Children Of Mary

[Lumiere]

[b]
[url="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/faith_and_values/2012/09/21/cloistered-nuns-live-out-their-catholic-faith.html"]Solitary sisters: Cloistered nuns live out their Catholic faith[/url][/b]

[truthfinder]

I can't get the article to open, it keeps saying there is an error. On the bright side, these sisters just welcomed another candidate/postulant (not 100% sure which)

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='truthfinder' timestamp='1353692628' post='2515284']
I can't get the article to open, it keeps saying there is an error. On the bright side, these sisters just welcomed another candidate/postulant (not 100% sure which)
[/quote]
Thanks for posting the article Lumiere! I enjoyed the beautiful pictures-just thought I would add that the Sister are (semi?) contemplative but not cloistered.

truthfinder, here is the text of the article and the pictures below:

[indent=1]On 100 acres of farmland in southeastern Licking County, a cloister of six Roman Catholic sisters calling themselves the Children of Mary make their home.[/indent]
[indent=1]
They live and work under the direction of Mother Margaret Mary, a former Columbus schoolteacher who once lived as a hermit on the property along Pleasant Chapel Road between Rt. 40 and Newark.

Mother Margaret Mary, the property trustee, started the community after she became a nun in 2002.

[i]Dispatch[/i] Photographer Abigail S. Fisher recently spent several days with the women to document their prayer, work, service and downtime.

Besides taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the women also vow to pray for priests and seminarians. They spend Fridays fasting and praying specifically for men of the cloth.[/indent]
[indent=1]“Without them,” Mother Margaret Mary said, “we can’t have the Mass, we can’t have the Eucharist.”[/indent]

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-08-620.jpg?__scale=w:620,h:411,t:2[/img]

Sister Marianne, a novice who aspires to become a sister, prepares the chapel for daytime prayer with incense and lighting candles. The sisters pray communally about five times a day either in the chapel on the grounds or at mass at a local church. From slide 9 (same picture): The chapel, reminiscent of a log cabin, features an ornate altar beneath a large crucifix and lantern-like lighting, a Communion rail, prayer mats, rosaries, Bibles and statues.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-11-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Sister Marianne prays in the chapel during evening prayer. The sisters gather to pray together about five times a day.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-01-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Mother Margaret Mary, center, reads a text of the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux, a French Catholic nun who lived in the 19th century, at Carriage Court, an assisted living facility in Grove City. The sisters visit the elderly who live there once a week to pray and read with the residents.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-02-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Sister Mary Teresa takes linens off of the line during a rainy afternoon at the convent. The sacred linens used to dress the altar are usually washed every week.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-03-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Mother Margaret Mary, reading a text of the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux, was a schoolteacher in Columbus when she returned to her Catholic faith at St. Michael Church in Worthington in 1984.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-04-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Sister Agnes Immaculae plays badminton during an afternoon of recreation at the convent. Between prayer and working on the farm the sisters will spend a few hours each week relaxing with board games, sports and leisure reading.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-05-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Mother Margaret Mary hugs Gloria Turek, left, after reading and praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with other residents of Carriage Court, an assisted living facility in Grove City.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-06-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Sister Marianne, a novice who aspires to become a sister, prepares the chapel for daytime prayer with incense and lighting candles. The sisters pray communally about five times a day either in the chapel on the grounds or at mass at a local church.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-07-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

(From left) Sister Mary Teresa, Sister Agnes Immaculae and Sister Philomena Maria wash dishes following their silent lunch period. The sisters will dine while listening to a religious text, or reading from spiritual books.

Edited November 23, 2012 by emmaberry101

[emmaberry101]

Continued:

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-10-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Aspiring nuns must spend six months to a year as a postulant and one year as a novice, after which first vows are taken. Vows are repeated after another year, and final vows are made three years later. Those entering have no possessions and must have no debt.

[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-09-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img]

Sister Philomena Maria looks to hit a plastic baseball during an afternoon of recreation at the convent.

[url="http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-12-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3"][img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-12-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img][/url]

Sisters who belong to the Children of Mary vow to pray for priests. "Without them, there would be no holy mass or holy eucharist," Mother Margaret Mary said. The sisters spend every Friday fasting and praying for seminarians and priests in the diocese.

[url="http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-13-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3"][img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-13-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img][/url]
[size=4][b][background=transparent]
Sister Marianne prays in the chapel during daytime prayer.[/background][/b][/size][size=4][b][background=transparent]
[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-14-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img][/background][/b][/size]
[size=4][b][background=transparent]
Sister Philomena Maria works in the garden weeding vegetables and other produce. The sisters work outside tending to the land every morning following prayer. Chores include mowing grass, caring for chickens and doing building maintenance.[/background][/b][/size]
[size=4][b][background=transparent]
[img]http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2012/09/solitary-sisters/nuns-15-620.jpg?__scale=w:550,h:550,t:3[/img][/background][/b][/size][size=4][b][background=transparent]
Sister Agnes Immaculae graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and worked as a professional dancer before hearing the call to join religious life with the Children of Mary, she said.[/background][/b][/size]

[petitpèlerin]

Beautiful snapshots of their life. Thank you for sharing!

I have a friend who spent quite some time living and discerning with them. In the end she had nothing but love and praise for them (and she was a bit older, wise to the world of religious life, and very discerning). She ultimately just realized she wasn't called to join them.

