We uphold you in our prayer...

Dear readers,

Last evening we began our community retreat that ends on Friday evening, October 14. 

During these days of prayer and recollection, we will hold you and your intentions in our prayer in a special way.  We ask that you remember us in your prayers during these days.

God bless you abundantly!

                                                               Your Benedictine Nuns

P.S.  Don't worry!  We have worked ahead so that you may continue to enjoy our ususal daily blog post.

The Most Powerful Force on Earth

Never

forget

that the most powerful force

on earth

is

love.

~ Nelson Rockefeller

Ora Nunning

Our day flows around The Liturgy of the Hours, which gives our day form and structure.  This praise of God, or ora, is what our lives as Benedictine Nuns is all about.  We gather in chapel six times each day to chant the psalms that are a large part of the Office (another term used for The Liturgy of the Hours).  To these are added antiphons, readings, responsories and prayers.

Our Office is in English and we use simplified Gregorian chant melodies.  The texts are derived from the Antiphonale Monasticum.  We suppliment it with readings, intercessions and prayers taken from the four volume set of The Liturgy of the Hours.

Individuals are always welcome to join us to praise God in our Cor Jesu Monastic Chapel (see side bar for times) or via WAOB (106.7 FM) on the days we are broadcast.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

The Secret of Life

As the Lord God was creaing the world

He called upon his archangels.

The Lord asked his archangels to help

Him decide where to put the Secret of Life.

"Bury it in the ground," one ange replied.

"Put it on the bottom of the sea," said another.

"Hide it in the mountains," another suggested.

The Lord replied, "If I see to do any of those

only a few will find the Secret of Life.

The Secret of Life must be accessible to

everyone!"

One angel replied, "I know, put it in each man's heart.

Nobody will think to look there."

"Yes!" said the Lord.  "Within each man's heart."

And so it was --

the secret of life lies within all of us.

Author Unknown

Discovered in A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Most Richly Blessed

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

- Anonymous Confederate Soldier

Pope Benedict XVI's Intentions for October

Photo:  Pressestelle Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat München

October's Intentions:

Terminally Ill:  That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.

World Mission Day:  That the celebration of World Mission Day may foster in the People of God a passion for evangelization with the willingness to support the missions with prayer and economic aid for the poorest Churches.

For more information about the Apostleship of Prayer, visit:  http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org/.