Carmelite Nuns Move Into New Monastery Home

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='02 July 2010 - 02:12 PM' timestamp='1278097961' post='2136993']
Sorry I got your name wrong Sister Mary Polycarp of the Early Rising. I never said you had to get up at 2am just that Id be outside your cell ringing the bells [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/ninja.gif[/img] Hmm your cooking as a penance.... I dunnoooo.... I grew up around some pretty bad cooks so I doubt it could be any worse! Are you a bad singer? That would probably work better as a penance than being a bad cook.
[/quote]

Sorry, I CAN sing. I don't have a solo quality voice, but in college I was in the University Chorus (that's not the glee club, but the one the music majors were in where you had to sight sing--among other skills--as part of your audition). So, I will have nothing to apologize for in the choir of the Phatmass Phemale Community. (I'm glad there will be SOMETHING I won't have to apologize for!)

Plus, I thought we were going to have hermitages? I'm kind of wary of cells (although I like the concept--I'd enjoy having a cell) because, with my luck, they'd put me in a cell next to someone who snored loudly or next to the bells! and I couldn't complain because of my vow of obedience. Or, I'd have the cell next to you, and when you weren't keeping me awake by ringing the bells, I'd be kept awake by the sound of your sobbing holy tears. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img]

If we had cells, maybe we could put the Carmelites in their own section, so that they could sob all night if they wanted. For those of us with different gifts, it takes a good night's sleep to be alert enough to study theology and write learned papers! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif[/img]

Edited July 2, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[vee]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='02 July 2010 - 06:55 PM' timestamp='1278114915' post='2137158']
Sorry, I CAN sing. I don't have a solo quality voice, but in college I was in the University Chorus (that's not the glee club, but the one the music majors were in where you had to sight sing--among other skills--as part of your audition). So, I will have nothing to apologize for in the choir of the Phatmass Phemale Community. (I'm glad there will be SOMETHING I won't have to apologize for!)[/quote]

One of the questions this community asked me was if I could sing which Im not great at but in a group Im ok. Its not a requirement, anymore, but they said in the past one of the things that would be asked of a woman interested in a vocation would be to sing at the grille! I told them Id do it if they wanted me to but they said no its ok. I suspect they just didnt want to have to listen to the dogs barking again that day

[quote]Plus, I thought we were going to have hermitages? I'm kind of wary of cells (although I like the concept--I'd enjoy having a cell) because, with my luck, they'd put me in a cell next to someone who snored loudly or next to the bells! and I couldn't complain because of my vow of obedience. Or, I'd have the cell next to you, and when you weren't keeping me awake by ringing the bells, I'd be kept awake by the sound of your sobbing holy tears. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img] [/quote]

Oh right the hermitages Maybe in the summer we can have tent week as part of the yearly retreat or if camping isnt your thing then at least marshmallow night.
[quote]
If we had cells, maybe we could put the Carmelites in their own section, so that they could sob all night if they wanted. For those of us with different gifts, it takes a good night's sleep to be alert enough to study theology and write learned papers! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif[/img][/quote]

Ah but of the 33 doctors of the church 3 are Carmelites, the same number as the Dominicans, so clearly all that crying hasnt hampered their writing ability
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_the_Church"]http://en.wikipedia....r_of_the_Church[/url]

[size="1"]I swear I did not edit that wikipedia article to include the pictures of Therese and Teresa but Im glad someone did[/size]

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='02 July 2010 - 08:45 PM' timestamp='1278121529' post='2137195']
Oh right the hermitages [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/doh.gif[/img] Maybe in the summer we can have tent week as part of the yearly retreat [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/camp.gif[/img] or if camping isnt your thing then at least marshmallow night.

Ah but of the 33 doctors of the church 3 are Carmelites, the same number as the Dominicans, so clearly all that crying hasnt hampered their writing ability [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/twothumbsup.gif[/img]
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_the_Church"]http://en.wikipedia....r_of_the_Church[/url]

[size="1"]I swear I did not edit that wikipedia article to include the pictures of Therese [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif[/img] and Teresa but Im glad someone did[/size] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/D.gif[/img]
[/quote]

It's not the crying that's the problem--I can cry with the best of them. (I wish I couldn't.) It's the fact that loud crying would keep me awake. Silent tears of holy joy would be okay. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img] I'm so jealous of people who can get by with less sleep. For Carmelites, crying holy tears seems to help their writing. But, we Jesuits (LOL) need our sleep. (Actually I don't know that. For all I know, Jesuits get by on only a few hours of sleep a night. I'll have to look into that.)

