God's Lavish Love!

Thanks be to God for his mercy endures forever! 

The Church dedicates June to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  From the love and mercy that flows from his Eucharistic Heart, God has lavishly blessed our community in a magnificently threefold manner.

On June 2, we had the privilege and honor of celebrating Corpus Christi with Father Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P., Father Dominic Bump, O.P. from the Eastern province, and our Chaplain, Father Reginal Martin, O.P.  Our celebrant and homilist, Father Thomas Aquinas captivatingly spoke of our covenantal relationship with God in the Eucharist.

“Here in the Eucharist, is the consummation of that covenant, the marriage-chamber of our hearts…as food and drink we consume God’s love, we consume his very holiness, we consume his presence, so that as the air is filled with light, so are we filled with his grace.”

The torrents of God’s love and mercy continues to pour forth as we celebrated our beloved Sister Mary Rose’s birthday on June 10th. Sister exemplifies the covenantal relationship with God as she continues to faithfully live out her religious consecration of 81 years!

With hymns of jubilant praise and thanksgiving we concluded the month with the Solemn Profession of Sister André Marie on June 29; the Solemnity Sts. Peter and Paul.  We were blessed with the presence of Bishop Steven Maekawa, O.P.  Along with our friars, priests, Deacon, Sisters, family, friends and benefactors we celebrated with grateful hearts this joyous occasion.  As a former Navy chaplain, Bishop Steven made the analogy that in the military, the dangerous person was not the Marine with the rifle, but the Marine with a radio because of his capability of calling for reinforcement.

There is nothing more dangerous that a Catholic with a Rosary, a Catholic who is praying the Divine Office, who is attending Mass or who is Adoring the Holy Eucharist. They bring God– the weight of the entire Body of Christ - into the fight. They hand over all things, including their own will in service to the Lord for the salvation of souls. “So that the Word of God may not return to him empty.”

Thus, the Dominican Contemplative is “dangerous” in her hidden life armed with the cross and Rosary drawing all her strength from the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.  Read about Sister André Marie's incredible story of finding her true calling.  
Check it out here: https://www.sfarchdiocese.org/from-prescriptions-to-prayer/.

Deo Gratias!

Rejoice! The Lord is near

Dear Family, Friends, and Benefactors,

May our hearts rejoice with resounding love and peace as we eagerly await the Birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son!  

With grateful hearts, we see the how the LORD, the Emmanuel, has always been with us especially through your loving and generous support of our contemplative life.   As Saint Paul exhorts us to Rejoice always in the Lord, we now exhort you to share the same joy with us as we reflect on the blessings of our monastic life in 2023.

We celebrated a milestone with Sister Mary Rose, OP as she celebrated her 80th year of religious profession.  She has been a great and edifying example of fidelity and praise for us all!  The LORD has also blessed us with two entrances into the cloister; three aspirants who completed their 30-day lived-in experience; a Solemn Profession; a First Profession; a renewal of vow; a Vestition, an 8-day annual retreat centering on Mary and the Sacraments.  From the rising of the sun to its setting, may the name of the LORD be praised!

As we look forward to the new year, we are anticipating another vestition in February 2024.  And please pray for our vocation discernment weekend January 26-27, 2024, for the speakers and participants.  For more information, please click on the link https://www.opnunsmenlo.org/retreat-days. 

And again I say rejoice!  May the Holy Family continue to fill you and your loved ones with an abundance of grace!  Thank you for your generosity.  Deo Gratias!

Faithful Brides of Christ

Blessed Christmas and New Year!

Dear Friends, Benefactors and Family:

As we celebrate the birth of Our Savior and usher in the New Year, we also give praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of Our heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The WORD took our human nature from Mary, and “By taking our nature and offering it in sacrifice, the Word was to destroy it completely and then invest it with his own nature, and so prompt the Apostle to say: This corruptible body must put on incorruption; this mortal body must put on immortality.” -St. Athanasius

Let us join with holy Mother Church this day and proclaim:

O pure and holy Virgin,
how can I find words to praise your beauty?
– The highest heavens cannot contain God whom you carried in your womb.

We also thank God for your kindness and support throughout 2022. May the Infant King, His Immaculate Mother and the Great Saint Joseph bless you and your loved ones with an increase of faith, hope and love!

Monastery Art Exhibit

The Dominican Nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery
joyfully invite you to our upcoming Art Exhibit!

