The Doors

You may remember a storm we told you about last year which did some major damage to one of our shed's doors.  You can see it here.  Although the doors were put back into place and they did work, they were never quite the same.  In preparation for this winter, the doors of "Padre Pio" shed are having parts replaced and are being put back into proper working order.

 Fr. Anthony Mary, F.SS.R. and Postulants Mr. Esteban and Mr Janes working on the runners.

Watch out Father, you missed something!

Pull!

Changing the damaged panels and fixing the new ends on to the doors calls for teamwork.

 Br. Magdala Maria, F.SS.R. grinds off some of the rusty bolts
and smooths down some of the damaged areas.

The doors are slowly raised into place with the help of a Teleporter

This is the tricky bit... getting the doors on to the runners ...

Last minute adjustments before the sun sets to make sure the doors open and close smoothly

As good as new!

A New House

During the summer we had a pair of geese come to live on Papa Stronsay.  They did not have a house to live in, but they did not mind because it was the summer and they were not troubled by bad weather.  As the autumn came on, however, they became increasingly worried about how they would get through the winter.  Seeing their plight, Br. Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R. offered to build them a dwelling place:

The goose house was to be built using a spare ruin.  Br. Nicodemus is preparing to fill the gap in the wall.

 The structure is almost complete.

The beginnings of the wall.  Behind can be the small shed in which the monastery generator is housed.

All done!  In time a gate will go in the gateway, but the geese cannot fly so for now it is fine.

I hope they will be happy with their new home!

There's Nothing Quite Like Homemade!

I have only ever experienced pasta in its dried-out form, in a bag from the supermarket.  However, at Papa Stronsay we have recently been the recipients of a very kind gift: a pasta maker!  I was really taken by the whole process and thought that some of our readers might also fall into the same category as I do, of being ignorant of the process of making pasta, so I am posting some photos below of Br. Magdala Maria, F.SS.R. and postulant Mr. Esteban showing us how it's done:

Beating eggs for the dough.

 Kneading the dough.

The dough is repeatedly put through this roller.  Each time the setting is changed so that it rolls the dough a little thinner.

As this happens, the rolled dough gets longer…

...and longer!

Once completed the very thin strip of dough is laid out and the process begins again on a new piece.

The pasta-maker has several attachments for making different types of pasta.  Here the tagliatelle attachment is fitted.

With all the sheets of pasta dough prepared, the process of cutting can begin.

As the strips of tagliatelle emerge, they are hung to dry.

It dries for up to an hour, but by this time, it is not as dry as it would be in a packet or dried pasta, but has just become a little firmer.

Into the pot!

The finished product!  It is really incredible just how much better homemade pasta is than the pasta bought in the supermarket!

A big thank you to the kind donor of this equipment!

Because only She can help you! - We had better believe it!

This clip released last 7th May
was filmed before thousands of supporters of the now
President of Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Morsi Isa El-Ayyat
who assumed his office on 30 June.
Dr. Morsi (Mursi) is also present
and can be seen on stage here.



The content of this video
should motivate us to
pray the Holy Rosary with intensity.
The message of Our Lady of Fatima is a message for today:

“I want you ... to continue to
 pray the Rosary every day 
in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, 
in order to obtain peace for the world 
and the end of the war, 
because only she can help you.”
(13 July, 1917).

Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

It is part of our monastery devotions to recite one of our Lady's dolours everyday after the afternoon recreation. The image above was put together by one of the brothers.

St Alphonsus in the glories of Mary says that it was revealed to St. Elizabeth, that at the request of Our Lady, Our Lord promised four principal graces to those devoted to Her Sorrows:

1. That those who before death invoke the divine Mother in the name of Her Sorrows will obtain true repentance of all their sins;

2. That He will protect all who have this devotion in their tribulations, and will protect them especially at the hour of death;

3. That He will impress on their minds the remembrance of His Passion;

4. That He will place such devout servants in Mother Mary’s hands to do with them as She wishes and to obtain for them all the graces She desires.

In addition to these four graces there are also seven promises (revealed to St. Bridget) attached to the practice of daily praying seven Hail Mary’s while meditating on Our Lady’s Tears and Sorrows:

I will grant peace to their families.

They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.

I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.

I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.

I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.

I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.

I have obtained (This Grace) from my Divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and sorrows, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

Rain at Last!

As many of you will know, this summer has been really harsh in the United States, with drought conditions over much of the country.  This site can help to give you some idea of the situation: http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/drought.html

Having just arrived back at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton Nebraska for the start of a new year, I have been able to see first-hand just how dry it has been, and it has been very dry!  But today, Our Good Lord sent us a little present!

Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

September 12th is the Feast day of the Most Holy Name of Mary. Countless graces have been obtained and victories been won over hell by the invocation of the Holy Name of Mary.  St. Alphonsus in the Glories of Mary tells us to listen to the beautiful advice from St. Bernard: "In danger of losing divine grace, in anguish, in doubtful things, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May the Name of Mary never disappear from your lips, nor ever disappear from your heart". Never separate the names of Jesus and Mary which are so sweet and powerful when invoked together, because these names will give us the strength and courage to never yield to temptations and to overcome them all. 

St. Bridget heard our Lord promise His Holy Mother three wonderful graces to those who have devotion to the Holy Name of Mary. Our Lord said: whoever invokes the name of Mary with confidence and intention of amendment, will receive these special graces:  first, that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins; secondly, that their crimes should be atoned for; and, thirdly, that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise. Because, added the Our Holy Redeemer, your words are so dear and sweet to me, oh Mary, that I cannot deny whatever you request from me. 

Invocation: O Mary most pure!O Mary most Sweet! Let thy name henceforth be the breath of my life!

For Bishop Finn

Bishop Robert Finn

Bishop of Kansas City - St Joseph, 

Missouri, USA

Let us offer a Hail Mary now

and also

our rosary and prayers

for the successful outcome

of today's criminal trial.

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Hail Mary, full of grace the LORD is with Thee.

Blessed art Thou amongst women 

and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, JESUS.

Holy Mary, Mother of God

pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death. 

Amen.

+

Ne despicias...

Despise not, O almighty God,

Thy people who cry out in their affliction,

but for the glory of Thy name be appeased

and help those in trouble.

Through Christ Our Lord. 

Amen. 

Mother of Perpetual Succour, 

pray for him.

St. Joseph,

pray for him.