A House of Prayer: The Consecration of Our Chapel

Early this morning before Lauds, the twelve chapel consecration candles were lit. They will burn all day in celebration of the anniversary of the consecration of our chapel.

Today our community gratefully and joyfully celebrates the 65th year of the Consecration of our Chapel! We give praise to God for his goodness and remembered at our morning Mass all our dear Sisters who have gone before us and our family, friends and benefactors who have supported our life of prayer throughout the years.

Below is the story taken from our history archives (with comments given in italics) of the glorious celebration of the Consecration of our Chapel on September 12, 1953.  We have posted the story before but in case you haven’t seen it, here it is again…

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About 9 a.m. the ceremony of the Consecration of the Chapel began. Bishop Guilfoyle, attended by Father Bowe and Father Cahil started the august ceremony. Bishop Guilfoyle had prepared for it by a day of fasting, as he was to represent the Eternal Pontiff who opened heaven to us by fasting and suffering.

The sacred relics that were to be placed in the sepulcher had been retained in the sacristy overnight, and were so placed in the little grille opening into our Chapel hall, that we were privileged to venerate them there during the night hours. Two candles burned before them constantly and flowers adorned the aperture.

The ceremony began promptly in the morning. The Bishop, wearing a white cope, and accompanied by the clergy, remaining outside the Chapel, approaches the relics, to implore near them the mercy of God. For this purpose he recites the seven Penitential Psalms. Meanwhile the door of the Chapel is closed. There was no one inside except the Deacon, who was our Chaplain, Father Clark, wearing an alb, girdle and white stole.

(The Chapel had been prepared before the day by removing every movable thing – chairs, tables, flowers, vases, etc. No persons may be inside the Chapel during the first part of the ceremony. All, even the clergy, are outside the door.)

The Bishop, struck by the greatness of the undertaking, cries out, “O Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, be in the midst of us.” To implore this help, the Litany of the Saints is recited.

After this, the Bishop blesses salt and water, with the usual exorcisms and prayers. Having made an aspersion on himself and clergy, he goes around the Monastery walls, sprinkling the exterior with holy water, and saying continually, “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy ghost.” During this time, the antiphon is intoned, “The House of the Lord is built upon a mountain, etc.”

Having returned to the front of the monastery, the Bishop recites a prayer, asking God to bless this dwelling and make it a house of holiness and prayer.

Then with his pastoral staff, he strikes the door once, saying, “O princes open your gates; and the King of Glory shall enter in.”

The Deacon, who is inside, asks, “Who is the King of Glory?” The Bishop answers, “He is the strong and mighty God.” During all this time, the outer door of the Chapel has remained closed. There is no one inside, except the Deacon. (He was Father Clark, our Chaplain.)

The Deacon does not open the door. The Bishop now goes around the Monastery a second time, saying the same words.

Having returned to the front of the Chapel and asking God’s blessing on all who were assembled, he strikes the door a second time, saying the same prayers as was said the first time. The door of the Chapel is not opened yet. The Bishop goes around the building the third time, sprinkling the walls and blessing them. Meanwhile, the anthem, “O Master of the universe” is intoned.

Returning to the front of the Chapel, the Bishop offers a prayer and strikes the door the third time, making the same invocation. The deacon responds and then opens the door.

“Peace to this house” the Bishop says, as he enters the Chapel. All kneel down in the middle of the Chapel, and the Bishop intones the “Veni Creator.” The Litany of the Saints is again said. Whereupon the Bishop traces, on the floor, with his crosier, on two lines of ashes, the Greek and Latin alphabet.

(The evening before the ceremony, Msgr. Kennedy had come to see that all was in order. But he found that the wax on the Chapel floor did not permit the laying down of the ashes. So he rolled up his sleeves and scrubbed all the wax off the floor and laid down the ashes in the form of an X from one corner of the Chapel to the other.)

After blessing the walls on the inside, he mixes new water putting into it salt, ashes and wine. This is called Gregorian Water.

(And is used for the consecration of the Altar.)