What to Expect

• What you can Purchase

  • Sacred Icons, Canvas Paintings, Watercolor Paintings, Greeting Cards, Christmas Ornaments, Bookmarks, Rosaries, Baked Goods

• Art Mediums / Art Forms

  • Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Illumination, Calligraphy, Dried Flowers, Collage, Quilling

• Art Themes

  • Sacred Images, Angels, Nuns, Flowers, Nature Landscapes

• Baked Goods

  • Cookies, Breads, Cakes

    • MUST TRY: Sister Mary Bernadette’s Potato Chip Cookies!

• Accepted Payments

  • Credit Card, Debit Card, Check, Cash

• Parking

  • Street parking is available

BONUS

• Live Nun Calligrapher ;-)

• Backorders accepted!

sneak peek

Receive A Papal Blessing at the Monastery!

The attached Plenary Indulgence is to be acquired under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Highest Pontiff).

The Mass and the Papal Blessing will be livestreamed here.

What is Papal Blessing?

The Holy Father offers blessings to the Christian faithful on special occasions such as our Centennial Jubilee. The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted the Most Reverend Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco in California faculty to impart the papal Blessing with the attached plenary Indulgence to all the Christian faithful who are present physically or virtually at the Eucharistic celebration and the blessing. -The translation below is courtesy of our Brother Athanasius Thompson, O.P.

We hope you will join us! But if you miss this rare opportunity, plan a visit to our monastery between now and May 29th, 2023. A plenary indulgence is granted to any faithful Christian who visits our Monastery Chapel from May 29, 2022 to May 29, 2023 in the form of a pilgrimage or at least devotes a suitable amount of time for pious considerations, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, and invocations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Dominic. -The translation below is courtesy of our Brother Athanasius Thompson, O.P.

What is an indulgence?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1471

An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1478

An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity.

CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY

Click here to RSVP!

A Novena of Masses will be offered for you and your loved ones (living and deceased) from June 10th – 18th, and on June 19, 2022, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, in our chapel of Corpus Christi Monastery. Your prayer intentions will be placed near the Altar and in our hearts. Print a copy of our prayer intentions card and send to:

Corpus Christi Monastery
215 Oak Grove Ave
Menlo Park, CA 94025

If you wish, you may also send your prayer intentions here and donate online here.

SPECIAL EASTER NEWSLETTER

Christ is Risen! Alleluia, alleluia!

Dearest friends of Corpus Christi Monastery,

During this beautiful Easter Season, we remember you and your loved ones in our special Mass intentions.  We thank you for your continued care and for faithfully supporting our contemplative way of life.

Many of you have noticed our Jubilee sign lifted high on the entrance wall over the front porch.   This was an epic year, first being sheltered in place as the pandemic rules closed our chapel, and then partially reopened with restrictions.   Inside the cloister our prayers and adoration continued without interruption and, finally after many months of modifications, our chapel is now open all day and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has resumed.  It was a challenge, but we also learned new methods of communication as we enhanced our web outreach and discovered how to operate via Zoom and YouTube, broadcasting live from our chapel and holding conferences with new vocation candidates, families abroad and attending various lectures of theological interest.

In these past six months we conducted our triennial changes in leadership.  Our Dominican Constitutions provide a distinct approach to democratic constitutional government that is now over 801 years old.  The nuns are called every three years to hold a Chapter of Elections.  Beginning with a solemn Mass invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit the solemnly professed nuns gathered in the Chapter Hall with our vicar, Fr. Christopher Fadok, OP officiating.  Then the serious work began, similar to a papal conclave.  We no longer burn the ballots to announce white or black smoke, but instead waited for the approval of the Holy See before the official announcement is proclaimed.

Yes, we have a new Prioress!  Sister Mary Isabel of the Angels, OP was confirmed in November to begin a three-year term of office.  To compliment her prioral responsibilities, Sister Maria Christine, OP was appointed Sub-prioress and Novice Mistress, Sister Joseph Marie, OP appointed Bursar and Sister Mary Bernadette and Sister Maria Carmela were elected to fill the remaining council positions.  Then the challenge of changing assignments throughout the house began.  We continue to be in a state of “transition” as everyone is learning new duties, sometimes with a skilled guide, and often by trial and error.  This is a wonderful way of building trust, sharing experiences, and being companions to one another on our new journey in life. 

With a warm springtime the community was enticed to add “gardening days” to the schedule of regular activities. Everyone soon discovered the relaxing effect of good sunshine and fresh air.

Remodeling our cloister grounds - lining up flowers for St. Dominic!

We are now in our third year of drought conditions, but we continue to cultivate our gardens, nurture what we can and introduce a more “drought resistant” venue. Seedlings have begun to sprout, and we pray mother nature will lend us a hand in watering.