I met them once when they were up in my part of the state and came to dinner with some mutual friends. They were lovely people and seemed to have a strong community. Mother Margaret Mary is an impressive woman. (Well, I was impressed, and that's saying a lot.) Also, their little corner of Ohio is one of the most beautiful parts of the state: hilly, wooded, hidden, and very, very peaceful. I could burrow in there and never come out. And their chapel is like a log cabin? Sign me up.

Also, the sisters are friends of Holy Family Parish in Columbus, which celebrates a weekly Tridentine Latin Mass. http://www.holyfamilycolumbus.org/

True, they're not "cloistered" as we know it to mean, but by the standards of the vast majority of Columbus Dispatch readers, these sisters are roughing it, and living a life absolutely incomprehensible.

[Mr Cameron]

I noticed beneath the article that someone said something about the sisters being unhappy. They quoted Robert Ingosall, saying "That church tells the girl of sixteen or eighteen years of age, with eyes like dew and light; that girl with the red of health in the white of her beautiful cheeks - tells that girl, 'Put on the veil, woven of death and night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God."

To be honest, I have never read such a large a lie than that. The sisters seem to be full of joy, and if you are living out your vocation I can hardly see how you could be sad or unhappy. They look exuberant and just so happy! They have a beautiful chapel, a beautiful charism, and beautiful habits! It's nice to see a secular newspaper finally reporting something good!

[Eowyn]

[quote name='Mr Cameron' timestamp='1353699775' post='2515309']
I noticed beneath the article that someone said something about the sisters being unhappy. They quoted Robert Ingosall, saying "That church tells the girl of sixteen or eighteen years of age, with eyes like dew and light; that girl with the red of health in the white of her beautiful cheeks - tells that girl, 'Put on the veil, woven of death and night, kneel upon stones, and you will please God."

To be honest, I have never read such a large a lie than that. The sisters seem to be full of joy, and if you are living out your vocation I can hardly see how you could be sad or unhappy. They look exuberant and just so happy! They have a beautiful chapel, a beautiful charism, and beautiful habits! It's nice to see a secular newspaper finally reporting something good!
[/quote]

That is why I'm glad they included pictures with the article. The pics speak volumes.

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='petitpèlerin' timestamp='1353697741' post='2515306']
True, they're not "cloistered" as we know it to mean, but by the standards of the vast majority of Columbus Dispatch readers, these sisters are roughing it, and living a life absolutely incomprehensible.
[/quote]

Cloistered does not equal austerity. My saying they are not cloistered was not meant to say anything other than that. It's no big deal, most articles (even by Catholic sources!) misuse the various terms concerning religious life.

[truthfinder]

[quote name='emmaberry101' timestamp='1353714667' post='2515428']
Cloistered does not equal austerity. My saying they are not cloistered was not meant to say anything other than that. It's no big deal, most articles (even by Catholic sources!) misuse the various terms concerning religious life.
[/quote]

Thank you so much for copying this article!!

[inperpetuity]

I like these sisters, especially their charism and habit and that they have chickens. I had a friend who joined them in the very beginning and had to leave for health reasons, so I've always kind of kept my eye on them from a distance.

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='truthfinder' timestamp='1353723532' post='2515515']

Thank you so much for copying this article!!
[/quote]

Your welcome truthfinder! These Sisters are so beautiful, and the article is very well done besides some very minor errors that occur in almost every article on the subject of religious life. The pictures are especially wonderful-I wanted you to be able to see those!

[ToJesusMyHeart]

[quote name='emmaberry101' timestamp='1353695290' post='2515295']Sister Marianne, a novice who aspires to become a sister, prepares the chapel for daytime prayer with incense and lighting candles. The sisters pray communally about five times a day either in the chapel on the grounds or at mass at a local church. From slide 9 (same picture): The chapel, reminiscent of a log cabin, features an ornate altar beneath a large crucifix and lantern-like lighting,[b] a Communion rail[/b], prayer mats, rosaries, Bibles and statues.
[/quote]

Absolutely stunning photos, Emma. Thank you for copying the article into the phorum, and thank you, OP, for the topic!!

Since their chapel has a rail, do they kneel for Holy Communion?

Some orders retained the rail but don't make use of it, which I get fuddled about.

[Kayte Postle]

[quote name='ToJesusMyHeart' timestamp='1353738515' post='2515836']
Absolutely stunning photos, Emma. Thank you for copying the article into the phorum, and thank you, OP, for the topic!!

Since their chapel has a rail, do they kneel for Holy Communion?

Some orders retained the rail but don't make use of it, which I get fuddled about.
[/quote]

Yes the do kneel for Holy Communion! It's very beautiful sight to see.

I love these Sisters very much, (they live just down the street from me!). They are so kind and welcoming to anyone who shows up on their doorstep. The first time I went to see them, I stayed for a couple hours doing some sewing for them and they fed me home made fudge and pecan pie, it was wonderfully delicious. Thank you very much for the topic, and thanks Emmaberry for sharing the pictures!!

[ToJesusMyHeart]

I hope I have the privilege to visit them someday.

[Antigonos]

Any particular reason some wear veils which are apparently purple, and some [or at least one] wear a black veil? Just curious.