And now, after more prayers, the Bishop goes around the Altar seven times, wearing cope and mitre, sprinkling the Altar and reciting the Miserere.  The moment has now come to place the sacred relics in the sepulcher.

(This is a rectangular hole which has been hollowed out of the center of the Altar which is made of one large slab of stone.)

The Bishop recites a prayer, after which he consecrates the sepulcher with holy chrism and immediately lays the holy relics in it, together with three grains of incense. The relics were as follows: one of St. Fortunatus, one of St. Felicitus, and that of our holy father St. Dominic in which the last one was allowed at the community’s request.

(The relics placed in an Altar must be those of a martyr of the early Church. We also requested from the Vatican a relic of Our Holy Father Dominic and our request was granted.)

Our Altar with the sepulcher containing the relics inside

The Bishop now consecrates the stone that is to close the sepulcher which now contains the relics. He fixes it on the sepulcher with the cement he has made and blessed. Then anointing it again with the holy chrism, he says, “Let this Altar be sealed and sanctified in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and let peace always surround it.”

After this, the Bishop incenses the Altar and its pillars; while all this time, a Dominican student continued, without ceasing, to swing the thurible, perfuming the Altar with its fragrant incense.

Twelve crosses had been impressed on twelve pillars of the Chapel, one at each Station. From the beginning of this great ceremony, lighted candles burned before these crosses.

(It is good that the Bishop was young and athletic because he had to go up a stepladder at each station to anoint the cross.)

While the candles and incense are burning on the Altar, the Bishop and clergy prostrate and sing the anthem, “God be praised,” etc.

During the progress of this long ceremony, besides the Seven Penitential Psalms, seven various Psalms were recited outside the Chapel and sixteen on the inside.

Archbishop Guilfoyle was assisted, throughout, by Father Raymond Cahil and Father Thomas Bowe. Father Meyer and Father Quinn were Masters of Ceremonies.

After further prayers and ceremonies, the Altar was furnished with flowers and candles were lighted, and the august ceremony concluded with Solemn High Mass at the newly consecrated Altar, at which our Provincial, Very Reverend Father Fulton, O.P. was Celebrant, Reverend Father Kelly, O.P. was Deacon, and Reverend Father Ward, O.P. was Subdeacon.

This great ceremony was a foretaste of the joys that await us in the blessed city of Heaven!

How We Spent Our Summer Vacation, Part 3: Fifty Years and Counting!

Our diminutive and energetic Mexican hermana, Sister Maria Carmela of the Heart of Jesus, O.P., celebrated her 50th Jubilee Anniversary of profession on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Father Mark Padrez, O.P., our vicar and Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province, celebrated the Solemnity Mass to a full chapel of Lara family and friends in honor of their Jubilarian, and received abundant graces during their visit with her. The schola led the choir in the Dominican Kyriale V Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary with great gusto. Congratulations, Sister!

A Birthday Gift From Mary!

On this beautiful and joyous feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we’re pleased to announce the result our prioral election held this morning!  Sister Maria Christine of the Cross, O.P. was postulated to a third term as Prioress of our monastery.  The postulation was confirmed by our regular superior, the Very Reverend Mark Padrez, O.P., Vicar for the Master of the Order.

According to our Dominican Constitutions, the community chapter elects our prioress for a three-year term.  A current prioress may be elected to a second consecutive term; but for a third consecutive term, the election must be confirmed by the Master of the Order, which may be done in the person of the Vicar. 

Following a prioral election, the newly elected prioress and the community prayerfully discern the coming three-year term; this is also the time when all work assignments (charges) in the monastery will be formally assigned for the next three years.  As the prioress and community discern, the professed sister currently assigned to a given charge may be directed to continue in that charge, or it may be assigned to another professed sister.  This is one way the nuns practice itinerancy, as we hold our work with open hands and willing hearts.  This change of charges allows the nuns to learn new things, and to discover hidden talents and graces given by God in ourselves and our sisters.

