Handmaids' News Blog
We were so wanting to honor Mary as our Mother on Mother’s Day that we had FOUR May Crownings – something we haven’t done here before. Why do Catholics do this? Well, we can never say enough to honor Mary says Saint Bernard. Likewise, we can never crown her Queen of our hearts too often as she is not only the first Handmaid of the Lord but also his most perfect disciple.
We need some music help. One copy of the Divine Office Hymnal for each sister. Many of the melodies will be familiar, but we’ll need the printed music as we learn the updated English texts—so that our prayer can be more deeply united with the universal Church, praying with the same psalms, prayers, readings, and hymns. In preparing these new breviaries and hymns, Holy Mother Church is giving us the tools to pray as one.
Because we sing with accompaniment, we will also need one copy of the organ/piano accompaniment edition for our organist(s). This volume is available now, but it is quite expensive.
If you feel moved to help us lift our voices—and our instruments—in praise of the Lord, please see the links below:
– The Divine Office Hymnal(2023): contains the music for all hymns used in the Liturgy of the Hours, 2nd Edition
– Organ/Piano Accompaniment edition: one copy needed
We’re asking for your help with something close to our hearts: the books we use to chant and pray the Divine Office—also known as the Liturgy of the Hours.
Soon the Church will be receiving the new 2nd Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours (a four-volume breviary set). This is not simply a replacement for the current 1975 edition—it’s an entirely updated translation, scheduled to be available for use in March 2027. It will become mandatory by December 2028, and it promises to be a beautiful improvement.
Because we desire to pray in deeper unity with the whole Church, we hope to adopt the new 2nd Edition as soon as it’s available—ideally by Lent 2027. These sets are expected to be costly, especially the editions we anticipate from the two selected publishers: Ascension Press and Word on Fire.
If you feel moved to help, we would be deeply grateful for any donation toward this significant expense. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to lift the needs of the Church and the world to the Lord each day in adoration.
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.
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!!!
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!
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 …
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.
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”. …
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.
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!
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.