samaritan, then I want to be more liberal.

In today’s readings, we hear Jesus speaking in Galilee as well as a Jewish sage named Sirach in the First Reading, writing in Jerusalem more than a century earlier. The two of them touch upon a single truth: The words that come out of us make known the hidden thoughts within us. The lesson from Jesus is “Don’t try to change other people. Try to change yourself. That’s more than enough work for you to do.” Jesus’ directive is a hard one. Isn’t it a lot easier to point out other people’s faults and shortcomings than look at our own? But Jesus points out that if we don’t attempt to correct our own vision, then we are definitely not in shape to lead and guide other people: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” These teachings of Jesus are among the most challenging in the gospel, especially coming after last Sunday’s lessons to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. They are challenging because they name very real weaknesses that we all share, and for which we constantly need reminders. Oh, it is so much easier (and dare I say, enjoyable?) to point out other people’s splinters than to acknowledge our own much bigger faults. But, of course, there are the practical things that we must do, like the ones I mentioned above: theology, boycotts, protests, prayer, and such. We can’t abandon those things. I think Jesus’ lesson from today’s readings is that for those involved in Catholic social justice, the attitude we have towards the people who may be opposed to us is just as important, maybe even more important, than the work that we do. I read recently the closing paragraph of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Christmas 1957 sermon entitled “Loving Your Enemies,” which was delivered at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He wrote the sermon while in jail for committing civil disobedience during the bus boycott in that city: “To our most bitter opponents we say: ‘We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws because noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. Throw us in jail and we shall still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we shall still love you. But be ye assured one day we shall win freedom but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process and our victory will be a double victory.’” That’s quite a lofty goal. But it is also powerful and necessary if the justice that we seek is rooted in God’s love for all. How do we do that? I had some insight into that from another friend’s gift. I recently read a collection of sayings called “An Interrupted Life.” by Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish woman who was killed at Auschwitz on 30 November 1943 (age 29 years). I have found her thoughts to be very profound, especially coming from someone who lived through such horrors, violence, and daily threats to her life. Despite the chaos and terror that she lived through during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Hillesum found it within herself to write the following: “I really see no other solution than to turn inward and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we have first changed ourselves. And that seems to me the only lesson to be learned from this war. That we must look into ourselves and nowhere else.” “The stance in each one of us to stay true to what we know to be good and right, to keep believing in the deep and abiding personal love of God, that speaking kindly to another at all times is right, that being taken for a fool sometimes will do no harm in the long run, if it preserves another’s dignity, to keep trying after we have failed in love, to acknowledge that the precepts of the Beatitudes are worth living." Those two passages express to me the messages of last week’s and today’s gospel : Love your enemies. And do so by working to change yourself, not them.

Marie Davy de Virville 1834-1904 At dawn on Saturday December 17, Mother Marie de Gonzague entered Life. On this date, the Church resumed in the liturgy the cycle of great antiphons “O”, antiphons preparatory to the feast of Christmas, and which all begin with this admiring O. "O Wisdom", would be sung at Vespers that evening. Oh yes, the wisdom of Providence which had chosen Mother Marie de Gonzague to be the Prioress of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus for most of her Carmelite life. Biographical overview February 20, 1834 Birth in Caen of Marie Davy de Virville. November 29, 1860 Entry into the Carmel of Lisieux. May 30, 1861 Clothing. June 27, 1862 Profession. July 16, 1862 Sailing. July 8, 1866 Sub-Prioress. August 8, 1869 Re-election as sub-prioress, for 3 years. January 20, 1871 Refugee in her family (advance of the Prussians). March 1871 Return to Carmel. October 28, 1874 Prioress. November 10, 1877 Re-election as prioress. November 16, 1880 Charges maintained for 2 years by Mgr Hugonin. January 28, 1883 She leaves office; is replaced by Mother Geneviève. She is 1st custodian (bursar) and mistress of novices. February 3, 1886 Prioress. February 13, 1889 Re-elected prioress. February 13, 1892 Offices extended for one year. February 20, 1893 She leaves office; replaced by Mother Agnès. She is bursar and mistress of novices. March 21, 1896 Prioress and mistress of novices (assisted by Thérèse). March 22, 1899 Re-elected prioress. April 19, 1902 Definitively leaves office; replaced by Mother Agnès. Is thrifty until his death. Spring 1904 Cancerous tumor on the tongue. December 17, 1904 death Mother Marie de Gonzague was therefore sub-prioress for 6 years and prioress for 21 years. After the death of St. Therese, a priest went to the Parlor of Lisieux Carmel to inquire regarding the possibilities of promoting the cause St. Therese: Mother Marie de Gonzague replied, "In that case Father, how many Carmelites do we have to canonized?"

