Cardinal Turkson shows Synod this clip on Muslim Demographics.

Peter Cardinal Turkson

President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

This is the video clip that the Cardinal showed to the 

Synod of Bishops

on October 13th. 

He naturally sparked a very lively debate.

Thank you Your Eminence!

In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph!
(Our Lady of Fatima)

The Happy Retreat has arrived.

HAPPY RETREAT !

Brothers Yousef Marie, Jean Marie and Magadala Maria

are on retreat in preparation for

ordination to the Minor Orders

(Exorcist and Acolyte)

and

Subdiaconate

on the feast of our St Gerard Majella.

The Community joins them for Adoration.

 Jesus,  King of Love

draw all hearts to Thyself!

Auschwitz begins wherever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they’re only animals. - Theodor W. Adorno

"What an irony that a society confronted with plastic bags filled with the remains of aborted babies should be more concerned about the problem of recycling the plastic." - Winifred Egan

Br. Martin Mary, F.SS.R. with some of the seminarians from Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, praying outside the Planned Parenthood abortion Clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska. Abortions take place here every Tuesday, and the seminarians are also here every Tuesday during term-time. Since Planned Parenthood moved into these new premises they can now kill as many as 60 babies on a Tuesday, and they also now hire a number of security guards (thugs) to intimidate us, and also, no doubt, to keep the women in! Praying outside the Abortion Mill is not unlike praying outside Auschwitz.

After the 15 decades of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, all the seminarians sing the Salve Regina.  Making the Sign of the Cross, we pray that our prayers will be of use to all the poor women who are daily abused by Planned Parenthood, whether here or in any other place on earth where abortions are performed. 

Moving House

Br. Felix enters the Enclosure.

O Happy day! O Felix dies!

Today,

Feast of the Holy Rosary

of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

in Golgotha Monastery Island, Papa Stronsay

there was the reception of a new novice 

who was clothed in the habit of the Congregation

and received into the Novitiate.

 Dearly beloved Brother, what do you ask for?

Postulant:  

Enlightened by the light of Divine grace, I have knowledge and understanding that all things which the world holds to be great, and which it glorifies, are empty and nothing if not vanity. My soul, firm and decided, has inspired me to cast myself before the infinite mercy of God, renouncing all things which are of this world, so that with a much greater liberty I may serve my most lovable Redeemer, and to do this more ardently and perfectly; and also in the manner in which it is capable of being done, to learn to imitate His most holy life. 

Whence, an intimate persuasion has come to me, that the Divinity has called me to consume all the days of my life which will follow, in this venerable Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer; that, obeying promptly and faithfully the Divine Will, I may assure the salvation of my soul in the harbour of safety. 

I most humbly indeed, and most pressingly, pray and beseech Thy Paternity, that he grant me such a grace, I who am in no way worthy of it, on account of the love of my Saviour Jesus Christ; that He may deign to receive me into this Congregation as its least and most unworthy member. For in this Congregation, with the assistance of God’s grace, I hope to persevere until the end.

He is covered with the funeral pall.

In exitu Israel de Aegypto * 

domus Jacob de populo barbaro. 

   Facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus * 

Israel potestas ejus. 

Introduces eos, et plantabis in monte haereditatis Tuae * 

firmissimo tabernaculo Tuo, quod operatus es, Domine. 

Educam eos de afflictione Aegypti * 

et introducam in terram fluentem lacte et melle.

Gloria Patri et Filio* 

et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper* 

et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

When Isræl left the land of Egypt* 

the house of Jacob from a barbarous people.

 Juda was made His sanctuary* 

Isræl His dominion. 

You will lead them and plant them on the mountain of Thy heritage* 

in Thy most firm dwelling which Thou hast worked O Lord. 

You will lead them away from Egypt's afflictions* 

and lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey. 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

He lays aside the Old Man.

Exuat te Dominus veterem hominem cum actibus eius, 

et induat to novum, 

qui secundum Deum creatus est in justitia et sanctitate veritatis. 

May the Lord strip thee of the old man with all his acts 

and clothe thee in the new, 

who is created by God in justice and in the holiness of truth.

R. Amen. 

He is clothed in Christ.

Indue, Filii Dominum Jesum Chrisum, 

semper mortificationem ejus in corpore tuo circumferens.

  Son, put on Our Lord Jesus Christ, 

always surrounding thy body with His mortification.

R. Amen.

 He receives a new name.

In the world and from your Baptism you were known as NN. 

From now as a sign of your new and special title of religious consecration, 

by which you are dedicated to seek the perfection of charity 

in the service of God’s kingdom, 

for the honour of God and the building up of the Church, 

‘thou shalt be called by a new name’ (Is 62:2).

These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: 

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. 

He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death. 

To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, 

and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, 

a new name written, which no man knoweth, 

but he that receiveth it (Apoc. 2:8-18). 

Henceforth, in this consecrated life 

you shall be called: 

Brother Felix.

O Felix dies!      O happy day! 

Novitiate Community 2012.

Brother Felix with the Novice Master and the other novices.

May Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary 

grant them the grace of perseverance!

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.

+

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.

Annual Papa Stronsay Bonfire

 Saturday 25th August saw the long awaited annual Papa Stronsay bonfire and BBQ.  It had been planned for earlier in the year, but due to bad weather it had to be postponed.  Thanks be to God, the weather turned out fine on the evening of the 25th!  We were glad to welcome a good number of the Stronsay community to Papa Stronsay for the occasion.

Br. Seelos celebrated his 21st birthday on the 22nd August.  Therefore he was given the honour of lighting the fire.

Blessing the fire:

 Domine Deus, Pater omnipotens, lumen indeficiens, qui es conditur omnium luminum: novum humc ignem sanctifica, et praesta; ut ad te, qui es lumen indeficiens, puris mentibus, post hujus saeculi caliginem, pervenire valeamus.  Per Christum Dominum Nostrum. Amen.

Lord God, Almighty Father, Maker of all light, and the light that never fails; hallow  this new fire, and grant that after the darkness of this world we may come with pure hearts to Thee, our perpetual light; through Christ our Lord.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy!

Public Profession Video

The Public Profession of Vows

(video of the ceremony)

The sermon of his Lordship is at 00:32:15
The public profession of vows begins at 00:58:15
Litany of Loreto at 00:48:38
 Tantum Ergo at  01:27:19
 Divine Praises sung in English at 01:30:54
 Adoremus at 01:32:45
Hymn Our Lady of Good Succour to Our Lady of Aberdeen at 01:34:34