Where Is Vee8?

[Maximilianus]

Sooooooooooooooooo...did you discover if the hermit way is for you?

[vee]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1290987174' post='2189734']
Sooooooooooooooooo...did you discover if the hermit way is for you?
[/quote]

Im not sure. Its not a definite yes or a definite no. They have the word hermit in their name but in reality they are pretty busy. As IT said right now they pray like Carmelites but work like Trappistines. I dont know how much or hard Trappistines work but these Sisters currently have no choice with so much needing to be done with just the regular chores, then extra stuff happens and so on there was never a dull day. They certainly arent off in some lala land doing nothing but praying.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

Now that we've found Vee8 (glad to see you again!), where is IrishSalesian?

Dieu vous benisse

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='vee8' timestamp='1290989848' post='2189742']
Im not sure. Its not a definite yes or a definite no. They have the word hermit in their name but in reality they are pretty busy. As IT said right now they pray like Carmelites but work like Trappistines. I dont know how much or hard Trappistines work but these Sisters currently have no choice with so much needing to be done with just the regular chores, then extra stuff happens and so on there was never a dull day. They certainly arent off in some lala land doing nothing but praying.
[/quote]

Do you think you will continue discernment with the community or check out others?

[tnavarro61]

very beautiful. if they have a male counterpart, i would be willing to try to live their life.

[HopefulBride]

[quote name='vee8' timestamp='1290973636' post='2189702']
A brief horarium

For Mass at the Hermitage there is the nun's choir where the alter is located and the choir stalls on the sides, then the public chapel. They do not have grilles so to receive the Eucharist each Sister kneels, if she is able, in front of her choir stall and their chaplain comes to each Sister. They do not receive the Precious Blood everyday but if I remember correctly they do on Sundays and feast days. They do ten minutes of silent thanksgiving in the choir immediately after Mass where each Sister may sit or kneel at her stall. They do use the Carmelite prayer stools which I am now a big fan of btw. After thanksgiving several prayers are recited as a community such as prayers for priests, those who are to die that day, and for the souls in purgatory, then its off to work or a one hour class on Carmelite spirituality and/or prayer given by the prioress. Mass times vary depending on the day of the week so Monday to Friday 8:30am, Saturday 9am, and Sunday 5pm. Saturday morning they do sing the solemn Salve Regina which I loved When entering and exiting the chapel, especially before and after Mass, each Sister may genuflect, bow, or kiss the floor as she wishes. The point is it must be sincere and meaningful to her and she must not look think less of others who do or do not do such things. They do not tolerate any falseness.

Each Sister says the Divine Office on her own and sets up an horarium with the prioress so there is flexibility in some ways such as if you want to get up at 4am you can, or 5 or 7am, as long as you are at Mass at 830am and able to work and be part of the community. Same policy goes for going to bed as you decide when you want to. I went to bed between 9 and 10pm most nights and woke up naturally at 5am or so. They ring the Angelus at 6am, noon, and 6pm and thats it for bells around there. They taught me how to ring it and so one of my favorite memories are the times I got to do that.

Each hermitage has a small kitchen so each Sister makes and eats her own breakfast and supper. A meal is prepared together at the main building for lunch and while I was there we ate as a community. If they have no live-ins they would take the food and eat it back at their hermitages but to help newbies like another woman who was there and I the noon meal was eaten together and was a kind of recreation. We would talk some (actually most) days. Their chaplain is a part of the community and so often would eat with us. He is a very funny and intelligent man and they are blessed to have him. Sometimes the conversation was serious other times funny but always pure, holy, thoughtful, caring and so on. It was wonderful, like the best family meals you could imagine. Like any family though troubles arise however with these Sister problems arent allowed to fester but rather are dealt with as need be openly and honestly. Im not sure about other Carmels however here personal issues such as family troubles are ok to talk about at the dinner table because they care for each other and their families so much that all family is family and all are held in payer.

Saturday is their recreation day so their chaplain will have a class on any topic he feels interest in that week, and people may talk freely during that and may go way off topic. They also eat an evening meal together that day and may watch a video after dinner. While I was there we watched the new Edith Stein movie Sunday is a complete hermit day so leftovers from Saturday recreation are taken home to eat and they only come together for Mass. Talking is down to a bare minimum then as well. They are not sad, depressed, miserable or maladjusted in any way, nor is the silence oppressive. On the contrary laughter and joking are common.
[/quote]

Sounds like heaven. Can't wait for the pictures.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1290994935' post='2189762']
very beautiful. if they have a male counterpart, i would be willing to try to live their life.
[/quote]

If the chaplain is part of the community, maybe they'd take you, too. Sounds like they need some good strong arms for the chores. And, if everyone has their own hermitage, separation of the genders is less of an issue.