The Baltimore Catechism was the national Catholic catechism for children in the United States from 1885 to the late 1960s Things have changed… 02/26/25 BALTIMORE — To the chagrin of the Republican Party, the Maryland House of Delegates passed legislation Friday to repeal the prohibition of selling condoms in public school vending machines. “Condoms for kiddies,” Del. Kathy Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican, said before the bill passed. “This goes too far” , House Bill 380 would allow contraceptives to be sold in nursery school, preschool, elementary and high school vending machines. It also removes the misdemeanor criminal penalty of $1,000.

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Novice Sister Michelle Marie Ozuna shares on her experiences at St. Francis Convent, West Point, Nebraska. Sister Louise Hembrecht, Sister Elizabeth Ann Miller, Sister Joy Rose and Sister Patricia Linssen serve God’s people here in the Diocese of Omaha. https://fscc-calledtobe.org/2025/02/22/franciscan-novices-west-point-nebraska-mission-experience/ ".. as a second-year novice, we learned how our call to be Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is an extension of the original call of our Foundresses many years ago. I believe the same could be said about the many communities where we minister. Our Sisters have been serving the church through their service to the West Point community for 140 years. In many ways the foundation laid by those first Sisters missioned in West Point is timeless and permeates to our present day. "

According to the news tonight the Pope's health has taken a turn for the worse and he is now in a critical condition. He has been given a blood transfusion and there is grave concern. Not good.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262227/pope-francis-hospitalized-live-updates

in the year 2025, the U.S. population grew 2% The general fertility rate in the United States decreased by 3% from 2022, reaching a historic low. This marks the second consecutive year of decline, following a brief 1% increase from 2020 to 2021. From 2014 to 2020, the rate consistently decreased by 2% annually. Meanwhile, the national debt in the United States is up 55%, equating to $36.22 trillion dollars. No worries , our children's, children's, children will have it paid off in less than 1000 years

From one end of the Bible to the other, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus is described as “a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment” Psalm 86:15. As creatures created in the image of God, we are also meant to be merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. This is what it means to love our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus takes it even further in Luke 6: We are to turn the other cheek, offer our shirt with our coat, give to “everyone who asks of [us],” forgive, and treat others just as we would have them do unto us (Luke 6:27-38)! Jesus insists that it is in our best interest to do so. For if we do, the love, forgiveness, and mercy we shall give will be returned to us in “a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’ (Luke 6:38). The person you call your enemy is also suffering. As soon as you see that, the capacity of accepting and having compassion for him is there. Jesus called this ‘loving your enemy’. When you are able to love your enemy, he or she is no longer your enemy. The idea of enemy vanishes and is replaced by the notion of someone who is suffering and needs your compassion. Jesus, much like the Hebrew Prophets, says these seemingly impossible things to us to help us imagine ways to move beyond that which seems to be hopeless. The challenge of bridging our differences is not only possible but necessary. All this loving, doing good, and praying for others, especially others we do not like at all, and who often do not like us, is the only way forward. And it all begins with us – with each of us, one at a time . If we are going to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, if we are to do to others as we would have them do to us, we need to begin loving ourselves. Then, and only then, can we begin to give up and let go of judging and condemning others. If we seek forgiveness, how much are we willing to forgive? Can we begin to forgive and love ourselves just a little bit more so that we might begin to love others, even our enemies and those who hate us, just a little bit more? We do not have to like them. We just need to do something helpful for them, something useful. If we take the first steps to love our enemies and those who hate us, Jesus tells us, “ You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked..” God’s mercy knows no bounds, no boundaries, no conditions. We are to be merciful as God is merciful – in just the same measure as we want God to be merciful to us. Jesus is really asking, “Do you want to spend all your energy hating your enemies? Or do you really want to follow me and become children of the Most High?” Can we begin today to take one small step toward the kind of reconciliation Jesus knows is the only way forward for us all? Can we begin to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us? And if not now, when? In today’s world, ‘loving your enemy’ is best expressed in terms of commitment to dialogue and mutual respect among peoples of diverse religions and cultures. This enables us to open our hearts to become people of love, service and compassion. This way, we allow God’s love to enter our lives and world, mindful of Jesus’ words: “The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back!”

