My World Tuesday - Bookstore

"From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets."

Acts of the Apostles 28:23

referring to St. Paul

Part of my new monastery and Retreat House is a Religious Bookstore and Giftshop. There are very few Catholic book/gift stores in this area so we are quite popular, not only with our Retreatants, but also with people who come from all over the area to shop.

Besides religious books we also offer statues, rosaries, medals, music and movies, and a wide array of religious gifts. We have overgown the small space - as you can see - that's why it appears so cluttered. So, it is on my to do list to reorganize the entire shop, and perhaps, one day, to expand.

Besides our regular retreat and book/gift store visitors, we also have people coming by to obtain our oranges, avocados and lemon (for a donation). So, we have quite a bit of traffic coming through our property. This is going to take some getting used to since I have enjoyed the silence of our Northern California monastery for so many years.

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My World Tuesday - O Antiphons - Day 5

O Antiphon for December 21

O Oriens (O Rising Dawn) (Zac 6: 12), Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3: 4) and Sun of Justice (Mal 3: 20); Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10; Lk 1: 78).

In my monastic world, we don't begin decorating the Church or the monastery until as late as possible (this year the decorating begins tomorrow). So, the beautiful 12 foot Noble Fir sits in the truck until it takes it place of honor in the Church.

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My World Tuesday - music

This is my view of the "world" 5 to 7 times each day. As the principal organist for the monastery I plan all our major liturgies, choose the music for every Mass and prayer time, and accompany the singing on the organ....and I love every minute of it!

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Office Door

This is my world on a daily basis. I go in and out of my office door at least ten times each day.

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My World Tuesday - Deer

There are many wonderful advantages to living in a monastery situated in a rural area. This is one of them. Last week I looked out my office window and there was this beautiful creature. As I opened the window to get a picture this fawn turned and looked right at me. The older deer will usually run pretty quickly. But, not this young one. He/she stayed and let me click away.

May God be praised for all His creatures, great and small.

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Thanks to Dina at Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo for introducing me to My World Tuesday!

November 2 - All Soul's Day

This morning after Mass, we processed to the cemetary while the monastery bell rang the "death toll" (the toll that is rung when a brother dies). At the cemetary, at the graves of our deceased brothers, we sang the In Paradisum from the Requiem Mass, and prayed for their souls.

May the Angels lead you into paradise;

may the martyrs greet you at your arrival

and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem.

May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus,

who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest.

Today is All Soul's Day. It is the day we remember our faithful departed who are in purgatory (in other words, they have not reached heaven, nor have they gone to hell). Catholics believe that purgatory is a state of purification for the soul that is not properly disposed to be in the presence of God. This is called the Church Suffering. We, the Church Militant (the living), have the responsibility to pray for those in purgatory so that they may become the Church Triumphant (those is heaven).

In Latin countries, November 2 is also know as Dia de los muertos.

Today is my first time at My World Tuesday. Check it out!