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Cloud of Witnesses and a Garden Update
Our newest Poor Clare Saint in the making:Aspirant Casey joined us Oct. 4,feast of St. FrancisOne of the most cherished of our Poor Clare family customs is the display of holy cards depicting the...
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Fall Moves into Winter
Observing the dying of the old year in our part of Virginia is like watching at the bedside of a hospice patient. There is the slow but inexorable approach of death signaled by progressive weakening,...
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Christmas Sharing
Those who recite the Liturgy of the Hours are very familiar with Ps. 95, as it is chanted each day at the beginning of Matins. On Christmas, we sing it in Latin, just before the celebration of our...
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Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas Day
In many ways, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a transitional day, coming as it does almost exactly midway between the Christmas and Lenten seasons. This feast encompasses elements of both...
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Lent 2017
The picture above captures the moment of repose after we celebrated the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday one year. Mother Abbess had the inspiration to position the cross we had venerated as is shown....
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To have one’s cake and eat it too
So, why is a cloistered, penitential nun thinking about cake on the Fifth Sunday of Lent? Well, Easter is only two weeks away…And, following the venerable Franciscan tradition of taking a positive,...
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Our Lady's Little Warriors
Our Lady of FatimaStatue in our Community RoomThose of us who live in the northern hemisphere always celebrate Easter during the Spring, when all of nature seems intent on imitating her Lord as she...
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Pentecost 2017
I love this painting depicting the moment that the Holy Spirit descended in flames of fire on the disciples at the feast of Holy Pentecost. There is such dynamism; truly a worthy representation of the...
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We are back! Feast of St. Colette
St. Colette with St. Francis and St. Claredecoration for our Chapter Room altarYes, we are back after nearly a year of rest from blogging! A lot has happened at Bethlehem Monastery in Barhamsville,...
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Novitiate Photo
It is good to be back on-line and to receive such encouragement! This is our most recent photo of our current novitiate group and it is already outdated! One postulant has become a novice since this...
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“By the labor of your hands you shall eat...
...you will be happy and prosper.” So does the psalmist describe a life of blessedness. Genesis also reveals that God gave the care of the earth to Adam and Eve, and it was only after the fall that...
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Investiture of Sister Chiara Marie: Sharing and Photos
Today, March 18th, is the anniversary of our Mother St. Clare’s investiture as the first “Poor Lady”, the first woman in a long line of feminine followers of St. Francis. In the year 1212, March 18th...
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Glad Tidings for Postulant Casey
Above pictured is a glowing Postulant Casey. Not only the sun shines upon her, but an inner joy animates her face these days as she anticipates her Clothing Day on June 29th, feast of Sts. Peter and...
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Sister Faustina's Investiture-photos and sharing
As promised, here is the sharing of our youngest novice's investiture ceremony: Praised be Jesus Christ, and happy 2018! Behold the letter you have all been waiting for: recounting the...
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Revisiting Holy Week
Holy Thursday Adoration During Holy Week, the Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery, particularly as she commemorates the historical events of the Easter Triduum: The Last Supper, the Crucifixion and...
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Investiture of Postulant Casey as...
Sister Mary Francesca of the Blood of Christ!Casey dressed in her bridal gown at the beginning of the ceremonyToday, June 29th, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, we had the joy of transforming one of...
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More photos of Sister Francesca
As promised, here are more pictures of Sister Mary Francesca's investiture:Sister Mary FrancescaSister Francesca's Hair Offered in Sacrifice Cutting the CakeSister Francesca has long since removed her...
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August Gardening
I have heard it said that missionaries have a hard time explaining the concept of divine forgiveness to indigenous people who are nature worshipers because in their experience, “Mother Nature” does not...
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We have a problem...
Look about and see; they are all gathering and coming to you... "This place is too narrow for me, make room for me to live in."...
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The More Things Change...
When young Francis de Pietro de Bernadone was discerning his vocation, he felt inspired to enter the dilapidated old Church of San Damiano to pray. While kneeling before the Byzantine crucifix...
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