PEACE AND GOOD! In the early 1980s I regularly visited the Livraria Editorial Franciscana in Oporto, and there I acquired a lot of literature that would prepare me for my great goal, which was to become a Franciscan tertiary. In 1981 I knocked on the door of the Convent of Amial, of the Capuchins of Oporto, and the good Friar Joaquim de São Mamede answered me, telling me that the Secular Franciscan Fraternity was on vacation at the time, and would resume its activity in September. For very high purposes I began my Franciscan life in the year of the opening of the 8th Centenary of the Birth of Saint Francis of Assisi, so that the month of September was spent preparing for the National Franciscan Pilgrimage to Fátima, on the first weekend of October, falling exactly on Sunday the 4th, Solemnity of the Seraphic Father. St. Francis! I signed up for the pilgrimage, willing to stay wherever I could, as I only had transportation guaranteed. The ordeal was great: it rained almost all the time, and I spent a large part of the night of October 3rd to 4th nestled under one of the side altars of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, cozy in my raincoat. Early in the morning, still barely recovered from that night spent in precarious circumstances, I went barefoot to do the Stations of the Cross in Valinhos, having accompanied, in part, the Fraternity of Ovar. The Pilgrimage ended with a Solemn Mass in the Basilica, and despite seeing many brothers wearing the traditional habit (tunic without hood, cord and cape), I discovered that none of the brothers from Amial wore a habit. But to feel completely Franciscan, I would have to wear the habit. I was already praying the abbreviated Liturgy of the Hours. Why wouldn't he fully comply with what he believed to be contained in the Constitutions? I had a job of exercising charity, I cultivated art and beauty in my leisure time, I loved Nature and creatures, I had basic knowledge of Theology, and so I thought I had the necessary ingredients to be a reasonable Franciscan. It is true that the habit does not make the monk, but it helps him appear to be one. If there was a habit of the Third Order, should it be worn without prejudice or human respect, and whenever possible in sandals, or why not barefoot, as Father Saint Francis did for almost his entire life? During our short formation as postulants, I asked the Assistant about what this “taking of the habit” with which I would begin the novitiate would be like. I already anticipated having to make a budget for the making of the tunic and cape. But, pointing to the “TAU” that I had long worn on the lapel of my coat to express my Franciscan feelings, the friar told me (much to my disappointment) that “taking on the habit” simply consisted of... Putting a “TAU” on the lapel of my coat! As I was going to move to the Braga Fraternity, I was left with the hope that I would be able to fulfil my dreams here. I tried to find out, among the Amial colleagues, how it would be possible to obtain the habit of the Order, and then they told me about a friar from the Convent of St. Anthony, in Barcelos, who was the tailor of the Capuchins, and who would certainly fulfill my wish. Driven by this hope, I joined, de jure, the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) on November 15, 1981, the day before the feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, patron saint of the Order. I wore a suit, tie and shoes. And I was hoping that, for my Profession, I would already be dressed in Franciscan attire! The greatest blessings of Jesus, Mary and Francis! Br. Alberto Guimaraes OFS Braga - Portugal

