Joy to the World!

Great Gatsbys! My letter from the St. Louis Carmel has arrived! Here it is:

Peace of Christ!
My dear Elizabeth,

I fear that I may have missed you and that you are back in Washington DC in school. Hopefully your parents will forward my letter to you. I have really enjoyed hearing from you and find your letters entertaining. I'm afraid that I do not have your talent for writing. We have a young Sister here who also likes to write and does quiet well. As a matter of fact, she is making her Solemn Profession of Vows this coming weekend. Her name is Sister Teresia Benedicta and she has been in Carmel for six years. She will be consecrating her entire life o God and at this time she receives the black veil. She is making a directed retreat for ten days in preparation for her big day. Of course, we are busy getting ready for it. Recently, we had a surprise 50th Golden Anniversary for Reverend Mother Stella Maris. She is my sister, so I got to plan it all. We have eight siblings in our family and they all came, plus their children and grand children. So it was a wonderful time and we did indeed surprise Rev. Mother.

I'm sure that you must have watched the national conventions recently. Whoever wants can watch some of it later in the evening. I watched just a little bit of the Democratic convention and most of the Republican. I thought there was a big difference, didn't you? The speakers at the Republican convention were very good. I'm sorry that not all of them are pro-life though. We are so blest to have President Bush who publicly said that we must allow every unborn child to live. He is a man of God and we are praying that he will again be President for another four years.

I should write something more inspiring to you Elizabeth. Hope that you are enjoying your next year in college which I trust that you are returning. I'm not sure if you are familiar with Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, a French Carmelite, and a very holy one. She said that "Elizabeth" means 'House of God'. So you are a House of God - a place where he wants to dwell and to live in you at all times. When we are in grace then God is truly within us. Isn't that awesome? We can always turn to him either in adoration or supplication. I'm afraid that so many people do not know this and how lonesome their lives must be. However, that is why we are in Carmel- to pray that all come to know, love and serve Him.

Well, it is almost time for the bell to ring for Office of Readings. I pray that this finds you happy and well. I know that you too will be busy now getting all your homework done. God bless and know that I will pray for you. Please pray for our community too as we need vocations.

Sincerely in the love of Jesus, Sister Mary Joseph of Divine Providence

Nuns, nuns, everywhere

Hey folks! No, my letter has not arrived. If it hasn't come by Tuesday, I'm calling the post office again, and they've promised to "open an investigation". Sounds serious, doesn't it?

This weekend was absolutely wonderful; I forgot allll about my mail troubles. It was time for Eucharistic Congress at the Basillica of the National Shrine! Yeah!!! It lasted two days, and was put on by the CMSWR (Congregation of Major Superior Women Religious). It was sooo much fun to see all the nuns in their different habits. They gave me so much joy, because they are all really happy, fun loving girls! I got to hear Cardinal Arinze. Now the moment everyone's been waiting for:

Cardinal Arinze's Jokes for this Speech Included:
1. Kermit never missed a Mass. He went on every Sunday. Then Kermit went to Hell for what he did on Monday. (Say it in an Arinze-esque accent and you'll know why everyone laughed.)

2. We are praying much for our religious sisters. We are praying that they have accomadation problems in their novitates.

3. What do you think ite misse est means? Go now and rest? No! Who is saying 'Go now and rest?' Not me!

Mass, Benediction, Procession, Confession, it was wonderful, wonderful! The sisters sang; and they had displays up; there were even fireworks! Soooo happy! I highly recommend doing this sort of thing. Its like a cool drink of water on a hot day; a refreshing dose of faith!

My next confession WILL have Gravitas:

Well, I'm in a bad mood. Its a silly, natural sadness that has no place in the heart of a child of God. Of the Carmels I'm writing to, my favorite is in St. Louis. It had been a month since I last heard back from them, and I was worried. I moved away from Cleveland, here to Washington without any idea of how I would contact them again. But low and behold, my Ma called me last week and said " some letter got delivered from some Carmelite monastery ..." I was a little nervous, since I haven't told her about my feelings. But she didn't ask any questions. She just said she would send it to me.


I called Ma the next day, and she said she hadn't mailed it. I asked her to please do it. The next day, and the day after that, she still hadn't gotten around to it. So I was impatient and ungrateful, and I said "Ma would you PLEASE mail it."


My Ma, being so wonderful, went out immeidately and sent it to me. But here I am, ten days later, and the thing hasn't arrived! I have a horrible idea that my dear little letter is sitting in some Dead Mail Center, waiting to be destroyed. Every day I have been unlocking my mailbox, praying that when the combination clicks I'll find a letter on the other side. Every day has been a pinch of dissapointment.


All of this is silliness. Humble people are never dissapointed. And worry is a lack of trust in the complete goodness and providence of God. I am trying hard not to think of this as some kind of test, or as a sign. No, this is an opportunity to practice patience and faith. But it is so hard! I find I have been crying for no reason at all! I just sit down and cry from the little hiccups of dashed hope that come from opening my mailbox. Too many tears to be shed over something so ridiculous. Now I must think of the Blessed Mother, who was afflicted with Seven Sorrows. She was never unreasonably unhappy, the way I am!

My Beloved Ratzinger, Chew Toy of Liberals

So, what indeed have I been reading? Wellll ... having been "catechized" in the Milk and Cookies Jesus kind of way, I have been dilligently undoing the damage. I already had an idea of just who could set me straight... so, I called up the local library and ordered three very special books on a very special subject:

The Cardinal! His Eminence! The Ratzinger!!! Everyone hates The Ratzinger, but I love him! Because he's rather conservative, rather gloomy looking, and the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly known as, ahem, the Inquisition,) everyone thinks he's a crazy facist! But he's really an adorable German! Plus his brains are huge, and he's got connections in Heaven. He's JPII's right hand man! There are few better teachers to shout down Milk and Cookies Theology than Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Down with mishy mash! Horr-ah!

Enough of that sillyness. The three books I'm reading are "God and the World," "God is Near Us," and "Milestones". There is always a certain sadness in whatever the Cardinal writes; he didn't want his job (head of the CDF) in the first place; but he couldn't say no to God. He still doesn't like his job, but quitting isn't an option: he can't leave the dying pope.

At the end of "Milestones" The Ratz describes himself as a pack animal for God, content to wander around the streets of Rome, at His service, until he is released. And thats why the Ratz is one my favorite people in the world; he writes pages and pages about complex intellectual things; but in the end he teaches best just by living.