Hmmm, if I decide to be a female Jesuit, would that mean I could design my own habit since I'd be the only one? I'm going to have to look up what Jesuit habits look like. The only Jesuits I've met have been dressed the same as diocesan priests (or they were in vestments).

[JTheresa]

I read the title to this thread and was very happy.


Then I read through the two pages of posts.







Just kidding.

You guys crack me up.

[vee]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='02 July 2010 - 09:57 PM' timestamp='1278125846' post='2137221']
It's not the crying that's the problem--I can cry with the best of them. (I wish I couldn't.) It's the fact that loud crying would keep me awake. Silent tears of holy joy would be okay. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img] I'm so jealous of people who can get by with less sleep. For Carmelites, crying holy tears seems to help their writing. But, we Jesuits (LOL) need our sleep. (Actually I don't know that. For all I know, Jesuits get by on only a few hours of sleep a night. I'll have to look into that.)

[/quote]

Hmm from reading St Teresa's autobiography she mentions how there were times when she would be taken into a union or rapture, and much to her embarrassment, would cry out unable to prevent the cry or moan. Going by her writings then I'd say it's not the crying of holy tears being loud enough to worry about, it would be cries and moans from someone far into the interior castle that God decides to give those experiences to. None of that would be coming from me, I can assure, as I am nowhere near being holy enough for that kind of thing.

[vee]

[quote name='JTheresa' date='02 July 2010 - 11:25 PM' timestamp='1278131159' post='2137256']
I read the title to this thread and was very happy.


Then I read through the two pages of posts.







Just kidding.

You guys crack me up.


[/quote]
The prioress of this Carmel came to the grille to tell me we would be leaving at a certain time to take me back to the airport. Instead she started telling me a funny story about how a friend of hers dragged her to a monastery for a visit when they were in highschool. She didn't want to be a nun her friend did but things ended up the opposite. Ten or so minutes later she's like oh ya I came to tell you we would like to leave at 9:30 to take you to the airport! I was amused that she had hijacked her own conversation

Edited July 3, 2010 by vee8

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='03 July 2010 - 02:51 PM' timestamp='1278186675' post='2137460']
The prioress of this Carmel came to the grille to tell me we would be leaving at a certain time to take me back to the airport. Instead she started telling me a funny story about how a friend of hers dragged her to a monastery for a visit when they were in highschool. She didn't want to be a nun her friend did but things ended up the opposite. Ten or so minutes later she's like oh ya I came to tell you we would like to leave at 9:30 to take you to the airport! I was amused that she had hijacked her own conversation [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img]
[/quote]

Great story!

My mind isn't linear, so sometimes (often?) I get off on a tangent I find interesting or fun, and leave the specific subject I'm supposed to be discussing. But, the interesting thing is that, in my mind, at least, the tangents ARE usually related to the specific subject in some way, even if the listener/reader can't see it, and I normally DO get back to the orginal subject eventually. If it is taking too long to get to the point, friends have to remind me to get back on point, and I've (mostly) learned not to be insulted by that, even though I think the other person missed an interesting story by making me stick to the subject. I like to delude myself that my non-linear mind is a sign of genius. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/dunce.gif[/img]

And, in fact, with your post above, we HAVE returned to the point. The original subject was the building of the new monastery for the Community of nuns you feel most called to (until it sinks in that, if you enter that Community, you're going to be hearing A LOT about St. Therese every day, and be expected to enjoy it, for the rest of your life--but, I digress). Your most recent post talks about a story the prioress told about visiting the original monastery when she was in high school.

Okay, I know the relationship to the original post is a stretch, but at least your post above is more related to the original thread than most of the posts on the past few pages.

Personally, I usually enjoy hijacked threads. They are often more fun, and sometimes more relevant to what's really going on with us right now than the original thread.

We started the thread talking about new construction, and now we have returned to the monastery in B.C., instead of the imaginary monastery in our minds.

Sister Polycarp [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif[/img]

[vee]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='03 July 2010 - 03:33 PM' timestamp='1278189192' post='2137467']
And, in fact, with your post above, we HAVE returned to the point. The original subject was the building of the new monastery for the Community of nuns you feel most called to (until it sinks in that, if you enter that Community, you're going to be hearing A LOT about St. Therese every day, and be expected to enjoy it, for the rest of your life--but, I digress). Your most recent post talks about a story the prioress told about visiting the original monastery when she was in high school. [/quote]

Gosh I hope they dont mention Therese[size="3"] every[/size] day! I forget which monastery it was she said she visited, or was dragged to, but I think it was a different Order.