PEACE AND GOOD! In that year of 1983, during the first National Franciscan Pilgrimage to Fátima, after joining the Secular Franciscan Fraternity of Braga, I learned that someone else thought like me. As I have already said, in those days photographs were analogue, the development and respective copies came out of my own pocket and I did not want to hear comments about wasting money that could be detrimental to the family budget. That is why this Franciscanly poor chronicle will not be illustrated today. The welcome, the evening celebrations, even the overnight stay in the hotel, which contrasted with the miserable but happy conditions in which I spent the 1981 pilgrimage, everything went very well, and early in the morning I went, as had always been my wish, to do the Stations of the Cross barefoot, wondering whether I would do it alone or if I would find any other fraternity in this pious devotion brought from the Holy Land by the first Franciscans. After having walked through a few stations alone, I saw a group at the next one, and heard someone doing the respective meditation in a loud voice and with great emphasis, as befits any preacher. I approached and saw, kneeling in front of the aedicule, a young man who must have been a little younger than me, dressed in the traditional habit of the Third Order of Penance, that is, tunic, cord and cape. When he got up I noticed that he was walking barefoot, just like me and some people in the group! It was then, at that moment, that for the first time I felt that I was not alone in my lifestyle project! I asked someone where the fraternity was from, and that person replied that they were from the port of Leixoes. I also asked if the young man who presided over the Stations of the Cross was a third brother, and they told me yes. After all, it wasn't so transcendental for a third brother to wear a habit and, if he wanted and understood, walk barefoot! One more reason for me to try to find out, in Barcelos, who the Capuchin was who made the habits, and have one made for me. And then, on future pilgrimages, to Fátima or wherever, I would encourage some of the people from Braga to accompany me in revisiting this detail of Franciscan life. And so it came to pass! I will return to this topic soon. Blessings from Jesus, Mary and Francis! Br. Alberto Guimaraes OFS Braga - Portugal

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Renee Mirkes, ethicist at St. Paul VI Institute, Omaha Nebraska, writes for The Catholic World Report on the global birth dearth. She sees it as an existential threat if we’ve ever faced one: Just decades after ominous warnings of overpopulation, we are careening toward a population implosion that is incapable of sustaining global humanity. https://fscc-calledtobe.org/2025/02/19/the-global-birth-dearth-a-primer-by-franciscan-sister-renee-mirkes/

In 1917 the Cloistered Sisters are an independent Congregation bearing the official name: "Congregation of the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration" (SSpSAP). Their main goal is, as for all religious orders, the perfection and sanctification of the members by imitating the life of Jesus and Mary by faithfully observing the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and the Constitutions. Their special goal is "collaboration in the propagation of the faith through the apostolate of prayer"; this is accomplished by: 1. a life of contemplation with the observation of perpetual enclosure, 2. special veneration of the Holy Spirit, 3. perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament day and night, 4. choral Divine Office 5. work, that is professional and artistic handicrafts, especially the making of vestments, literary work, domestic and garden work according to the strength and competence of the Sisters; teaching, education, nursing and such work are not allowed. There are no distictions in the Congregation (i.e., no choir and lay Sisters); the order of precedence is similar to that of the other two congregations. The habit consists of: rose-clored habit, scapular, veil, cincture, white headdress, blue cloak, profession cross and after perpetual vows, a silver ring with the inscription:Ave Sponse caelestis. Black clothing is prescribed for travelling.

