Things I love about Our Lady of Grace Monestary

I have been cleaning and simplifying the past few days since I got home from Our Lady of Grace monastery vocations retreat. While cleaning out my closet I found my journal from last year and in it I found an entry that listed all the things that I loved about the monastery. Although I could probably add a hundred more to it now, I thought it was interesting to reread what I love about the monastery than and think about all the things I love now.

A year ago I broke my list down into three categories; prayer, hospitality, and community life.

Prayer
- singing the songs/psalms and they way that the songs continue to resound in my heart once prayer has ended.
- that life is centered around prayer and seeking God in all things.
- the silence after each reading that brings peace to the soul.
- praying for the world and local communities.
- that all of life is lived as a prayer to God by each sister

Hospitality
-guests are always greeted with a kind hello and smile
-that each sister lives out hospitality on a day to day basis in their ministry
- that guests are invited to help....I always enjoy doing dishes there
- the openness of the sisters to get to know guests

Community Life
- common mission to be people of constant conversion, seeking God together, and encouraging one another to use their gifts and talents to serve God and God's people.

I created this list around Thanksgiving last year and later I will post my list from this year. One thing is for sure I still do love this community of benedictine women and I truly blessed to be an affiliate working towards entering. I am sure that as the years go by my list will continue to grow.....

Italy Trip

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Italy. It was one of the greatest experiences that I have ever had. I was able to experience the christian faith in such a powerful way. I thought I would share a few of my trip pictures on my blog.