Updated Formation Reading List

Advent--The rest of Fr. Faber's Bethlehem. We read the first part last Advent. We don't have any assigned readings for the last two weeks of Advent, due to the family commitments some of the hermits-in-training may have.

January--The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila

Lent--The Conferences of St. John Cassian

May--Devotional book in honor of Our Lady for the Month of May

June--The Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Carthusian meditations are also given on a fairly regular basis.

We continue to field vocational inquiries.

Blessings,
Gemma

In Response to Our Critics

The Reparatrix Anchoresses of Our Lady of the Cloister (Cloisterite Hermits) are a private association of the faithful with the intention of becoming an institute of religious life. They are comprised of five women who have persevered in the spirituality of this charism. They have a right to associate under the private association provisions of canon law, and are distinctly separate from Cloister Outreach.

One of the indicators of a true charism is whether or not its adherents experience peace and expansion of heart while living the spirituality. Those involved in the Cloisterite Hermits have experienced both, and have no intentions of abandoning this way of life, despite the criticisms.

Gemma, Cloister Outreach coordinator, had been handling the "legal" part of the Cloisterite Hermits, to include interactions with the canonist. Because of this, we thought that the local ordinary was aware of the project. However, due to Gemma's autism, and the complexities involved with the language of canonical legalities, she (Gemma) did not understand a particular phrase used as meaning that the canonist had separated herself from the project. This was entirely Gemma's fault--not due to stupidity, but due to autistic deficit.

As a result, the Cloisterite Hermits had persevered in the development of their charism (entirely legal under canon law), thinking the canonist had still been retained. Critics went so far as to contact the canonist and posting her information online--thus violating her privacy which we had fought to maintain, as per her request--in an attempt to undermine the Cloisterite Hermits' foundation. Due to the information that we were working with at the time, we were under the impression that the Cloisterite Hermits were a work-in-progress known to the diocese. Now that we know the actual situation, the websites will be amended to reflect such.

Our spiritual director, the former president and vice-president of the Fellowship of Emerging Religious Communities, assures us that this happens all the time with new foundations, and is assisting us with the matter.

In the charism's best interests, Gemma has put the responsibility of contacting any bishop at the appropriate time on the hermits' shoulders. She will continue to support them and assist in assembling resources, but the legalities will be entirely in their hands. It will now be up to them to persevere in their vocations, and to become holy hermits. Once they have the Seven Pillars of New Foundations (rule, constitutions, horarium, formation program, remunerative work, stable source of habit parts, and four persevering members), they will be ready to present their information to the appropriate bishop. As to whether or not that will be in the Diocese of Charlotte remains to be seen.

Formation Reading List--August through November

With all that is going on in my life (mom, MIL, and Aspergers son), I may have been remiss in posting the Formation Reading List for the last few months. Here goes:

August -- St. Alphonsus Liguori -- little chapters on prayer in his collected works from Paulist Press. They were free to read more in the book, if the Spirit led them to do so.

September -- Magisterial documents on the religious life from the Vatican website.

October -- St. John of the Cross -- Dark Night of the Soul. This is a snippet from "The Ascent of Mount Carmel" but they were free to read that as well.

November -- Fr. Faber's "All for Jesus."

Blessings,
Gemma

Pre-postulancy Novena-retreat Begins Today

The Novas become Pre-Postulants today, as they begin a nine day novena to the Poor Souls in Purgatory for assistance in their upcoming year of formation. The Novas' Postulant year begins next Saturday, November 21, Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, and the date of the Pro Orantibus ("For those who pray").

Their garb for the coming year will be all black--skirt, blouse or quality t-shirt, hoodie, and tiechel. The Miraculous Medal will be retained.

We follow the Carthusian Rule interepreted for our own purposes by our Plan of Life, known to us as "Nesting in the Sacred Heart." The Carthusian Rule calls for an eight day retreat prior to profession, and the Spirit indicated that for us, we should have nine days, and include a novena. November 21 is on a Saturday, which for us is dedicated to the Poor Souls and the Mother of Sorrows.

Please keep our Pre-Postulants in your prayers. Be assured of our prayers for you and your intentions.

Blessings,
Gemma

As the Nova Year Draws to a Close

Everybody is persevering, and the Plan of Life continues to "distill"--bits and pieces presenting themselves at their own pace to be put in the final make-up of the rule.

The post-nomial initials will be "eremOLC". In the future, aspirants will take a new name--filling in the blank behind "Sr Mary of ____" and use "a.eremOLC" with the "a" indicating the aspirancy level. The reason for the name format is this: imitation of Blessed Emilie's Society of Mary Reparatrix. Since the sisters were to be other Marys making reparation with her and in her place--as far as possible--they had such a format. "Sr Mary of St Agatha" would be called "Sr Mary St Agatha" or "Sr Mary Agatha."

Aspirants will begin their journey with us in July, so that they may begin the Novaship on November 21. They will also be requested to name their hermitage.We are doing the aspirancy differently than other orders. In our charism, the Aspirant is one who has discerned that this is where God is leading her, and the aspirancy is a true preparatory phase for the Novaship. The aspirants will start practicing covering, and will pare down their wardrobes. This is what happened with the first aspirant band, so we made note and added it to the Plan of Life.

I have been asked if the prayerbooks will be strictly Latin. In this time of economic upheaval, I do not wish this to be a burden to anyone, so following the suit of a friend who is a monastic novice mistress, I say "use what you have on hand".When we start having the Cloisterite Convergence, as the Spirit has named the hermits' coming together, I will have to ask somebody's permission to copy Latin prayer and Mass books. We will also use the time for retreat and business matters.

However, due to my husband more than likely running for Congress (House) in 2010, any Convergances won't take place until 2011 or thereabouts.

Blessings,
Gemma

Novas pausing with foundress

to pray for my mom, whom I've mentioned on my personal blog.

Blessings,
Gemma

Novas Making Reparation for Tiller Murder

Monday is dedicated to making reparation to the Holy Ghost, and we certainly have our work cut out for us today.

I can think of nothing more insulting that could happen on the Holy Ghost's feast day of Pentecost--other than committing suicide.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Kansas abortionist Dr. Tiller was murdered at his church yesterday as he was exercising the office of Minister of Hospitality (formerly known as an usher).

The perp--who knows what he was thinking. But does he realize that he has potentially put the head of every pro-lifer in this nation on Obama's platter? Hopefully, the president shows more balance and rationale than the perp did.

Not only do we need to make reparation for what the pro-death faction (the abortion industry) is doing, but we also need to make reparation for the irrational judgements that our own have rushed into.

Blessings,
Gemma