November 1907 - After the Death of the Founder At the election of the Cloistered Sisters in which all members in perpetual vows participated, Sr. M. Michael was elected superior; the councilors elected were Srs. M. Gertrudis, M. Theresia, M. Vita and M. Ancilla. The Missionary Sisters re-elected Sr. M. Theresia as Superior General. In his speech, Fr. Blum spoke about "The Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit in their two branches, Missionary and Cloistered Sisters. He himself was the highest superior of all three branches. Though this structure proved to be sensible enough during the lifetime of the Founder, after his death it seemed some changes had to be made. The idea of a common superior general for both sections was practically abandoned with the early death of Mother M. Virgo. Still, the interdependence of the two branches of the two sections remained strong. The long-term economic dependence of the Sisters on SVD was a real problem. No one recognized this more than Fr. Blum who was an expert in financial affairs. But the Sisters themselves too realized the need for greater independence. Note: Sr. M. Ancilla (Mother Mary Ancilla) succeeded Mother Mary Michael after her death - make her the second Superior General of the Cloistered Branch. Mother Mary Michael (Adolfine Tönnies), SSpSAP Co-foundress January 7, 1862 – February 25, 1934 “Mother Mary Michael is a model for us in harmoniously integrating contemplation with action, human prudence with faith-filled confidence in God, and firmness with kindness.” From our Constitutions Adolfine Tönnies was born on January 7, 1862 in Horst-Emscher (Westphalia, Germany). She was the third of eleven children. Deep faith and love for the poor characterized her mother Matylda. Her father Johann owned an iron shop and was respected especially for his honesty in business. Adolfine went to a teacher's training college in Münster and at age 19 became a teacher in a one-room mission school in Rendsburg, where she worked with great dedication for ten years. Adolfine had often thought about joining a religious congregation, but did not want to abandon her school. When she asked her uncle, Fr. Hermann Wegener, SVD for advice, he directed her the new congregation of Missionary Sisters that Fr. Arnold Janssen, SVD had founded. On April 4, 1891 she gave her last lesson in Rendsburg and on May 1 moved to Steyl. Adolfine became one of the first 16 postulants in the new religious order. She gladly put up with the poverty of the house and later stated: I believe I have never laughed so much as in the first year of my religious life. Like the other Sisters she did the simplest house chores. She also played the harmonium for the community and lead the singing. When Adolfine became a novice on January 17, 1892, she received the name Michael. Sr. Michael made her first profession of vows with the first group of Mission Sisters on March 12, 1894. In 1895 she was among the first Sisters appointed for Togo, West Africa, but before she could leave the appointment was revoked. In the fall of 1896, Sr. Michael applied for the cloistered section that was about to be established and was accepted. On December 8, she received the habit of the cloistered Sisters and the name Mary Michael. She was a novice again. During her first year as a cloistered Sister, Sr. Mary Michael was novice directress. On December 8, 1897, Fr. Arnold appointed her superior of the community. As superior, she promoted the interior and exterior growth of the Congregation and counseled the Sisters to do ordinary things extraordinarily well. Our salvation and sanctification consist in fidelity in little things. Later, she would be elected superior general of the Congregation, an office she exercised until her death. Mother Mary Michael and three other Sisters made their first temporary vows as Cloistered Sisters on December 8, 1899. On August 15, 1907 the first perpetual profession took place: Mother Mary Michael, Sr. Mary Gertrudis, and Sr. Mary Theresia vowed themselves forever to their Bridegroom at a ceremony presided over by the Founder Fr. Arnold. Mother Mary Michael had spent eight months as a postulant, two years as a novice, and two years as a professed member of the Missionary Sisters. Then she started climbing the religious ladder again: three years a novice and seven years in temporary vows before making her perpetual profession as a Holy Spirit Adoration Sister. For Mother Mary Michael, faithfulness to the spirit of the Founder was the most precious inheritance and greatest concern. In an address to the Sisters, she said: Whoever is faithful to the principles of our Congregation, our holy rule, and our customs, she has the right goal in view and has everything to become holy. Mother Mary Michael was characterized not only by a great desire to glorify God and to love Jesus in the Eucharist, but also a great missionary zeal. Hence with genuine joy she accepted invitations to open new houses of Eucharistic adoration. By her own example, she taught the Sisters humility, obedience, and cheerfulness. Even in her old age, she was known for the joy she exuded. At the end of 1933, Mother Mary Michael started to feel weak and tired. The doctor examined her on January 25 and diagnosed a serious liver disorder. She died on February 25, 1934 at the end of the High Mass that had been offered for her. It was the second Sunday of Lent and the gospel of the day was on the Transfiguration of Christ. Her last words were: Jesus, Mary... “I feel obliged to great thanksgiving toward the Holy Spirit for the vocation to the religious life precisely in this Congregation. He has led the ship of my life through the storms and dangers, and will lead it safely until it reaches the shore of blessed eternity.” Mother Mary Michael

