be careful Tif...

yes indeedy dearest readers,

all day yesterday the wise words of someone from long ago were going round and round my little head...

"be careful what you wish for Tif"

now i am quite sure when that wise person made up their wise saying,

they did not actually add the 'Tif' bit at the end.

but the little voice inside my head that would not switch off,

felt it most necessary to add the 'Tif' bit.

i am quite sure you are all wishing to know why i am being subjected to such wisdom from my inner voice?

if you are not, do you mind pretending you are, because then i will feel so much better about continuing to ramble on with my thrilling tale of 'be careful Tif'

over the past few weeks, ney months, i think it would be true to say

i have been a bit of 'whinger' about the lack of sunlight over mossy shed.

i think i contained my growing unrest with Mr Spring and Mr Summer quite well upon my shiny place...

but around the shed and in my head

(oh! i do like that little line, around the shed and in my head. i think such a line has great potential)

so around the shed and in my head

i was voicing some wicked thoughts in the direction of 'lacking Mr Spring' and 'missing in action Mr Summer'.

i went to bed nightly and along with my 'repeat after me' high hopes plan

i also sent out a silent little wish for summer to begin,

to lift the cloud of dull and dreary that was now the norm around the shed.

this week, on wednesday my wish was finally granted.

Mr Summer in all his glory shone around,

blue skies up above, not a cloud in view

there was a warmth in my shed and my head

(a line with potential to be used again and again is a line worth knowing)

however by thursday,

two days into Mr Summer shining down on moi,

the little voice from within was nagging,

ney mocking,

my perspiring body,

my lanky, dripping hair,

swollen ankles

and thumping head.

"be careful what you wish for Tif"

as i sat on the sidelines dripping whilst watching Our #4 play soccer

i thought how fortunate i was not to be the one having to run around kicking a ball,

indeed i am trying to think the last time i ran around and kicked a ball.

i have gasped a gasp!

have i ever run around and kicked a ball in my 41 years.

this is most bothersome,

most concerning i cannot recall ever kicking a ball.

if it were not so hot i would rectify the matter straight away.

leaving you pronto and heading into the yard,

donned in my thrift store cotton 'dress turned nightie' and clogs to kick a ball

so i can then put my hand up high and say proudly

"yes! i Tif, have run around and kicked a ball"

but alas it is not be,

for i am already past any kind of activity involving balls and running today.

but i have digressed,

and when i look at the above penned words

i see the sun has 'touched me' in more ways than one...

indeed my little head is a bit 'doolally' today.

what i have been trying to say is,

i have learnt my lesson when it coming to 'wishing'.

for it is most important when wishing

to mention the details.

i now see the 'small print' in a wish, is worth noting.

in failing to add the 'small print' to my wish

i am not enjoying a balmy 70 to 80 degrees as i had longed for,

instead i have been landed with 100 degrees or so.

on mentioning this to Mr Summer as i lay awake last night trying to breath surrounded by his sticky closeness,

he pointed out quite wisely, that i had failed to give enough detail in my wish

and therefore i had no claims on his return policy.

there is nothing for it but to

swan around the shed in my thrifted cotton nightie this morning

until the heat becomes beyond what my little british body can tolerate

then i shall lay upon the wood floor with used dog and little olive,

a piece of paper with scrawly writing laid across my chest saying

"out of action until further notice"

she is wishing you a peachy weekend of perfect temps ~ Tif

Total for the Holy Madres now: $726.00 & £70.00

Thank you to the following who have kindly made donations to our
Redemptoristine Nuns Appeal:
(See the lower post for details)

I have listed the donation refceived in this manner:
Date Received,
Christian name and the first and last initial of the donor's Surname,
place of origin,
amount received:

1) 6 July: Fr John Be (UK) $25.00
2) 6 July: Dan Pz (CA USA) $50.00
3) 6 July: Paul Ss (Australia) $100.00
4) 6 July: Constance Py (CA USA) $25
5) 6 July: Sonia Mn (UK) $20.00
6) 6 July: Andrew Be. (Ont. Canada) $20.00
7) 6 July: Michael Cl (Herts UK) $30.00
8) 6 July: Brian Pi (CT USA) $25.00
9) 6 July: David Wh (TX USA) $15.00 (Message: May Our Lord bless your community!)
10)8 July: Mary Ce (England) £50

Subtotal 8 July: $310.00 & £50

11) 8 July: Mark Dr (UK) £20.00 (and £20.00 per month hereafter)
12) 8 July: David Wr (ID USA) $100.00
13) 8 July: Gina Oa (NJ USA) $25.00
14) 9 July: Fr. John H BC Canada $100.00 (Message: I am very happy to contribute to these good Sisters,
true daughters of St. Alphonsus and Mother Celeste.)
15) 9 July: Steve Tr (Ont Canada) $25.00
16) 9 July: Daniel Hr (NC USA) $50.00

Subtotal 9 July: $610.00 & £70.00 + £20.00 per month

17) 10 July Mary Pc (NE USA) $ 50.00
18) 12 July Miss JE Js (England UK) $30.00
19) 12 July Andrew Be (Ont Canada -2nd donation) $20.00

Total 19 July: $710.00 & £70.00 + £20.00 per month.