Please keep Sister Maria Christine and our community in your prayers as we discern God's will and implement changes in the upcoming months.  May our Lady bless us and keep us faithful in our life of contemplative prayer and sacrifice.

Deo Gratias!

How We Spent Our Summer Vacation, Part Two: A Visit From the Archbishop

Part One may be found here.

On August 11, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco made his annual visit to our monastery. After celebrating Mass with us, we welcomed him inside the cloister for conversation and a walk around our grounds. 

We were eager to learn His Excellency’s ministry is flourishing with the growth of St. Patrick’s Seminary nearby, and with his unique initiative to restore the beauty of Gregorian chant in parishes through the new Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship. Chant camps for children are now being offered, and inmates at the San Quentin state prison have formed a serious schola. Incredibly, the chants are being sung unaccompanied—an extraordinary musical feat in our modern times.

During our walk around the grounds, he seemed particularly impressed with the new brick patio and gazebo installed by the novitiate, and with our overgrown prickly pear cactus, which prompted some nostalgia from his boyhood. And we learned some tips for how to pick the fruit without getting pricked! We are fortunate to have such a holy and dynamic shepherd for our Archdiocese.

Have You Met...

Sister Joseph Marie, O.P. is our vocations directress and coordinator for our Janua Caeli Retreat Days.  She's passionate about helping young women grow in their relationship with God and discern His gift of their vocation, whatever that may be.  

A welcome from Sister Joseph Marie, O.P. on our vocations page.

If you are, or you know, a young woman who would like to grow more deeply in relationship with God (and other young women of like mind), check out our next Janua Caeli Retreat Day on Saturday, October 13th!  You can find out more and register online at our website.  Have additional questions?  Contact Sister Joseph Marie!

How We Spent Our Summer Vacation! Part One: A Prophet-able Retreat

September already?!  For most that means school is back in full swing, complete with extra-curricular activities, and a busy work schedule.  And for many students, that first assignment is to write a report, or share with the class "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."

As for our community, our last blog post was published at the end of July (yikes!) and entitled, "Into the Desert!" as we began our annual retreat.  Some of you may have begun to wonder whether we got lost there!  So, here is the first of our report, "How Nuns Spend a Summer Vacation."

A Prophet-able Retreat

We had our annual retreat from July 26 to August 2 with Fr. Michael Carey, O.P. as our retreat master. He gave us thought-provoking homilies and morning reflections from the daily Mass readings, which focused on the prophet Jeremiah; in the afternoon, his reflections were on the life of Moses, whose relationship with God stands out as a model of the Christian life. 

Thank you for your prayers for our community, particularly during our retreat.  We came out of it renewed and refreshed, with new insights to continue our own journey and adventure with the Lord.

Into the Desert!

Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while...

- Jesus

Beginning today, our community is taking our annual eight-day retreat.  Please keep us in prayer as we enter more deeply into the desert with Him.  Rest assured, we are keeping you all in prayer as well!

Gratitude for a Great Come-and-See Day!

Last Saturday, we hosted our July Come-and-See Day, packed with prayer, information on vocations and the life of a Dominican nun, and more!  The day began with Mass and Terce (Midmorning Prayer of the Divine Office), then a wonderful talk given by Father Michael Carey, O.P. of the Western Dominican Province, who shared with us his vocation story and steps for discerning God's call in your life.  

Other talks were given by Sister Joseph Marie, O.P., our vocations directress and novice mistress, a few of our novitiate sisters, as well as a time of sharing with the community.  And the entire day flowed around the continual prayer of the Divine Office and adoration.  

Our deepest gratitude to Father Michael Carey and to all those who kept us, and the young women in attendance, in prayer.  Please continue to offer your prayers for them (and us!) as they continue seeking God's will for their lives.    Deo gratias!

Father Michael Carey, O.P. shares his vocation story and the freedom found in following God’s call.

Sister Joseph Marie, O.P. giving helpful insights into the consecrated life and tips for hearing God’s voice.

Recreation with the community!

Four of our novitiate sisters speaking about the four pillars of Dominican life as lived by the cloistered nuns of the Order.

Benediction following Vespers (Evening Prayer).

Final Days to Register for July’s Come and See!

We’re finalizing preparations for our Saturday, July 21st Come and See Day and if you’ve ever had questions about how to know what to do to follow God’s will, you won’t want to miss it!  Our guest celebrant and speaker is Father Michael Carey, O.P. of the Western Dominican Province.  He is currently an associate professor at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California and chair of the Moral Theology Department (for those not familiar with the different branches of theology, our faith teaches us our goal [eternal happiness with God in heaven]; moral theology is concerned about the human actions necessary to get us there).

The day of retreat will also include talks, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass and the Divine Office prayed with the Dominican nuns, and more!

Father Michael Carey is a native of Chicago, Illinois.  Later, his family moved to Arizona where he graduated from Arizona State University.  That same year he entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).  Continuing his education, he received a law degree from Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas (The Angelicum) in Rome.  For many years he has done specialized, itinerant preaching throughout the United States and was chaplain to the cloistered Dominican Nuns in Hollywood, California.  As well as teaching at colleges and universities through the U.S.

To learn more or to register, contact Sister Joseph Marie, O.P. or visit the Upcoming Events page on our website.

New Priests Forever!

Father Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P. before his first Mass of Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, June 23rd, we had the great blessing of sharing in the First Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by newly ordained Father Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P. of the Western Dominican Province.  The homilist was Father Anselm Ramelow, O.P. and there were many friends and family in attendance.  The Mass, a votive mass in honor of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, began at 1:30 p.m. and was followed by blessings given by Father Thomas Aquinas and a reception in our parlor, with a cake specially made for the occasion by our novitiate sisters.

This was the first Mass of Thanksgiving offered in our chapel by our newly ordained brothers.  The following day, Sunday June 24th, we were truly blessed to have newly ordained Father Henry Stephan, O.P. of the Eastern Dominican Province celebrate Mass and give us his blessing. 

Then, Thursday, June 28th, we were joined by newly ordained Father Brad Elliot, O.P. of the Western Dominican Province, who offered a Mass of Thanksgiving and gave us each a blessing.  We eagerly look forward to the rest of our newly ordained brothers offering Masses of Thanksgiving throughout the next couple months, as their schedules permit.

The Order of Preachers is unique among religious orders in that the different Dominican members – friars, nuns, apostolic sisters, and laity – are bound together by mission and fraternal communion.  Our mission is the salvation of souls; one means is our preaching, which is not simply teaching the precepts of the faith.  It is a preaching of reconciliation with God and one another, a partaking in the ministry of the word and sacrament, which is a priestly office.  As nuns, through our life of praise, prayer and penance, we are called to exemplify this reconciliation and support the active preaching and sacramental ministry of our friars and the rest of the Dominican family. 

On the day of their vows, and for our clerical brothers, their ordination, we continue our day of work and prayer, but with an eye on the clock as we pray and consider…”Ah, the Mass is beginning…right about now the liturgy of the Word will end…now, they are a priest…”  And our hearts fill once again with joy and gratitude to God, and we commune with our Lady and savor the taste of what she must have experienced in her relationships with the apostles and the ever-growing Church.

We are given a great gift to be able to communicate our thoughts and feelings into words.  But there are some things that run so deeply, so profoundly, that even words fail and so they must be said with silence, the speech of God.  Te Deum laudámus!

Father Thomas Aquinas Pickett’s Mass of Thanksgiving.

Father Anselm Ramelow, O.P. preaching the homily for Father Thomas Aquinas' Mass of Thanksgiving.

Father Thomas Aquinas blessing our sisters.

The cake made by our novitiate sisters for Father Thomas Aquinas’ reception after Mass.

Father Henry Stephan, O.P. of the Eastern Dominican Province gives his blessing to the sisters after his Mass of Thanksgiving.

Father Brad Elliot, O.P. preaching during his Mass of Thanksgiving.