My wife and I just got back yesterday from a trip to Argentina which was Pope Francis's home for years. I now have many friends and FAMILY in Argentina and I have a special empathy for Pope Francis because in 1996 I personally had pneumonia in one lung and it was rough.... I had to take a month off from work because I was boiling hot one minute and freezing the next moment and I simply could not work. I have been studying the paranormal and near death experience accounts since 1990 and I am convinced that the Being of Light of near death experience fame has massive plans for Pope Francis and I am praying that he meet with the Being of Light of near death experience fame and come back with specific plans to transform the Vatican in ways that will fit brilliantly with the plans that President Donald J. Trump has to bring Shalom to the Middle East. I personally believe that this illness that Pope Francis is experiencing is meant to improve the lives of millons and even billions of people and even set in motion a series of events that will transform the world economy in many positive ways. My strong suspicion is that Pope Francis may soon decide to go underground in the Vatican and give every artificact with the Hebrew language on it to the nation of Israel ..... because i do agree with the Jerusalem Sanhedrin that one of the best possible ways to bring Shalom to the Middle East would be for President Donald J. Trump to assist ten million Israelis to construct an Ezekiel chapter forty to forty eight temple complex. Later on.... there will likely be a second Jerusalem TEmple over the Gihon Spring that is several hundred meters away from the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock..... The Temple Mount was likely NOT the place of The Temple of King Solomon and King Herod according to what I have found out so far. I admit that I am biased but I am kind of thinking that the paper that I wrote back at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada back in 2009, 2010 might just be all set up to be somewhat useful in the near future. https://greendesertstoreducecarbon.blogspot.com/

“COR ORANS” IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTION OF THE APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION “VULTUM DEI QUAERERE” ON WOMEN’S CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE 18 In order to obtain juridical autonomy for a monastery of nuns, it must presuppose a real autonomy of life, that is, the ability to manage the life of the monastery in all its dimensions (vocational, formative, governmental, relational, liturgical, economic ...). In this case, an autonomous monastery is alive and vital[24]. 45 When the number of professed members of solemn vows reaches five, the community of said monastery loses the right to the election of its Superior. In this case, the Federal President is obliged to inform the Holy See in view of appointing the ad hoc commission[37] and whoever has the right to preside over the elective chapter, subject to authorization from the Holy See, will proceed to the appointment of an Administrator Superior, after having heard the members of the community individually. V. Suppression 67 Affiliation can be an opportunity for recovery and rebirth when autonomy of life is partially compromised. If the situation of incapacity is irreversible, the solution, as painful as it is necessary, is the suppression of the monastery. 68 A monastery of nuns that cannot express, according to the contemplative nature and finality of the Institute, the particular public witness to Christ and to the Church His Bride, must be suppressed, keeping in mind the usefulness to the Church and to the Institute to which the monastery belongs. 69. In these cases, it is up to the Holy See to evaluate the opportunity of setting up an ad hoc commission formed by the Ordinary, by the Federation President, the Federal Assistant, and by the Major Superior of the monastery[43]. 70 Among the criteria that can contribute to determine a judgment concerning the suppression of a monastery, after having examined all the circumstances, the following points should be considered as a whole: the number of nuns, the advanced age of the majority of the members, the real capacity for government and formation, lack of candidates for a number of years, lack of the necessary vitality in living and transmitting the charism in dynamic fidelity[44]. 71 A monastery of nuns is only suppressed by the Holy See after having acquired the opinion of the diocesan Bishop[45] and, if it seems opportune, having heard the opinion of the Federal President, of the religious Assistant, and of the religious Ordinary, if the monastery is associated according to the norm of can. 614 CJC. 72. The assets of the suppressed monastery, respecting the will of the founders and donors, follow the surviving nuns and go, in proportion, to the monasteries that receive them, unless otherwise provided by the Holy See[46] which may dispose, in individual cases, of a portion of the assets to be given to charity, to the particular church within whose boundaries the monastery is located, to the Federation, and to the “Fund for the nuns”. 73 In the event of the suppression of a totally extinct monastery, when there are no surviving nuns, unless otherwise provided by the Holy See[47], the destination of the suppressed monastery's assets, in compliance with canon and civil law, go to the respective higher juridical person, that is, to the Federation of monasteries or to another structure of communion among the monasteries equal to it or to the female monastic Congregation.