[quote]Personally, I usually enjoy hijacked threads. They are often more fun, and sometimes more relevant to what's really going on with us right now than the original thread.[/quote]

I like hijacked threads too, hijacked conversations, imaginary monasteries ... and whiskers on kittens... these are a few of my favorite things *cough*

Edited July 4, 2010 by vee8

[JTheresa]

While we are on the topic of construction, I really think we need to start building that imaginary monastery.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='JTheresa' date='04 July 2010 - 12:05 AM' timestamp='1278219903' post='2137611']
While we are on the topic of construction, I really think we need to start building that imaginary monastery.
[/quote]

Certainly. Every other Order seems to be building a monastery!

And, the wonderful thing is that since our community is imaginary, we will have acres of beautiful grounds, and it won't cost a thing!

[vee]

From their newsletter

[b][color="#30312c"]If all goes well, our permanent monastery will be blessed on August 5th, 2010, anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of St. Mary Major.[/color][/b]



I am beyond happy to read that! They truly deserve their new home and am so excited to hear they might actually get to move in very soon!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='29 June 2010 - 09:03 PM' timestamp='1277863423' post='2136009']
Thank you Detective Crucis! Hmmm that actually sounds kinda cool and I can think of a whole book I should write to go with it too...
[/quote]

Good idea! Mystery stories with nuns in them are very popular, not only with "my" Sisters across the street, but in general, and not just with Catholics. Since it's a mystery, someone has to die, but keep discussion of the specifics to a minimum. Ideally, no sex at all, but a romance between two wonderful Catholic young people doesn't hurt. People are fascinated by monastic life, so include a few details about that. Detective Crucis can be as religious as you want, but should also be quirky and definitely human. (Not an active mystic, though, because if the Holy Sprit solves the mystery that's like cheating.) You can have side characters who are mystics, but they go over best if they are good people who either have a very practical side, besides, or if you allow the other characters to respect their gifts, but also make fun of them. Many mystery books are based on the premise of someone famous as the detective--The Queen, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc, but I don't see "St. Thesere, the Little Flower Detective" having much of an audience outside Catholic book stores.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='29 July 2010 - 04:42 PM' timestamp='1280439732' post='2149656']
[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif[/img]
From their newsletter

[b][color="#30312c"]If all goes well, our permanent monastery will be blessed on August 5th, 2010, anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of St. Mary Major.[/color][/b]

[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/woot.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/woot.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif[/img]

I am beyond happy to read that! They truly deserve their new home and am so excited to hear they might actually get to move in very soon!
[/quote]

I'm very happy for them! Too bad you're never going to get to live in the monastery because, in the end, you'll either become a Domincan or get married. (The only two options that make any sense.) [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/tomato.gif[/img]





Note: For people who don't know me, I'm totally joking. We want Vee8 to find the place she is totally happy, wherever that is, as long as her final choice of vocation isn't illegal or violent, although writing mysteries is acceptable, as long as she doesn't "test out the murders first to make sure they would work."

Edited July 29, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[vee]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='29 July 2010 - 05:03 PM' timestamp='1280440984' post='2149665']
I'm very happy for them! Too bad you're never going to get to live in the monastery because, in the end, you'll either become a Domincan or get married. (The only two options that make any sense.) [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/tomato.gif[/img]



Note: For people who don't know me, I'm totally joking. We want Vee8 to find the place she is totally happy, wherever that is, as long as her final choice of vocation isn't illegal or violent, although writing mysteries is acceptable, as long as she doesn't "test out the murders first to make sure they would work."
[/quote]



Sorry but sometimes smilies say it all

[vee]

They have updated their photos on the site so first are some pics from the Mass for Our Lady of Mt Carmel, then there are pics of the inside of the new monastery. If you ever needed proof of how wonderful St Joseph is their building attests to that as well as to the power of prayer I just want to say that the nuns arent the ones taking the pics or putting them up its one of the secular Carmelites who is doing that, I know this because it was the secular Carmelite who told me. In a couple of the pics you can see the backs of the heads of two nuns mixing with the public, and also one where way in the back of the room a nun is looking at the camera, thats the prioress. I think the reason that some of the Sisters are around those people would be that those are members of the city council.

Basically when they came there twenty years ago many people didnt understand them and didnt want them there but thanks to the mayor they could stay, so a little meet and greet with the city council members is an exception to their enclosure and not something they are constantly doing! I just dont want anyone to be scandalized or misunderstand them. They are the first and only Carmel for hundreds maybe thousands of miles (or kilometers ) so they are rather missionary in a way and are very alien to a lot of people they have to deal with. I wouldnt be interested in them if I thought they didnt have the spirit of of their Holy Mother Teresa, who had to deal with certain members of the public when building a new monastery as well but once it was done, its back to the enclosure.

Edited July 30, 2010 by vee8