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The Cistercian Nuns Of Valley Of Our Lady Monastery


Lumiere

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+Praised be Jesus Christ!

Their website is really beautiful. It has always been one of my favorites, and I think the update is really quite lovely. The artwork that the website carries is done by their Mother Prioress, M. Bernarda Seferovich. She also did the artwork for one of my favorite books: [u]Monastic Practices[/u], by Charles Cummings, OCSO. http://www.cistercianpublications.org/Detail.aspx?ISBN=0879079754

I recommend it for anyone that would like to learn more about monastic life, Cistercian or not.

This community is growing and expanding, and are engaged on a major campaign to raise money for a new Monastery. I hope this happens for them for they are faithful women of Christ and take their life seriously. I do a monthly Novena for them, for various special intentions. I am close to them and hope their community continues to grow with healthy vocations.

Pax,

TradMom

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Ohhhhhhhhh .... that picture includes everyone in formation, postulants through junior professed. It's hard to tell with the mantles covering everything up, but now that I look carefully, some of them have a black scapular underneath.

They must be like the Trappistines near me, where the novices wear all white, the junior professed add a black scapular, and then the black veil comes with solemn profession.

At first I thought all the women in habits were novices, so that would be an utterly astonishing number to enter in just a few years' time. It's still great -- but not AS :crazy: . If that's the number that have entered (and, to date, stayed) within five years, that makes more sense.

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faithcecelia

[quote name='krissylou' timestamp='1308001733' post='2253342']
At first I thought all the women in habits were novices, so that would be an utterly astonishing number to enter in just a few years' time. It's still great -- but not AS :crazy: . If that's the number that have entered (and, to date, stayed) within five years, that makes more sense.
[/quote]

I think most the enclosed orders, certainly all the ones I have known, call everyone without solemn vows a novice.

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+Praised be Jesus Christ!

Some communities do refer to young sisters (still in temporary vows but out of the novitiate) as Juniors. It really depends upon the community, their traditions and the particulars involved. Just an added note.

Their website is clearly calling for young women to enter their Motherhouse. I am hoping this will give them a chance to discern if they should accept vocations past 35. I hope this will happen soon, and I hope all those interested in a true experience of monastic life, with the full and holy habit, will contact them.

Pax,
TradMom

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  • 1 year later...
Guest ChristinaMarie

In the first picture the noviciate on the far right is my sister and I can tell she really loves the Valley of Our Lady Monastery.

Edited by ChristinaMarie
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Guest ChristinaMarie

[quote name='krissylou' timestamp='1307976983' post='2253143']

Whith this particular order, the novice wears the white garment with the black apron like garment and no veil. And when they step up a level if you will, they wear a black veil I think. And then they make their vows (forget which ones :)), and change to all white garments and white veil.

Oh, that is just like the Trappistines then. Or at least just like the Trappistines close to my house. I suppose different abbeys may vary.

So much for my theory. Although as a scapular was a work apron, the idea of a white one seems kind of nuts if you ask me, which admittedly nobody did. :P Though I guess if your "work" as a novice is largely prayer and study, that is less messy. ;)

I like that postulants --> novices --> junior professed --> solemn professed all look distinct. Postulants wear lay clothes (for some communities this is a "uniform" and for some it is not). Novices wear all white (and pray for grace to avoid stains). Add a black scapular at first vows (but keep the white veil). The black veil comes at perpetual/solemn vows. So there is a steady progression, which seems to me to be excellent symbolism.
[/quote]

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Guest ChristinaMarie

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1308044072' post='2253525']

Yes. The first year women are called novitiates. Or novice for short.
I think most the enclosed orders, certainly all the ones I have known, call everyone without solemn vows a novice.
[/quote]

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The second picture seems to have gone missing, but there are two more pictures of this group.

These three are in simple vows...

[img]http://www.nunocist.org/wpimages/wp4f80b842_00.jpg[/img]

These four are in solemn vows...


[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/solemnvowsa.jpg[/img]

They are trying to raise money for a [url="http://www.valleyofourlady.org/"]new monastery.[/url]

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OnlySunshine

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1343320964' post='2459030']
I'm loving the Chacos in the first pic. :)
[/quote]

Everybody keeps saying how comfortable they are. I wish they weren't so expensive or I'd get a pair. Maybe I'll break down and get some if I enter religious life. :)

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To Jesus Through Mary

So beautiful. They look just radiant!

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1343327195' post='2459067']
Everybody keeps saying how comfortable they are. I wish they weren't so expensive or I'd get a pair. Maybe I'll break down and get some if I enter religious life. :)
[/quote]

They are expensive but they last for a long time. You can even get them re-strapped and they last even longer!! <3 my Chacos!

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  • 3 weeks later...

They have an AMAZING gift shop, btw. The items they sell are handmade by the nuns and it's some of the finest crafts(wo)manship I've ever seen. They're pretty inexpensive, too. They'd make fantastic gifts. Check it out here:

http://www.monasterycraftshop.com/

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[quote name='curiousing' timestamp='1345155442' post='2468831']
They have an AMAZING gift shop, btw. The items they sell are handmade by the nuns and it's some of the finest crafts(wo)manship I've ever seen. They're pretty inexpensive, too. They'd make fantastic gifts. Check it out here:

[url="http://www.monasterycraftshop.com/"]http://www.monasterycraftshop.com/[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion! I went to their gift shop, and I think I am going to buy my mom's birthday and Christmas presents there. Too bad that they're are too busy with orders to take any more right now..although the business is great for them!

Edited by emmaberry
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