Sunday chat Aug 28

Posted on August 31, 2021 by the Sisters

In the opening paragraph, St Francis says: “God’s heavenly goodness does not let you fall into these faults in order to abandon you, but so as to humble you and make you take a firmer and tighter hold on the hand of his mercy.” What does this mean?Are we to take up our arms against the devil all on our own?In connection with the current letter, discuss this quote: “pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you” (commonly attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola).Why is spiritual dryn

 

Aug 29, 10:43 AM

VisitationSiste: Why is spiritual dryness good for us?
The recipient of this letter tried to remove her “temporal difficulty,” but failed. How do we gain the wisdom to know when to keep trying to overcome some difficulty, and when to give up and accept it?
How can we learn from our past mistakes?
How can we live in peace?

does not let you fall into these faults in order to abandon you, but so as to humble you and make you take a firmer and tighter hold on the hand of his mercy.” What does this mean?Are we to take up our arms against the devil all on our own?

 

Aug 29, 7:35 PM

Dawn (Guest): and Princess

Aug 29, 7:36 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): I believe homily is the best defense and we have to pray for the grace

Aug 29, 7:36 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Humility

PM

VisitationSiste: trials bring us closer to God if we reach out to Him

 

Aug 29, 7:37 PM

Dawn (Guest): I believe it means when we feel we are abandoned but have no other way we will turn to him.

8 PM

Dawn (Guest): you said it more clearly Sr/ thank you

Aug 29, 7:38 PM

VisitationSiste: and I would recommend never fight evil all alone Call on your angel on Mary on Jesus

PM

VisitationSiste: We do not necessarily have the strength to fight alone 9, 7:39 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Pride thinking we can do it alone is a problem.. gets me into trouble

Aug 29, 7:40 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes and we all have a touch of that in us I think

 

Share discuss this quote: “pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you” PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Our Lord gives us plenty opportunity to be humble 1 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes probably every day!

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discuss this quote: “pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you”

 

Aug 29, 7:42 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Such peace knowing God is in the consolation and the desolation

Aug 29, 7:43 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Love that adage

44 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): I keep the faith and keep focused on heaven 29, 7:45 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Yes and so close to home

Aug 29, 7:45 PM

VisitationSiste: Even depending on God and praying we can also ask for the energy tp wprk as if all depended on us

6 PM

VisitationSiste: sometimes we lose energy and feel we can do nothing

 

6 online

VisitationSiste

 

Princess

Dawn

Anna-Marie

2 viewers

6 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Yes all to often 7 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Thank God for St. Frances de Sales and others who help us see things differently

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6 online

VisitationSiste

 

Princess

Dawn

Anna-Marie

2 viewers

48 PM

Dawn (Guest): Yes.

Aug 29, 7:48 PM

VisitationSiste: He is a great saint and truly wise

PM

Dawn (Guest): Sr, do you mean we can lose energy spiritually? sometimes it feels this way

Aug 29, 7:49 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes I think so with despondency or depression

 

Aug 29, 7:49 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Is this desolation?

Aug 29, 7:50 PM

VisitationSiste: another word for it with some qualifications perhaps

7:51 PM M

VisitationSiste: q3Why is spiritual dryness good for us?

 

Aug 29, 7:51 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): To keep us wanting

Aug 29, 7:51 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): It’s when we have less we want more

51 PM

Dawn (Guest): so we do not become attached to faith in God as an emotion :52 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): True Dawn emotions do not tell us the truth

Aug 29, 7:52 PM

VisitationSiste: both are good A nswers to discuss in themselves

PM

VisitationSiste: it keeps us searching, spiritual dryness does PM

VisitationSiste: some people might give up tho with dryness

 

Aug 29, 7:54 PM

VisitationSiste: St Jane did not

PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): That’s when God speaks to me, it could be through a reading or person… 55 PM

VisitationSiste: wonderful that you can identify it that way

 

Aug 29, 7:55 PM

Dawn (Guest): she experienced dryness? St Teresa Avila also. here is good example of how the saints help us

7:55 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): St Jane had St Frances as her spiritual director- ought not we look for a spiritual director?

Aug 29, 7:56 PM

VisitationSiste: oh yes about 40 years

 

Aug 29, 7:56 PM

VisitationSiste: so did St Teresa of Calcutta

 

Aug 29, 7:56 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes a spirital director helps alot

7 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): I learned that dryness did not mean loss of faith or belief that God is near- just loss of consolation..is that your understanding?

Aug 29, 7:57 PM

Dawn (Guest): 40 years and yet she became a Saint

Aug 29, 7:58 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes to both of you!

 

Aug 29, 7:58 PM

Carol (Guest): Dawn!

