We love Saint Patrick’s Day here at the monastery, and we love our Irish Apostle! This year, our annual Talent Night took place on the eve of the feast and was such a great show! The Sisters performed two songs. The first song was a re-write of a country tune we had debuted last year at Morning Star Camp called “God’s Soldier.” (Watch the video below.) The song tells the story of the great mission of Saint Joan of Arc, and reminds us that “everything is possible with God”! The second song is a brand new song that we hope to share on video soon! The next day, St. Patrick’s Day, was also a Sunday, and we celebrated with a feast of corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread, and green water! It’s the small things that make the memories!
Take a look into the behind-the-scenes preparation for Palm Sunday here at the monastery. Sr. Magdalene Marie also shares how to make a simple palm cross, and explains that blessed palms are a sacramental. Learn how to make one and share it with others!
This winter, our Sisters have enjoyed some ice skating during afternoon recreation! No sooner was school out than Sisters were grabbing their skates and heading not to a rink, but the flooded (and frozen) fields in the valley and the abutting conservation land. It made for some lovely skating, as you will see below! Enjoy the video!
We are blessed to have four beautiful seasons here at our monastery! Winter (although cold) can be visually glorious. Our grounds are lovely in all seasons, but there is a special magnificence to those days when all is adorned with a fresh New England snowfall!
Our Sisters MICM Facebook page has featured some lovely photos of our life and the seasons here at the monastery over the years. We wanted to share a few here from our recent winter weather. We hope you enjoy them! Click to enlarge!
“God is an artist, and the universe is His work of art.” ~St. Thomas Aquinas
Build a Spriritual Christmas Crib in your heart to prepare for the birth of Christ!
Written by Fr. Frederic Nelson, the “Spiritual Christmas Crib” gives a practice and prayer for each day of December until Christmas. Each day is a part of the stable that you prepare by practicing the suggested exercise and reciting the prayer as often as you can throughout the day.
The Sisters love this devotion so much that we make a version you can buy for your home… but we also wanted to share each day in a video form as found below! These videos were made for Advent of 2020, and were posted originally on our facebook page.
Enjoy this perfect Advent activity with your whole family … and the Sisters too! Come Lord Jesus!
The autumn months are quickly coming to a close here in Massachusetts… but it has truly been a beautiful one! The glory of the vibrant foliage always raises our minds and hearts to God! Enjoy a few photos of the foliage from Fall 2021 here at the monastery in the photos below.
“Question the beauty of earth… question the beauty of sea… question the beauty of sky… All respond: “See, we are beautiful.” Who made them but the Beautiful One?” ~Saint Augustine
It takes a while for spring to come to New England, but when it does, it’s always worth the wait! The month of May is always the loveliest 31 days! How perfect that this flower-filled month should be dedicated to Our Lady! Our hearts and souls sing her praises whether we are arranging a May Shrine in chapel or classroom, gardening, or preparing a crown for the May Procession!
Thanks to Dan & Marian Kelly (Sister Marie-Celine’s folks) the shrine at the entrance to the convent driveway is looking beautiful! They purchased, assembled and put up this lovely lattice arbor just in time for Mary’s month! Our Lady must have been very pleased with it… they didn’t hit one rock when they dug the post holes!!! That’s almost a miracle for New England! May the Queen of the May shower Dan & Marian with many blessings!
Enjoy the Sisters’ spring photos below and be sure to visit the monastery site to see the photo gallery of May devotions!
Holy Week and Easter were absolutely beautiful here at the monastery! There are some lovely photos of the ceremonies posted on the Saint Benedict Center site.
The rich symbolisms, and chants of the Sacred Triduum in the traditional rite are unsurpassed. It is truly a soul-stirring experience to walk in the footsteps of the Man of Sorrows through Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil are brimming with expectation …and the glory of Easter morning is truly radiant! He is risen!
The week that follows is full of its own monastery traditions, as we break from school to spend time with the Risen Christ. The days of quiet peace and celebration are relished by all the Sisters. Easter Monday always features a “walk to Emmaus” …which took us to our local cemetery this year where we sang Easter songs for our dearly departed. Even the weather reflected the glory of Easter! Reading, gardening and catching up on personal projects was a great break from the daily routine. From start to finish it was one glorious Alleluia!
Enoy a look at our Holy Week, Easter and Easter Week in the photo gallery below!
On March 18, 2021, our 30+-year-old organ was removed from the choir loft of Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel and a new one was moved in! Sister Mary Clair, our organist, was there to try it out just as soon as everything was set up! The organ’s first Mass was played on the feast of Saint Joseph! What a blessing!
The richer sound and updated capabilities of the new instrument will surely add to many Masses and liturgical ceremonies for many years to come!