However, aren't you from the Philippines? You might find Minnesota in the winter (that is, October to May) somewhat "challenging."

Vee complains about snow, but she's from Canada, so she secretly adores that climate.

[vee]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1290991968' post='2189753']
Do you think you will continue discernment with the community or check out others?
[/quote]
Both I will keep in touch with them, although during Advent they do reduce outside contact to the bare minimum which is fine because I need to process everything anyway. I still feel called to Carmel the thing is Carmel in which way so visiting other Carmels at least would help. I will be very open to any Community that I have others in mind as well.

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1290994935' post='2189762']
very beautiful. if they have a male counterpart, i would be willing to try to live their life.
[/quote]

They had some Carmelite priests and brothers over for Thanksgiving and Im pretty sure they have a website so let me get back to you.
[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' timestamp='1290996102' post='2189772']
Vee complains about snow, but she's from Canada, so she secretly adores that climate.
[/quote]

IGGYYYYYYY!!!!!! You know me too well haha. It never really snowed while I was there much to my disappointment. It was kind of funny though because there were days when the prioress wold mention possible snow in the forecast and I tried and completely failed to not look happy over the news. This resulted in mock exasperation by the prioress and the chaplain suggesting they not talk about snow around me anymore.

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' timestamp='1290996102' post='2189772']
If the chaplain is part of the community, maybe they'd take you, too. Sounds like they need some good strong arms for the chores. And, if everyone has their own hermitage, separation of the genders is less of an issue.

However, aren't you from the Philippines? You might find Minnesota in the winter (that is, October to May) somewhat "challenging."

Vee complains about snow, but she's from Canada, so she secretly adores that climate.
[/quote]

hmm... that just gave a flame of desire... well let's see!

as for the winter, it's every Filipino's dream to see snow. I don't have any clue how cruel it could be!

Anyway, thank you vee8 for sharing the horarium... To be honest, I thought only the Intercessors of Lamb only had that type of horarium [the horarium's quite similar], but thank you my eyes are opened... To know that there are other communities which observe such eremitic horariums is a great news to me! I'll be waiting for the link!!

God bless you!

[vee]

Ok tnavarro I found the site for the priests and brothers I met. [url="http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/index.htm"]http://www.carmelite...n.com/index.htm [/url]

Edited November 29, 2010 by vee8

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='vee8' timestamp='1291042033' post='2189840']
Ok tnavarro I found the site for the priests and brothers I met. [url="http://www.carmelite...n.com/index."]http://www.carmelite...n.com/index.[/url] htm
[/quote]

The link doesn't work but I'm guessing it's these guys, [url="http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/"]http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/[/url] There are also the Carmelite Hermits in Lake Elmo, [url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Vocations/Hermits.htm"]http://www.decorcarm...ons/Hermits.htm[/url] (who as of a few years ago officially became part of the O.Carm. Order) as well as the OCD nuns near them. Lots of Carmelites in Minnesota!

Edited November 29, 2010 by Chiquitunga

[krissylou]

[quote name='Chiquitunga' timestamp='1291043416' post='2189846']
The link doesn't work but I'm guessing it's these guys, [url="http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/"]http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/[/url] There are also the Carmelite Hermits in Lake Elmo, [url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Vocations/Hermits.htm"]http://www.decorcarm...ons/Hermits.htm[/url] (who as of a few years ago officially became part of the O.Carm. Order) as well as the OCD nuns near them. Lots of Carmelites in Minnesota!
[/quote]

That makes sense. All the snow is an extra penance in and of itself!

[tnavarro61]

YEEEEEEEEEEES!!!! that is SOOOOOOOO FANTASTIC!!

Thanks for sharing the link!! I looked at their horarium, they don't wake up [b]very[/b] early..

[vee]

[quote name='Chiquitunga' timestamp='1291043416' post='2189846']
The link doesn't work but I'm guessing it's these guys, [url="http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/"]http://www.carmelitesaustinmn.com/[/url] There are also the Carmelite Hermits in Lake Elmo, [url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Vocations/Hermits.htm"]http://www.decorcarm...ons/Hermits.htm[/url] (who as of a few years ago officially became part of the O.Carm. Order) as well as the OCD nuns near them. Lots of Carmelites in Minnesota!
[/quote]

Ooops thanks for catching that chiquitunga and posting the correct link as well as the one for the other men's community.

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1291077146' post='2189913']
YEEEEEEEEEEES!! !! that is SOOOOOOOO FANTASTIC!!

Thanks for sharing the link!! I looked at their horarium, they don't wake up [b]very[/b] early..
[/quote]

[vee]

[IMG]http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/vee8spics/hsmc/nov023-2.jpg[/IMG]

[img]http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/vee8spics/hsmc/nov038.jpg[/img]

Edited November 30, 2010 by vee8