“O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today . . .” On Mother’s Day we honored Our Lady with our May Crowning. After crowning the Lady of Alabama in the Choir, we made a “pilgrimage” through the Monastery stopping at Her statue presiding in each room. With hymns and prayers each Sister renewed her Total Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “I am all yours, dear Mother, and all that I have is yours, so that through you I can belong totally to Jesus!”

Blessed John Paul II! How our hearts rejoiced when the Holy Father pronounced the beatification of our dear and deeply loved Pope John Paul II. Though he has been gone from our midst for six years, he is present every day in memory, in prayer and in powerful help for all kinds of petitions. Blessed be God in His Saints now and forever.

Talking and listening and/or working are often incompatible occupations. The Saint story Sister was telling at our noon recreation was compelling, so much so that dishwashing and drying had slowed to a standstill. At a reminder that we needed to finish and leave the kitchen, she responded earnestly, “I’m talking as fast as I can!”

We enjoy recreation outside at times in the shade of a large elm tree. Though Memorial Day dawned hot and sunny, we relied on the tree to provide shade for our cookout. Everything turned out well. We like to take our thoughts to higher levels, so reflected that the sheltering branches of the tree were like the loving arms of the Good Shepherd. He protects us providing a place of safety and refreshment. Do we ever thank Him?

Our vegetable gardening of late has been disappointing. What did grow was “harvested” before we got to it by such creatures as deer, raccoons and birds. So we were delighted with the gift of large containers, potting soil and even some seedling vegetables. The Sister who tried memorably to grow beets a few summers ago was moved to make another attempt. Around the edge of the planter containing a thriving eggplant, she tucked in some beet seeds. They are up and growing! We give heartfelt thanks to God and to our friends for the crops we expect to gather, and to the knowledge we will get first choice of the produce.

Following a deep-freeze winter and lovely spring, summer made an early start of scorching days. We are reminded of the blessing of air conditioning. Sister Mary Magdalen once said after coming inside on a really hot day, “Thank You for Alabama Power!” She is missed and remembered. May she rest in peace.

What a blessing to have you for our friends! When the tornado of gigantic proportion struck Alabama this spring, many called to see if we were safe and if the Monastery had suffered any damage. Thank God we could say we were fine and our Monastery was still standing on the hill. For those who suffered the heartrending loss of loved ones and the destruction of homes and livelihood, we pray that Our Mother of Sorrows will comfort them in their affliction.

With gratitude for your prayers and all your goodness to us,

Mother Mary Joseph, O.P. and Sisters

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Contact Us:
Dominican Monastery of St. Jude
P.O. Box 170
143 County Road 20 East
Marbury, Alabama 36051
stjudemonastery@aol.com

Instruction on the Contemplative Life
and on the Enclosure of Nuns (Vatican Website)

all original text and images copyright 2011 Dominican Monastery of St. Jude

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Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.