Continuing on with our Diamond Jubilee, we made a small Lady of Sorrows display in our Cor Jesu Refectory of various cards, programs, and tableau photos depicting how the Handmaids marked this beautiful feast of our Blessed Mother.
Archive Treasures: Getting down to work
Sometimes when photos are taken, gathered, and placed in an album people might wonder, “Why did you take a photo of THAT?” This is true particularly when it seems like an everyday, ordinary thing or task. But, with the passage of time, even the plain-old stuff becomes vastly more interesting. When these ‘secretarial’ photos were taken they didn’t seem like …
Caring for the Archives
Family, friends, and benefactors who have been in contact with our community over the decades know that we have moved our Motherhouse twice in the last ten years. First, in 2013 when we moved from Jemez Springs, New Mexico to Benton, Tennessee and then again in 2015 from Benton to New Market Tennessee. With 75 years of archives moving with …
Surprise Morning View From the Garden
Shortly after we prayed Lauds and Terce, some Sisters out for exercise enjoyed an unexpected treat watching a hot air balloon near the monastery. The burners could be heard as it descended for a landing nearby. These largely silent aircraft move quietly with the air currents, a beauty that doesn’t disturb the peace around the pastures and hills. We hope …
Aspirant Chrissy Visits
We were recently blessed that our Aspirant Chrissy was able to make an extended visit. This allowed her to spend time with our formation group and participate in the life of the community and experience the Handmaid charism, especially our lives of sacrifice and eucharistic adoration for the sanctification of priests. She has now returned home to Illinois where she …
Handmaids Send Prayers for Knoxville Vocations Day for Young Women
We were blessed to be able to participate in prayer with the recent Vocations Day for Young Women hosted at Saint Joseph’s School in Knoxville. As we have done in similar venues (Steubenville Vocations Day, FOCUS, or Knights of Columbus conventions) a table was set up so that even the absent cloistered nuns would have some physical presence. We joined …
Summer scenes from our Garden summit
While the Mary, Mother of Priests Garden isn’t on a mountain summit, it commands a beautiful view from its location on the hilltop, even in the hazy days of summer. Even on clear days of summer.
ARCHIVE TREASURES: ARCHBISHOP BYRNE’S BIBLE
In 1947, when our Founder Father Gerald began two religious communities, he considered the bishop who invited his apostolate of prayer for priests into his diocese to be a co-founder. In the very early pioneering days Archbishop Edwin Byrne of Santa Fe met with and celebrated Mass for the early Handmaids with fatherly regularity. We are happy to have in …
ARCHIVE TREASURES: SISTER ELIZABETH’S CRUTCHES AND LEG BRACES
Of the first women who came to join the Handmaids of the Precious Blood in May 1947 only one, Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity, persevered. Yet she was paralyzed below the waist from polio. Perhaps, like the late Cardinal George who contracted polio at 13 and was thus rejected by a Chicago preparatory seminary, Sister Elizabeth also experienced rejection and …
What Makes A Hero? A Fast Founder Fact
As we look at the world today, we see many people longing again for heroes and leaders. The best heroes are the saints and godly men and women willing to give their lives for others. Our Founder would never have considered himself a hero. However, here is a little known story about Father Gerald: In 1954 some campers in the Jemez …
Saint John Paul II
Our Tribute To Pope Saint John Paul II (originally published to celebrate his beatification in May 2011) Priest…Pope…Son of Mary…. these words describe Saint John Paul II. But how does one describe his impact on one’s soul? When one meets the Vicar of Christ and sees Peter from Galilee as well as Karol from Krakow, what has really happened? Perhaps it …
Saint John Paul II
Our Tribute To Pope Saint John Paul II (originally published to celebrate his beatification in May 2011) Priest…Pope…Son of Mary…. these words describe Saint John Paul II. But how does one describe his impact on one’s soul? When one meets the Vicar of Christ and sees Peter from Galilee as well as Karol from Krakow, what has really happened? Perhaps it …