Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

The new entrance is beginning to get some company – walkways and driveways!

Crews worked on concrete-related projects this week, laying forms for the new driveway and installing the walkway to the new entrance.

Eagle-eyed readers will also spot something else we’re really exited about….

Yes! They’re back! The medallions that once graced the west side entrance porch of our monastery. How wonderful it is to see them in their new home, in a prominent place of welcome for all our future guests!

Archangels with Tobias by Francesco Botticini

Today is the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Each of these heavenly beings has a duty: Michael to protect; Gabriel to act as a messenger between earth and heaven; and Raphael to heal.

Prayer to St. Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Prayer to St. Gabriel

Oh, Blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech you, to intercede for us in our necessities at the throne of Divine Mercy, that you who made known to Mary the Mystery of the Incarnation, through your prayers and intercession in heaven, may obtain for us the benefits of heaven that we may sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.

Prayer to St. Raphael

St. Raphael,
Of the glorious seven
Who stand before the throne
Of Him who lives and reigns,
Angel of Health!
The Lord has filled your hand
With balm from heaven
To soothe or cure our pains
Heal or cure
The victim of disease,
And guide our steps
When doubtful of our ways!
Amen.

We received this beautiful, handmade card last week from a gentleman in Japan.

Inside was a thoughtful note and a donation to assist with costs to repair storm-damaged areas of our Clyde monastery. The gentleman remarked how touched he was when Americans helped his country after the massive earthquake in March. After hearing about the damage to our monastery, he wanted to return the kindness – from half a world away.

It is this giving and compassionate spirit the Lord blesses us with that helps bind us all. We are so very touched by random kindnesses and pray they serve as a reminder to return them whenever possible.

Sister Cathleen Marie (left) and Sister Rita visited Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas, this past weekend.

Our Monastery Scents booth was part of the church’s annual Country Fair Fall Festival. It’s always such a blessing and so much fun to spend time with the nice folks there and to share one of our works with them.

This porch once graced the west side of our monastery, greeting visitors at the main entrance.

With renovations, we moved the main entrance to the south side. But we made sure to save some things.

Patiently waiting for a new home are the medallions that adorned the porch and the cross that rested on the top:

It will be wonderful to see these beautiful pieces – those that signify our monastic life and commitment to the Lord – once again grace our home.

We are so excited, we could pop!

Our Tucson Sisters will host a grand opening of our new business, Prayerfully Popped: Corn from the Cloister, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the main store located at 1525 N. Wilmot Rd. in Tucson.

The business features a line of gourmet popcorn, with proceeds benefitting us AND several area charities, which really makes us happy!

To help others in our community while supporting our own contemplative life is such a blessing and a joy. We are so grateful for all the gifts God has given us.

The grand opening event will include a meet-and-greet with the Sisters, popcorn samples, prize giveaways, including a home popcorn machine valued at $300, a 5 percent discount on popcorn purchased that day and sales of T-shirts and limited edition mugs.

So if you’re in the Tucson area, stop by and visit us tomorrow! If not, please visit us online at Prayerfully Popped. There are a variety of items to choose from, including personal orders along with corporate and not-for-profit fundraising items.

Well, thanks to August’s storm, there are a lot of new projects around the monastery.

We’ve been busy clearing out the damaged trees, and workers arrived to begin the monumental task of repairing and/or replacing many of the 144 windows we lost.

This is what greeted the workers on the first project – damaged windows on the north side of one of our barns:

Workers used extension equipment to reach the windows where they removed the temporary boards:

And got to work preparing the frames for new windows:

Slowly, our monastery is being put back together. God’s grace has blessed us, reminded us that while things are a little banged up around us, our hearts – and faith – remain whole.

Aren’t these too cute! Sister Cathleen Marie has created these beautiful gift boxes to echo the sights and smells of autumn.

Two bars of our delicately scented handcrafted soap are wrapped in a gorgeous Sinamay box and topped with fabric leaves that remind us of the beautiful colors we see in the fall.

The boxes are crafted from Sinamay fiber, a free trade item made by workers in the Philippines who receive a fair wage for their work. And the boxes can be reused!

Gift boxes are available in the scent combination of Gingered Pumpkin and Appleberry Cream.

Cost is $18 (plus shipping) and will only be available for a limited time. To order or for more information, contact Sister Cathleen Marie at soap@bspa.us.

We had a lovely celebration of Sister Lucilla’s 60th jubilee of monastic profession on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Our Lady of Rickenbach.

Prioress General Sister Pat (left) joins jubilarian Sister Lucilla and Father Patrick

Father Patrick presided over the jubilee ceremony then joined everyone for a celebratory lunch where Sister Lucilla chose her favorite meal of spaghetti and chocolate chip cookies.

As Father Patrick said in his homily, “Sixty years of anything is a long time. Sixty years of monastic profession is a blessing.” He added that Sister Lucilla has continued to nurture the gifts God has given her. We agree and thank her for her dedication to monastic life and her many gifts shared with our community over the years.

Well, this is definitely a road less traveled in that it’s still being built!

The contractors are moving along on the new entrance roads. This includes the main entrance from Highway P….

Small turnarounds….

And the new parking area that will provide lots of spaces for cars and tour buses for visitors….

We are so excited about the new design, which has moved our main visitors entrance from the monastery’s west side to the south. We will finally have room to accommodate all our wonderful guests! And they won’t have to climb all those stairs either.