Our Aspirant Hannah gave her “Fiat!” in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Annunciation Fiat on March 24th, 2026 formally donning the black veil and postulant attire of an aspiring Handmaid of the Precious Blood. We welcome her into this next phase of her formation and pray for her joy in discerning God’s will for her life in religion and thank him for her generous cooperation with his call to the consecrated life.
A Forced Grief – Triduum In The Cloister
We know the Triduum ends in glory and resurrection but we must permit mourning. We must rest in the silent weeping for Christ. This is why our holy hours continue before empty tabernacles. It is a necessary exercise in praying with the Church at the tomb.
Even while knowing our Spouse is making all things new in his sleep of death we allow ourselves the mournful wait alone in an empty oratory. A sadness that yet quivers with hope – a hope soon to be fulfilled in our lives of time and space and eternally when Christ comes again.
Resurrexit Sicut Dixit!!!
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE
Recent water repairs at the well head release valve box once again have us praying in gratitude for God’s Providence and the goodness of our benefactors and supporters who make these kind of repairs possible. God bless all y’all!
Polishing Up Our Souls in the Desert
We needed to get the Stations of the Cross that hung in our Saint Anne’s Chapel in New Mexico ready for Lenten use in the Cor Jesu Chapel. After thirteen years in storage, they needed some serious cleaning, polishing, and buffing. If you’ve ever polished brass you know what that looks and smells like. But did you ever reflect on …
Repent! It’s Lent!
The photo captures a Handmaid of the Precious Blood taking in a gorgeous sunrise yet still close to and touching the cross. There is beauty in both sky and crossbeam.
Christmas 2025 Newsletter
Merry Christmas! It has been a busy time at Cor Jesu Monastery since our last Newsletter. Hope and Joy The Jubilee Year of Hope may end in 2026 but our hope does not. When one has hope, confident hope in eternal salvation through Christ, then one can more easily choose joy! Handmaids’ final profession rings are engraved with “JOY Semper”. …
The Overflowing Gratuitousness of God…with Windchill
For an amazing third time East Tennessee was treated to a spectacular display of the aurora Borealis. Initial expectations of just hoping to see some green colors below on the northern horizon picked up by a camera quickly gave away to naked-eye-visible reds and greens. Can we believe all these amazing opportunities to admire the Heavens? Yes. Because we know the Maker and shouldn’t be surprised at his generosity. We don’t have to exist. Neither do aurora. But God wants to delight in both. Wow.
Chapter of Elections 2025
On the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7th, 2025, we had a Mass in our Chapel celebrated by Bishop Mark Beckman followed by our Chapter of Elections. Mother Rose Philomena was elected the new Rev. Mother Prioress. As we enter into a period of transition, we hope our friends and benefactors will be patient as everyone steps into new roles and duties. Thank all y’all for your prayers for us!
Upcoming Chapter of Elections and Reduced Communications
We are getting ready for our upcoming Chapter of Elections that will take place Oct 5-8 and are reducing our communications ahead of time to enter into a deeper period of silence and prayer. Please join us in prayer invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance on our deliberations.
ANOTHER NEW NOVICE: SISTER JOY MARIE
We have a new novice! Postulant Sarah received the habit and her new name: Sister Joy Marie of Divine Mercy!
Who Is In The Garden: POPE LEO XIV
Now that we finally have a new Pope, we are happy to share that Pope Leo XIV is in the Mary, Mother of Priests Tribute Garden. May Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy and Mother of Priests wrap him closely in her mantle of love and protection. VIVA IL PAPA!
If you wish to submit a priest’s name for our Mary Mother of Priests Garden please visit our website: https://nunsforpriests.org/mary-mother-of-priests-garden/
Corpus Christi 2025 Newsletter
Habemus Papam! We Have A Pope! Habemus Sponsam! We Have A Bride! What the Pope and the Bride Have in Common: “Fiat!” Whether one is a new Pope or a new Bride of Christ, both share the truth expressed in the simple word, “Fiat!” Our Lady spoke this to Gabriel as she consented to God’s glorious will in the Incarnation, …