Just a heads up for those particularly older vocations who were interested in the Redemptoristines in Maitland, Australia. Due to circumstances that I am not permitted to publicly speak of, the monastery has officially closed and the sisters have moved into seniors/aged care. Most Redemptoristines now require a vocation to be under 35 years of age. One exception is the nun's in Brazil but one would need to contact them directly. While I was to enter Maitland, I have thankfully been invited to a live in with another order. The Lord opened the door at the right time. I just thought I would let folks know.

Hello all! Wow, it's been a long time since I visited. Many years ago I was pretty active here up until I joined religious life. This place has a special place in my heart and I remember so many members- Fransiscan Heart, CrossCut, Credo, Nunsense, more I can't even list. I am now married, have a son, and am spending many hours up at ungodly hours (as having an infant tends to make one do.) I found myself back here late at night wondering what happened to everyone. I'm happy to hear PhuturePriest did indeed become a priest! And I'm praying for the repose of Seven77. I was in religious life for two years, and left before taking first vows. The time I spent there was an incredible experience and I still write with some of my classmates from the novitiate. I felt over time that religious life just wasn't for me, and there was something more for me out there- but leaving was hard. I actually was part of a vocations panel recently where I shared my story of discernment with a high school youth group. When I left I never would have been able to see myself doing that, but I've come a long ways since then. The something more eventually turned out to be meeting my husband. I finished college, moved back to my hometown, taught middle school, and got married! I now live close by family and help run the local young adult group with our parish priest. We have a lovely little son who's growing daily. Anyways, I think of the old group occasionally and hope you're all doing well, wherever you are!

S3.6 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur soit avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

I see good intent, but maybe a heads-up to her would have been in order. For myself, when I offer up devotions that involve others - I kinda 'write in' a back-up plan, so for instance, if she wouldn't want to come with me I would for example do it twice. I think you had very good intent in teh sense of not only performing a devotion but also teaching this devotion which is excellent, so for this well done. If you would have asked her, and she refused then said OK then, I'll do it twice, once for each our behalfs - that would have given a strong example as well. Chers, and keep the faith! PEACE AND GOOD, and thank you for your words! I hope that this question of mine (?) and the answers and opinions of the brothers who comment on it serve as clarification for whoever reads this topic. Blessings!

S3.5 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

DO try and see the good in people will ya Hna... ISn't it the first thing we should do?

TURN-IT-UP

Luigi, I miss your song recommendations, even as I couldn't keep up with them all. 366 days of music is pretty amazing--no wonder you're feeling played out! I'll try to add something to this thread every once-in-awhile, just to keep it near the top of the board. I could be mistaken, and I don't think you've introduced this one yet. As near as I can tell, "Are you walkin' and talkin' with the Lord" was written by Hank Williams (the subject of David Allen Coe's 1983 song, "The Ride") and recorded by Carl Story and the Rambling Mountaineers. There's a small discrepancy between the preposition in the title (walkin' and talkin' WITH the Lord) and the one in the sung version of the song (walkin' and talkin' FOR the Lord). Anyhow, enjoy!