0 PM

VisitationSiste: q4 The recipient of this letter tried to remove her “temporal difficulty,” but failed. How do we gain the wisdom to know when to keep trying to overcome some difficulty, and when to give up and accept it? 9, 8:00 PM

Dawn (Guest): yes, thank you. still surrounded by fires tho. and yet we are safe. :00 PM

Carol (Guest): We are not getting much word down here about them 1 PM

Carol (Guest): Is it like the thorn that St Paul had?

Aug 29, 8:01 PM

Dawn (Guest): Wisdom gained when you realize apart from him we can do nothing

9, 8:01 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Surrender to the Will of God… hard to know except peace that comes… PM

VisitationSiste: Yes a thorn or a circumstance

 

Aug 29, 8:02 PM

VisitationSiste: and yes peace is a good indicator we are on the right track

PM

Dawn (Guest): trials seem to be increasing here 3 PM

Princess (Guest): By living in union with God. Only then can we know His Will in it.

Aug 29, 8:03 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): We will always have thorns because of original sin… need to rely on God like St Paul

03 PM

Carol (Guest): In the section of abandonment to divine providence we just read in formation the author says that learning abandonment brings dome anguish 04 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): So true is that the same as letting go

Aug 29, 8:04 PM

VisitationSiste: yes union with God- a most necessary goal

PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Good question 6 PM

Carol (Guest): That dying to self will and becoming detached from earthly things is sacrifice and suffering. It is not just given us but learned through difficult situations, through grace

Aug 29, 8:07 PM

Dawn (Guest): thank you for writing this Carol

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Anna-Marie

Carol

Dawn

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8 PM

Carol (Guest): I think you are experiencing more than most Dawn

M

Carol (Guest): The first step is to detach from them and stop beating ourselves up

Aug 29, 8:12 PM

Dawn (Guest): good question. the obvious is not repeating them. sometimes God allows us to see the sin in ourself. a great grace to see.

How can we learn from our past mistakes?

 

Aug 29, 8:10 PM

Carol (Guest): The first step is to detach from them and stop beating ourselves up

Aug 29, 8:12 PM

Dawn (Guest): good question. the obvious is not repeating them. sometimes God allows us to see the sin in ourself. a great grace to see.

6 online

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Anna-Marie

Carol

Dawn

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VisitationSiste: recognize them as mistakes and take ownership for them and try again

 

Aug 29, 8:14 PM

Princess (Guest): Trusting that God’s love makes it all work for our good.

Aug 29, 8:14 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Remembering the consequences

Aug 29, 8:14 PM

VisitationSiste: with the Lords help

:15 PM

VisitationSiste: sometimes we do repeat our mistakes tho :15 PM

Carol (Guest): All of these are the practice of humility

Aug 29, 8:15 PM

Dawn (Guest): yes. and to be able to lovingly make amends to others we have hurt

15 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): The Holy Spirit is working to prompt us when we fall down PM

Princess (Guest): Trusting that God’s love makes it all work for our good. 9, 8:16 PM

Dawn (Guest): and for the good of the other

Aug 29, 8:16 PM

VisitationSiste: that gives encouragement PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love… 17 PM

Carol (Guest): Remembering that God sees the big picture keeps us from making our problems bigger than they are 18 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Opportunities to heal or to grow

Aug 29, 8:18 PM

VisitationSiste: yes while we try to improve we dont become agitated

, 8:19 PM

VisitationSiste: last q How can we live in peace? 0 PM

Carol (Guest): By practicing humility, praying always 1 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Reading Dr. Bob Schuchts book, ‘Be Healed’… sometimes we need more than spiritual help .. we need to heal our wounded places… 22 PM

Dawn (Guest): yes. then the wounded places are where God can enter us

Aug 29, 8:22 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): All with prayer

8:22 PM

Carol (Guest): It is so important we let God in to those broken places 8:23 PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Yes he can replace our old wounded scripts..and allow us to see ourselves as He sees us… PM

Anna-Marie (Guest): Sister Miriam Highlander and Dr. Bob do many retreats fir seminarians

Aug 29, 8:25 PM

VisitationSiste: what about monasteries?

26 PM

Dawn (Guest): it would be wonderful to live near a convent or monastary. PM

Dawn (Guest): the little parish I went to burned down.

Aug 29, 8:26 PM

VisitationSiste: So sad where will you go

8:27 PM

Carol (Guest): It can be rebuilt? Along with the rest of tcity

27 PM :29 PM

VisitationSiste: we continue to pray for all affected

 

Aug 29, 8:29 PM

Dawn (Guest): it was a very small town. a historical town. Not sure if they will rebuild. but farther from there also is another parish with the same priest.

 

Dawn (Guest): there is another parish, farther but do-able when all the roads open.

 

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Sunday chat August 22

Posted on August 24, 2021 by the Sisters
  1. St. Francis mentions two kinds of spiritual coldness: that which is caused by a slackening of good resolutions, and that which is due to simply weariness and heaviness. Can the second type lead to the first? How?
  2. What can we do to help ourselves not slip into a time of spiritual coldness? Or help ourselves out of it?
  3. How can we help/reach out to someone who has a “cold heart”?
  4. Why is it OK that God allows us to go through times like this without consolation? Does that seem unfair?
  5. St. Francis talks about the woman’s “feast day,” which no doubt is the feast day of the saint after whom she was named. Can we expect to have a special relationship with our patron saint? Should we ask for and expect, special graces by way of that saint on his or her feast day?
  6. What does it mean to be a servant of God?
  7. Carroll V (Guest): I am well… COVID is spreading like crazy among patients and staff, so I have been working every weekend… grateful to be well and available to be of service
  8. Aug 22, 7:31 PM
  9. VisitationSiste: Are they not protected?
  11. Aug 22, 7:31 PM
  12. VisitationSiste: and I hope you are wearing a mask too. But it is very hard I have a friend with it now
  14. Aug 22, 7:32 PM
  15. VisitationSiste: first q: 1. St. Francis mentions two kinds of spiritual coldness: that which is caused by a slackening of good resolutions, and that which is due to simply weariness and heaviness. Can the second type lead to the first? How?
  17. Aug 22, 7:33 PM
  18. Carroll V (Guest): Some are and some aren’t… We do wear N95 mask and face shield at all times in the facility, as well as gown and gloves in rooms of patients who are in isolation.
  19. Aug 22, 7:34 PM
  20. VisitationSiste: That’s very good!
  22. Aug 22, 7:37 PM
  23. VisitationSiste: I cAN SAY FOR MYSELF THAT WEARINESS CAN LEAD TO A SLACENING
  25. Aug 22, 7:38 PM
  26. VisitationSiste: slackening
  28. Aug 22, 7:38 PM
  29. VisitationSiste: and it is spiritually dangerous
  31. Aug 22, 7:38 PM
  32. Carroll V (Guest): I have certainly been living that out myself.
  33. Aug 22, 7:39 PM
  34. Carroll V (Guest): …and physical isolation creates added challenges
  35. Aug 22, 7:41 PM
  36. VisitationSiste: overwork too
  38. Aug 22, 7:41 PM
  39. VisitationSiste: a way to avoid it is internal and frequent prayer
  41. Aug 22, 7:41 PM
  42. VisitationSiste: and aspirations
  44. Aug 22, 7:43 PM
  45. Carroll V (Guest): When I was teaching religious ed. and working in the Sacristy it was easier to “pick myself up”… just passing by the chapel, Our Lord would ” reach out and grab” my heart… and YES, now I am more reliant on “touch stones” at home that are reminders and bring me back to prayer throughout the day.
  46. Aug 22, 7:44 PM
  47. VisitationSiste: That’s a good witness for us all!
  49. Aug 22, 7:44 PM
  50. VisitationSiste: 3. How can we help/reach out to someone who has a “cold heart”?
  52. Aug 22, 7:46 PM
  53. Carroll V (Guest): Gently listening… and sharing
  54. Aug 22, 7:47 PM
  55. Carroll V (Guest): …sometimes sharing little “treasures,” like a prayer card, for example… that might become a sort of ” touch stone” for them.
  56. Aug 22, 7:48 PM
  57. VisitationSiste: Yes warming their heart with little touches and glimpses of care or concern
  59. Aug 22, 7:48 PM
  60. Carroll V (Guest): … or sometimes sharing a little piece of my own experience…
  61. Aug 22, 7:49 PM
  62. Carol (Guest): Hello!
  63. Aug 22, 7:49 PM
  64. Carroll V (Guest): Hi Carol!
  65. , 7:51 PM 4. Why is it OK that God allows us to go through times like this without consolation?
  66. Carol (Guest): He wants to teach us to rely only on Him
  67. Aug 22, 7:51 PM
  68. VisitationSiste: Conolations are not everything- faith is
  69. PM

Carroll V (Guest): This is how we practice fidelity. 7:53 PM

VisitationSiste: Fidelity is a concept ery misunderstood these days

 

Aug 22, 7:53 PM

Carol (Guest): It is like in the Cloud of unknowing–He is always there but sometimes it is better for us not to see

PM

VisitationSiste: Great book!

 

Aug 22, 7:54 PM

Carroll V (Guest): I don’t know that one- I’ll look it up.

Aug 22, 7:55 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes it is one that eally touches the soul

 

Aug 22, 7:55 PM

VisitationSiste: 5. St. Francis talks about the woman’s “feast day,” which no doubt is the feast day of the saint after whom she was named. Can we expect to have a special relationship with our patron saint? Should we ask for and expect, special graces by way of that saint on his or her feast day?

PM

Carol (Guest): I think we should. Sometimes our given name is not for a Saint, but our confirmation name always is. We should be choosing the person who conquered our weakness and ask for help

Aug 22, 7:56 PM

VisitationSiste: I was just thinking about this today

:58 PM

Carol (Guest): I should connect more. Mine won a great battle through prayer–Genevieve

Aug 22, 7:59 PM

Carroll V (Guest): I’m not sure about ” expecting,” in the sense of feeling entitled in any way, but we can certainly cultivatea relationship with patron ( and other) Saints and be open to signs/ assistance/blessings

1 PM

Carroll V (Guest): I like your suggedtion, Carol, of adking one who has conquered our particular weakness for help

Aug 22, 8:02 PM

Carroll V (Guest): ( not good at typing on my phone)

Aug 22, 8:02 PM

Carol (Guest): Whatever we are facing, someone in heaven has beaten it

PM

Carroll V (Guest): Absolutely!

Aug 22, 8:03 PM

VisitationSiste: We shouls ask for special graces on their Feast Day and every Feast!

 

Aug 22, 8:04 PM

Carol (Guest): It is also encouraging to think about the va

number of saints akeasybin heaven. It is possible!

Aug 22, 8:05 PM

Carroll V (Guest): I’m glad to know that wouldn’t be considered ” self-centered.” I question myself sometimes about whether it’s o.k. for me to ask for grace for myself.

What does it mean to be a servant of God?

 

Aug 22, 8:09 PM

Carroll V (Guest): To renounce our own will and abandon ourselves to His Providence as we strive to make ourselves useful to others

Aug 22, 8:09 PM

Carol (Guest): We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to God. We were created for a specific purpose and we will not be happy unless that’s what we are doing

To be a creature is to be a servant in a way

 

Aug 22, 8:11 PM

VisitationSiste: Then also servants of God are also those on the way to beatification

 

Aug 22, 8:13 PM

Carol (Guest): We did not create ourselves. Just as a work of art belongs to the artist who created it, we belong to God. We do have free will and sometimes we get so caught up in that that we forget we are not in control

Aug 22, 8:13 PM

Carroll V (Guest): Nice analogy, Carol

2, 8:14 PM

Carol (Guest): Except Jesus doesn’t sell us the way an artist sells his work. We sold ourselves to sin and He boughtvus backPM

Carroll V (Guest): I think in this particular letter, Holy Father was also referring to the importance of accepting our weaknesses and ” starting again” …and again… and again… as a means of being a servant of God.

Aug 22, 8:18 PM

VisitationSiste: All the saints were servants of God each in his or her own way and inspired by the Spirit

 

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VisitationSiste

 

Carol

Carroll V

2 vi

PM

Carroll V (Guest): I think in this particular letter, Holy Father was also referring to the importance of accepting our weaknesses and ” starting again” …and again… and again… as a means of being a servant of God.

Aug 22, 8:18 PM

VisitationSiste: All the saints were servants of God each in his or her own way and inspired by the Spirit

 

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Aug 22, 8:19 PM

VisitationSiste: The courage needed to always start over!

 

Aug 22, 8:20 PM

Carol (Guest): Yes, because when you make the same mistake for the ninety-millionth time…

Aug 22, 8:20 PM

VisitationSiste: I also like the idea of being that “child servant” of God, not taking all in our own hands but depending on Him in our service

21 PM

Carroll V (Guest): … and the gift and grace of Reconciliation to enable us to do so! PM

Carroll V (Guest): ” child servant” of God- I like that.

Aug 22, 8:23 PM

VisitationSiste: I was thinking of St Therese and her little way

23 PM

Carol (Guest): We accept everything from God’s hand as a child, a like a child, we obey without question2, 8:24 PM

Carol (Guest): Well, most of the time! 25 PM

Carol (Guest): Thinking that children obey their parents without self will–that come later:25 PM

VisitationSiste: Sometimes even toddlers or infants have that gleam of mischievousness in their eyes26 PM

  1. VisitationSiste: innocence though!
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Visitation Monastery Resumes Daily Public Mass Starting July 5 2021

Posted on June 21, 2021 by the Sisters

Thank you for your patience!

Mass times are:

Mon, Wed, Thurs,  8:15AM

Tues, Sat 8AM

Fri- varies, please call the evening before, usually  930AM or 10AM but not always

First Fridays of the month are at 8AM.

SUNDAY AT 9am

 

Posted in History, Monastery News, Ordinary Time | Leave a comment

New Postulant

Posted on April 23, 2021 by the Sisters

On Divine Mercy Sunday we welcomed a new postulant into our community. Please pray for her!

Posted in Easter, Monastery News, Vocations | 1 Comment

Mother Superior Speaks

Posted on November 21, 2020 by the Sisters

about St Margaret Mary Alacoque on podcast:https://visitationspirit.podbean.com/

Posted in Guard of Honor, History, Monastery Events, Monastery News, Ordinary Time, Salesian Spirituality, Special Events, Vocations | 1 Comment

St Margaret Mary’s Feast Celebrated with Joy!

Posted on October 18, 2020 by the Sisters

The closing Liturgy for the Jubilee Year of St Margaret Mary’s centenary of canonization was celebrated at Brooklyn Visitation Monastery with joy!

His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan presided with the Mass concelebrated by Most Reverend Bishop Raymond Chappetto, Very Reverend Joseph Gibino, Reverend Stephen Ries, Reverend Gerard Sauer, Pastor, and Reverend Michael Falce.

The Brooklyn Tablet featured this holy event here: https://thetablet.org/cardinal-dolan-says-mass-at-visitation-monastery-to-celebrate-sacred-heart-of-jesus/?fbclid=IwAR0n8Lawv_smIFDrLyp0YdhsU_gZigfjFy4AcnzS12afUyhuWM535ovwF2Q

 

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Postulant Received into Novitiate

Posted on October 18, 2020 by the Sisters

On the Feast of St Margaret Mary  Whei Sing Koo, or Sister Jennifer, became a novice in the Visitation Monastery of Brooklyn NY! Please pray for her. The novitiate lasts for two years.

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Brooklyn Visitation Monastery 165 years old today!

Posted on September 24, 2020 by the Sisters

On September 24, 1855 The Monastery of the Visitation in Brooklyn New York was founded by Mother Juliana Matthews and 7 other Sisters from Baltimore Visitation Monastery, thanks to the invitation of Bishop Loughlin.

The Visitandines have served this Diocese with Visitation Academy from the very first day!

May The Lord bless all who have become members of the Visitation family throughout the years!

Posted in Monastery Events, Monastery News, Special Events | 1 Comment

Blessed Feast of St Jane

Posted on August 12, 2020 by the Sisters

St. Jane de Chantal’s Feast is celebrated on August 12th and this Foundress of the Visitation Order of Holy Mary demonstrates characteristics that can model responses for us in our own times.

We are living through the Covid-19 pandemic; she lived courageously through the Plague of 1628-1631.

St Jane suffered through the wars of religion in her day as we intercede for justice during our own civil unrest.

St. Jane was challenged by city authorities and lack of resources as she established new monasteries in difficult conditions as we face the situations of fragility of communities today.

Our Holy Mother tells us: When will we savor the tenderness of the Divine Will in all the events of our life, seeing in them only His good pleasure and His unchanging, mysterious love which is always concerned with our good, as much in prosperity as in adversity?  But, imperfect as we are, we somehow transform into poison the very medicine the Great Physician prescribes for our healing.  Let us surrender ourselves lovingly to the will of our heavenly Father and cooperate with His plan to unite us intimately to Himself through suffering. LSD 216

As Bishop Bougaud states in his biography of St Jane, The spirit of poverty, courage, and cheerfulness in the midst of want were not the only virtues they(Sisters of Paris Visitation) admired in Mother de Chantal. Among a thousand others, her zeal for the observance of the Rule, the rarest humility, and the purest love of God shone pre-eminent.

Posted in Ordinary Time, Salesian Feast Days | Leave a comment

Miracle Statue Spared Amid Storm

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Kevin B

Our Statue Preserved Amidst Isaias’s Storm ViolenceStatue untouched by storm

Our garden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained untouched amid a violent tropical storm that left more than two million homes in the tri-state New York area without power.

A pine tree in the garden fell with its limbs coming close but not touching the statue of the Virgin holding the baby Jesus. The power outage of the storm named Isaias will take days to recover from, Com Ed was reported as saying in the New York Times.

Huge fallen tree in Brooklyn monasteryWe would like to add, thanks be to God for preserving the statue of his own mother. The storm hit on the eve of the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church in Rome erected to honor Mary, the Mother of God.

Our prayers go out to others who suffered during the storm.

Posted in Monastery News | 1 Comment