Consecrated Life Day

Happy Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple! This Feast, which occurs 40 days after the birth of Christ, is also known as Candlemas Day. The day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. Veni Lumen Christi!

Did you know that in 1997, Blessed Pope John Paul II instituted this a day of prayer for men and women in consecrated life?  It is our hope then that you will pray for us Nuns here in at the Monastery of Saint Joseph!

...that we be holy, zealous for God's glory and for the salvation of souls, wholly enveloped in the Paschal Mystery and eagerly entering into our role as intercessors, participating with faith and attentiveness in the Liturgy of the Hours - the Divine Office which we chant throughout the day and which brings the fruits of Christ's agony and death on the Cross to all times, peoples and places.

In order to highlight the gift of Consecrated Life the 16th annual World Day for Consecrated Life will be observed in parishes in the United States this coming weekend of February 4-5.

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Feb22012blog1

The blessing of candles in our chapel this morning.

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Feb22012blog2

Pray for us, and all Consecrated men and women, that we may fulfill our calling to reflect light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.

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feb22012blog3

Collect for this Feast:

Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure.

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Feb22012blog4

For an excellent meditation on today's Feast and Liturgical readings visit Catholic Culture.

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*The first photo of our aspirant Anne!  I hope to blog about "the day in the life of an aspirant" this weekend or next week.