As we reflect upon new life in the gardens, we are drawn to the new life of Easter Season.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote,

Easter is the feast of the new creation.  Jesus is risen and dies no more. He has opened the door to a new life, one that no longer knows illness and death. He has taken mankind up into God himself. ‘Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God’, as Saint Paul says in the First Letter to the Corinthians (15:50).  On the subject of Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection, the Church writer Tertullian in the third century was bold enough to write: ‘Rest assured, flesh and blood, through Christ you have gained your place in heaven and in the Kingdom of God’ (CCL II, 994). A new dimension has opened up for mankind. Creation has become greater and broader. (Easter Vigil Homily)

This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness. (Exultet)

While we all live in this marvelous moment of new creation, our community welcomed two nuns from our Los Angeles Dominican community.  Bringing with them a liveliness, giftedness and host of experience, the sisters are a valued addition to our Dominican contemplative community.

Filled with enthusiasm our “Vocation Program” is back to normal. In January the first group of young women arrived to participate in a weekend of prayer and reflection.  Nourished with conferences and discussions the group is now prepared to further discern their vocational journey in life, asking themselves “is God calling me?”   In July we will host another weekend of prayer and inquiry for both new inquirers and those who are participating in their “aspirancy” preparation in anticipation of entering religious life.   Be sure to follow our community web page for details and updates.

As we write about our WEB PAGE – it too will be taking on a new improved look as our sisters relocate from one work assignment to the next.  For some this transition is a process of discovering new computer skills, often very daunting for even the most learned.  We encourage everyone to visit our ONLINE FEATURES for ordering their Venite enrollments, Spiritual Bouquets, Mass Cards and other online gifts and accessories. If you wish, you could also donate online. This is also an easy and efficient way of sending in your urgent or special prayer intentions.

Corpus Christi Sunday will be celebrated on June 19th.  This marks both the solemnity of our patronal feast day which coincides with “Father’s Day” this year.   Set your calendar to bring along your family and join us in honoring the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Invitations and prayer petition slips will be mailed to you in the coming month.  When we think of peace these days, what might first come to mind is the sadness of the Ukraine war and the devastation of homelands.  In Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, He promises a special reward to peacemakers.  Let us all be peacemakers by touching the world with the two qualities that characterize life in God’s kingdom – sight of God and union with God.  May we always be grateful for God’s many blessings and rejoice in a personal peace, one that only comes through Christ’s blessings. 

Happy New Year! And Blessed Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God!

We wish you a peaceful New Year and a blessed Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God!

Among all the Marian feasts we celebrate throughout the year, today’s feast is the greatest celebration of them all. In answer to our ardent desire: “May God bless us in his mercy,” God sent His Son, “born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5)

This woman is Mary!

Let us imitate this Good Mother and constantly ponder God’s mercy in our heart. Let us praise Him for giving us a Savior, a Mother and the dignity to be children of God.

How appropriate it is then, to begin the New Year with a solemn chant to praise God and to honor Mary, the Mother of God and Mother of us all! Join us in singing this ancient chant and ask Our Mother to intercede for us in this New Year.

Thank you for all the prayers and support you offered us in 2021. You and your loved ones are always remembered in prayers (at least 7 times a day), good works, and sacrifices of the nuns, and will continue to be remembered throughout 2022!

Happy New Year!

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

-Num. 6:24-26

Deo Gratias!

Merry Christmas from the Cloister!

With joy and gratitude, we are sending you our prayers and love for a very happy, healthy, and holy Christmas!

Saint Leo the Great reminded us of the reason for our rejoicing:

Our Savior, dearly beloved, was born this day. Let us rejoice. No, there cannot rightly be any room for sorrow in a place where life has been born. By dispelling fear of death, life fills us with joy about the promised eternity.

…dearly beloved, let us give “thanks to God the Father” through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. “Because of that great love of his with which he loved us,” he took pity on us, “and, when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life through Christ,” so that we might be a “new creature” in him, a new handiwork. “Let us therefore put aside the old human being along with its actions.” Since we have become sharers in the Birth of Christ, let us renounce “works of the flesh.”

Excerpt of the translation taken from Aquinas 101.

Deo Gratias!

Happy Thanksgiving!

To our family, friends, and benefactors,

Gratitude fills our hearts today as we recall the many blessings we’ve received from God’s hands through your kindness and generosity. We wish you a joyful Thanksgiving overflowing with God’s love and mercy!

And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.

-Sirach 50:22-24

Deo Gratias!