Author: Texas OP Nuns

Keeping the Lights On

Many thanks again to all who helped us with our generator project! We had a short power outage this morning. Normally this would have left us groping in the dark for our candles, flashlights and kerosene lamps, but today–almost before we could say, \”Oh, no!\” when the lights went out–suddenly there was a great roaring sound. The new generator had begun its work! Power was restored! And then, as soon as the regular power service was back on, the generator shut off, just as it is supposed to do! We are so grateful to everyone involved in this project! Thanks for helping keep the lights on!

Corpus Christi, 2013

Today we celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi, which honors in a special way the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist. We are very happy that we have the privilege of adoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament each day in our chapel. In union with Pope Francis, we will also be having a holy hour this morning from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM to adore the Lord all together as a community. We hope you will unite your adoration and prayers with the Pope, with us, and with the whole world during this time.
May God be praised forever for His wonderful gift of the Eucharist!

Blessed William Arnaud, OP and Companions

The martyrs of Toulouse–Blessed William Arnaud, OP and his companions–are celebrated today as an optional memorial.  We had a sister in our monastery who was named for Blessed William (Sr. Mary William, OP +2004) and since she held the offices of prioress and novice directress more than once (at different times over the years!) we always used to celebrate this day with special joy.

Blessed William and his companions were martyred in 1242–ten years before St. Peter Martyr (d. 1252), who is considered the \”first\” Dominican martyr. They were actually martyred by the Albigensian heretics in a church where they were seeking sanctuary. Those were difficult times!

Today we remember these holy martyrs, and we also remember our Sr. Mary William, who was an great model for generations of Dominican nuns, in Lufkin and beyond. May God send us many more good and holy Dominican vocations, and may we all have the fortitude and faith to endure whatever may come!

Consider the Lilies…

Last Easter, Sr. Mary Christine (our sacristan and an able gardener) decided to plant many of the Easter lilies she used to decorate the chapel around the statue of the Infant Jesus in our infirmary garden. She planted the bulbs, watered them faithfully, and asked the Lord to make His garden bloom. And this year it has–in abundance!
This one lily plant has an amazing 13 blooms on it!
Some of the lilies are growing taller than the Infant Jesus–and taller than Sr. Mary Christine, too!
May God be praised for all His goodness to us! And thanks to Sr. Mary Christine, whose faith helped produce such a beautiful garden!

Pentecost 2013

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world!
Today we celebrate the great solemnity of Pentecost, which brings the Easter season to a close. Today we ask for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for the grace of repentance, for the courage and strength to go out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News! We pray that all Christians–and all people of good will–will experience today the blessings of the Spirit in the way God chooses to manifest himself to them. May you receive all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to enrich you and guide you on the way to God!

Ascension of the Lord, 2013

\”He led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple, praising God.\” — Luke 24:50-53

On this solemnity of the Ascension (celebrated on this Sunday in most dioceses of the United States of America) we look forward in hope to Christ\’s return in glory, and like the disciples, we remain in the temple (our monastery), praising God continually and thanking Him for all his many gifts. May you be blessed by God in a special way today!

We also want to give a thanks as big as Texas to all our mothers, living and deceased, since here in the United States today also happens to be Mother\’s Day! God bless all our mothers! And a special thanks also to our spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary over the Order of Preachers, 2013

Today we celebrate the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary over the Order of Preachers (also known as the Dominican Order). Today we renew our consecration to Mary and pray for her intercession for the Order in all its many forms. We also pray for the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, and all his assistants at the Curia at Santa Sabina in Rome. May God continue to grant us new vocations and perseverance in the life of the Order through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary!