The best things come in threes, and beginning May 29th, we began the month of June with three joyous celebrations: the 100th anniversary of the founding of our Monastery, Corpus Christi Sunday, and a Mass of Thanksgiving with one of our newly ordained friars.
Read MoreRead More“On the 29th of May 1921, it being the Sunday within the octave of the feast of Corpus Christi, five choir sisters - Mother Mary of the Rosary, Very Reverend Mother Prioress, Mother Mary Emmanuel, Reverend Mother Subprioress, Mother Mary of the Immaculate Heart, Sister Mary Agnes, and Sister Mary of the Visitation - two lay sisters - Sister Mary Rose and Sister Mary Thomas - and Sister Mary Benedict, touriere and natural sister of Sister Mary Rose, set out to found in San Francisco a new monastery with perpetual exposition and adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament…”
Monastery Chronicles - Archives
Corpus Christi Monastery, Menlo Park, California
Today we commemorate one of our cloistered Dominican nuns – Saint Agnes of Montepulciano. She is one of those saints who can seem unreal because of all the miracles and mystical experiences that are often relayed when discussing or summarizing her life. Yet these things do not make a person a saint. Our dear Saint Catherine of Siena wrote in a letter to Saint Agnes’ monastic community that Saint Agnes’ chief virtue was humility. How is this?
Read MoreIn her 98th year of earthly life and her 71st year of religious profession, our Sister Maura of the Holy Spirit, O.P. has passed to her eternal reward.
Read MoreAs part of our Christmas preparations, our community holds a Joyous Chapter on December 23rd. Included in the Chapter is the reading of one of the Christmas Gospels and a reflection is given by the youngest member of the community. This year’s reflection was given by our postulant sister and we joyfully share it with you.
Read MoreThis week in the United States, we celebrate two great Marian feasts: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, our country’s patronal feast day, and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who has been repeatedly declared the empress of – not just Latin America – all America. How did it come to be that America would fall so clearly under the patronage of our Lady? And what do these two aspects of our Lady mean for us today?
Read MoreAs Catholics, what we believe about Mary is rooted in Jesus, and as we deepen our relationship with Mary, she always leads us to her Son, Jesus. This is even more vital during these times in which we live. We need to cultivate our relationship with our Mother Mary, who is the new Eve, the Mother of the Messiah, our Queen, and the Mother of Sorrows. Here’s one series that can help us do just that.
Read MoreDespite the difficult times in which we live, and in particular the radical changing of our interpersonal interactions due to COVID, all around us God is opening new windows of grace. This past weekend, we virtually hosted an energetic group of young women for our first Come and See: Virtual Retreat, and the weekend is a testament to God’s goodness.
Read MoreDuring these times, it is good to once again remember what we have been told repeatedly by our Lady when she has appeared in our troubled past – as followers of Christ, we are called to undertake penance and prayer. The specific prayer recommended time and again by Our Lady is the Holy Rosary. But what about penance, the other side of this coin? If all is mercy and we are forgiven, why does God require penance?
Read MoreAfter waiting longer than anticipated due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are finally able to welcome our newest postulant-to-be on Saturday, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary!
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