Building Work

The building of a new monastic cell....

 This how we got there.... Father blesses the area where the cell (and future cells) will go.

The cell is marked out with piles to go down and foundation to be built....

But first a fence to provide privacy is begun. 

Sr Mary Alphonsus hard at work making post holes.

Our Lady provides a blue, sunny sky for the day's work.

Many helping hands make the job quick.

A strop is used to hold each paling of wood in place tightly before using the nail gun. 

Gates are made.

Discussion is had about proceeding with the adjoining fence along the South side of the property.

While the fence continues the garden gets a much needed hair-cut and tidy up. 

Sr Celeste covers over with dirt the new storm water pipes while Sr Alphonsus uses the staple gun to hang up mesh for privacy on the North side of the property.

Exterior entrance to facilities well under way....

Back at the base of the cell, insulation is put in before flooring is nailed down.

Walls go up.

Up at another level, off cuts of earth wool are placed in the ceiling cavity.

Sister flying high. And working hard.

Walls are insulated.

About half way done.

To be continued...

Maria Bambina

 

Today is the Nativity of Our Lady. We honor her as Maria Bambina. Here, set up in our chapel is a shrine dedicated to her.

After a long period of waiting, there was born she who was to be the Mother of Our Saviour. 

Maria Bambina (Infant Mary) Novena.

 

Say these prayers every day for 9 days in a row.

Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David,

Queen of the angels,

Mother of grace and love,

I greet you with all my heart.

Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully

during all the days of my life.

Obtain for me, too,

a great devotion to you,

who are the first creature of God’s love.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

O heavenly Child Mary,

who like a pure dove was born immaculate and beautiful,

true prodigy of the wisdom of God,

my soul rejoices in you.

Oh! Do help me to preserve the angelic virtue of purity

at the cost of any sacrifice.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Hail, lovely and holy Child,

spiritual garden of delight,

where, on the day of the Incarnation,

the tree of life was planted,

assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity

and pleasures of the world.

Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts,

feelings, and virtues of your Divine Son.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Hail, admirable Child Mary,

Mystical Rose, closed garden,

open only to the heavenly Spouse.

O Lily of paradise,

make me love the humble and hidden life;

let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart

always open to the loving calls

of His graces and inspiration.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn,

gate of heaven, you are my trust and hope.

O powerful advocate,

from your cradle stretch out your hand,

support me on the path of life.

Make me serve God with ardor and constancy

until death and so reach an eternity with you.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Prayer

Blessed Child Mary,

destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother,

by the heavenly graces you lavish upon us,

mercifully listen to my supplications.

In the needs which press upon me from every side

and especially in my present tribulation,

I place all my trust in you.

O holy Child,

by the privileges granted to you alone

and by the merits which you have acquired,

show that the source of spiritual favors

and the continuous benefits

which you dispense are inexhaustible,

because your power with the Heart of God is unlimited.

Deign through the immense profusion of graces

with which the Most High has enriched you

from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception,

grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition,

and I shall eternally praise the goodness

of your Immaculate Heart.

[IMPRIMATUR: In Curia Archiep. Mediolani, 31 August 1931, Can. CAVEZZALI, Pro Vic. Gen]