Handmaids' News Blog
Our indoor cat Gunther (a.k.a. Shadow in cartoon land) has the run of the largest building, Cor Jesu Monastery, which is a large, rustic, wooden lodge. It’s like one big cat tree. Fortunately he is not like most cats and doesn’t often push his limits. But during a recent meal (best nun audience time) he leapt from the second floor …
We long ago had to declare defeat in our War Against The Squirrels and replace the outside stairs leading to the cells adjacent to Mater Dei. They have resisted the squirrels teeth, although some squirrels, perhaps to spite the loss of the wood staircase, have a regular penchant for visiting when Gertrude lets them. Actually she has been seen chasing chipmunks …
Yes, cloistered nuns do celebrate the Fourth of July and thank God for our freedom and pray for our nation intensely that she may find her way back to God again. Being cloistered, naturally means we do not go out to parades and firework shows. An interesting fact in our history was having the best ringside seat to the Jemez …
Yes, gardening is good for the soul and a raised bed is good for the back. Earlier this year the Formation Group began working two raised beds just outside Saint Joseph Hermitage. We are happy to share that the first (rationed) harvest was enjoyed by the community recently and featured sugar snap peas. They were flavorful and delicious and cooked …
We completed our year long celebration of our Diamond Jubilee since our foundation on May 25th. But the festivities weren’t entirely over. On May 26th Bishop Stika joined us for a special Mass and meal, surprising us by bringing along His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia. As this fell shortly after Postulant Shannon entered our Novitiate with …
After Vespers I for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus we had a community holy hour focusing on this great truth of our Faith. We renewed our individual consecrations to the Sacred Heart and found, like the Litany the USCCB is asking us to pray in reparation for blasphemies on display at this time, that the consecration’s …
Handmaids of the Precious Blood will be joining in the World Priest Global Rosary Relay for Priests on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday June 16th at 4:30pm praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Consider joining with thousands of other prayer warriors for priests during this live global Rosary that will span the globe. You …
The Bishops of the United States of America have requested the Catholic faithful pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in reparation for ongoing blasphemies against Our Lord, Our Lady, and the Church. They have asked especially for this to be done on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, June 16th. We gladly join in this reparation and …
If the Holy Spirit seemed eager to claim his beloved one on the Solemnity of Pentecost, he seemed just as eager to arrange for her beautiful farewell. Bishop Stika came to celebrate her Mass of Christian Burial on Friday June 2nd, 2023. But before that could happen, we would have to improvise a Chapel in our Chapter/Refectory/Reading Room while also …
We rejoice with the universal Church and the Diocese of Knoxville that three more priests have been ordained on Saturday June 10th! May God reward them for their generous response to his call to the altar and may Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy surround them with her loving care as they embark on their ministry in God’s vineyard. We …
Much to our surprise, the Holy Spirit orchestrated a beautiful gift for our Handmaid family by calling his Bride, Sister Mary Magdalen of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, to his side at last on Pentecost Sunday. With two Sisters praying by her side, “Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, I love you!” in her hearing, she peacefully breathed her last. We thank …
We celebrate our Foundation Day every year on May 25th. That was the date of Pentecost Sunday in 1947 when Father Gerald Fitzgerald began the Handmaids of the Precious Blood. He was guided by the Holy Spirit to help priests and his spiritual daughters were to become spiritual mothers of priests and aid in their sanctification through lives of prayer, …