20) 20 July Jack Hs (England, UK) $8.00

24) 24 July Jack Hs (England, UK) $8.00

Total 24 July: $726.00 & £70.00 + £20.00 per month.

We continue to appeal to every generous visitor:

Please, if you could,
kindly make an offering to the worthy cause
of these enclosed Redemptoristine Nuns.

Your cheques will also be listed on this site:

Please send cheques to:
Redemptoristines
Golgotha Monastery Island
Papa Stronsay, KW17 2AR
Orkney, UK

Make cheques payable to "Transalpine Redemptorists"

Thank you for helping.

Devotedly,
Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Snap, Crackle, Popped

11 weeks, 2 days.

The traditional Redemptoristine Nuns - The holy Madres!

Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa.

As some may not know,
before St. Alphonsus founded the Redemptorists
he founded, with Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa,
the feminine branch of the Order:
the Redemptoristines,
vowed to Enclosure for a life of prayer and penance.

The incorrupt remains of
Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa.
~ "The Great Mystic of the Eighteenth Century" ~

These nuns are our spiritual sisters.
Today, there are very few of them left
who are attached to the old Mass,
the old Rule and even the traditional habit.
The habit had been revealed by Our Lord
to the Venerable Co-Foundress.
It was blue and red in memory of the traditional colours
that He Himself wore when on earth.

The Most Holy Redeemer in Blue and Red.

However, as a special grace,
on the feast of the Holy Family, 1987
we heard that there were traditional Redemptoristine nuns
in the diocese of Campos, Brazil.
During our early years we exchanged several letters with them.

The Archbishop wearing our Redemptoristine chasuble.

The Nuns sent us the beads for our habit rosaries
and also made us a beautiful alb
as well as
a silver and white chasuble
that Archbishop Lefebvre wore for Mass when he visited us in 1989.

1989.

Rev. Deacon Anthony Mary and Fr. Michael Mary.
~ After High Mass, 2 July 1990,
Redemptoristine Monastery, Campos. ~

Twenty years ago, 2 July 1990, we visited them in Campos.

Fr. Michael Mary giving a Conference to the Nuns.

Tragically, the then Mother Superior,
being occupied with her own personal views on the "crisis in the Church,"
was by that stage cutting off contact
with all the true friends of their monastery
including Bishop de Castro-Meyer, all the priests of Campos
and even our own community.
She took solo-control of the monastery
excluding even the spiritual ministry of priests.
It was very strange indeed.
Cruel hardship followed for several years.
The nuns, who take a fourth vow to remain inside their Enclosure,
unjustly deprived of the sacraments by their superior,
held on and prayed.

The Nuns in the Campos Monastery choir.
~ The altar is on the other side of the severe white grate
seen behind the standing nuns. ~

Campos Monastery Enclosure.
~The Nuns had only a small area of confinement
during seven years without the sacraments. ~

The classical Redemptoristine petitential procession
bearing the instruments of the Passion.
~Within the Campos Monastery Enclosure. ~

Finally four nuns resolved to seek help from Bishop Rifan
and the Apostolic Administration of St. Jean Vianney, Campos.

Bishop Rifan
kindly obtained authorisation for the Nuns
to transfer their monaastery away from Campos.

Bishop Rifan, kindly obtained from the Holy See,
an Indult to translate the Nuns to another location.
Thus on 11 January, 2004,
he re-established them in São Fidélis.
The ordeal had lasted nearly seven years.
In all, from a monastery of over twenty nuns,
only four survived to enter the new Enclosure.

The Redemptoristine Nuns of São Fidélis.
~ Our Spiritual Sisters. ~
Two of the Madres have been in the monastery for 54 years,
one for 28 years and the other for 24 years.

What has been our joy these past weeks!
We received a letter from the nuns
and have re-established contact with them.

What they have suffered in order to keep their holy vocation
will only be known on the Day of Judgment!

Inside their new monastery choir.

Dear Friends and Benefactors,
The Redemptoristine Nuns of São Fidélis
truly deserve your spiritual and financial support.

Mother Superior making altar breads.
~ Mother Maria da Penha do Divino Espírito Santo
has been in the monastery for 54 years. ~

Brazil is not an easy country for women.
These sisters rely on our support.
Please support them by sending donations
via the Paypal button labeled
"Please Help the Traditional Redemptoristines."
We will see to it that the money is sent to them
for their support and building works.

Mother Vicar in the Kitchen.
~ Madre Maria Francisca da Purificação
has been in the monastery for 28 years. ~

We have erected a blog dedicated to these Redemptoristines,
there is a button on the right,
or by clicking here.
We will post information as we receive it from the Madres.

To all our friends and benefactors we ask you to be very generous and make a financial sacrifice for these worthy Enclosed Nuns.