Nuns @ MindSay

I have been enjoying a new heroine.

I have also been enjoying a new genre.

In general, I am not a fan of mysteries -- due to my insatiable NEED to find out how any story ends within a chapter of beginning it -- but with Sister Fidelma, there is much to interest and intrigue.


She is a religieux, a woman belonging to a holy order. The Abbey of  St. Brigid of Kildare. She is also a lawyer, qualified to the second-highest ranking in the land (the rank of anruth, which is another story for another day).  She is a princess.  She is attractive and knows it but without caring overmuch about it. She is strong.  She is brilliant. She is fallible.

If you have interests in mysteries, or in the Ireland of the 7th Century, or in the strange time of tension in Irish history where Roman and Irish church customs met and clashed, or even if you just like some cool historical fiction, I recommend the Sister Fidelma Mysteries by Peter Tremayne.  I just finished Act of Mercy and am starting Smoke in the Wind.

Of course... I have already peeked to the end of the latter book.  But! Before you start throwing things at me, know that the end of this one has little to do with the mystery and everything to do with Sister Fidelma's romance.

What? A nun having a romance?  You bet. I'm tellin' ya, Ireland in the 7th Century was pretty darn nifty.

By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press Writer Thu Sep 27, 1:36 AM ET LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Six Catholic nuns have been excommunicated for heresy after refusing to give up membership in a Canadian sect whose founder claims to be possessed by the Virgin Mary, the Diocese of Little Rock announced Wednesday. The Rev. J. Gaston Hebert, the diocese administrator, said he notified the nuns of the decision Tuesday night after they refused to recant the teachings of the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary. The Vatican has declared all members of the Army of Mary excommunicated. Hebert said the excommunication was the first in the diocese's 165-year history. "It is a painfully historic moment for this church," Hebert said. The six nuns are associated with the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs. Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, one of the nuns excommunicated, said the nuns will still live at the convent property, which they own. "We are at peace and we know that for us we are doing the right thing," the 82-year-old nun said. "We pray that the church will open their eyes before it is too late. This is God's work through Mary, the blessed mother, and we're doing what we're asked to do." At a news conference, Hebert said the nuns "became entranced and deluded with a doctrine that is heretical." He said church officials removed the Eucharist — which Catholics revere as the body of Christ — from the monastery on Tuesday night. Hebert said the sect's members believe that its 86-year-old founder, Marie Paule Giguere, is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary and that God speaks directly through her. Excommunication bars the nuns from participating in the church liturgy and receiving communion or other sacraments. The diocese said the action was taken after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration dated July 11 that the Army of Mary's teachings were heretical and automatically excommunicated any who embraced the doctrine. Hebert said the diocese had known for years that the nuns were following the sect and said church officials in the past had encouraged them to come back into the fold. According to the Catholic News Service, the Army of Mary was founded in Quebec in 1971 by Giguere, who said she was receiving visions from God. Dionne said she does not know if Giguere is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, but said she believes God communicates through the sect's founder. "She is doing only what God and Mary tells her to do," Dionne said. A spokesman for the Army of Mary called the excommunication of the nuns and the other members of the sect an injustice. Father Eric Roy said Giguere has not claimed to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, and said the 86-year-old Quebec woman "receives graces" from the Virgin Mary and God. "The Virgin Mary took possession of her soul. I would rather say it that way," said Roy, superior general of the Sons of Mary, an associated group. ___ On the Net: Army of Mary: http://www.communaute-dame.qc.ca/ Diocese of Little Rock: http://www.dolr.org/

ADOPT A NUN !!

Yes ..... it's true.

http://www.salesiansisters.org/adopt-a-sister.html

For a price range of $160 to $500 you can have a nun pray for you or someone you love for a year.

This is actually a pretty cool idea.  The money raised goes to care for the elderly nuns.  So those that feel like maybe a little prayer might help in their life ...... why not?

Peace.  J.

Howdy Howdy all!

 

This is just a short musing to break from my reading and study time...I am so overloaded on Medieval Roman society and the Renaissance that I swear I may start speaking Latin exclusively! Anyway, that being said, I am going to the Renaissance Festival this coming Sunday with Torridgirl who has posted the basic look of her red Fairy costume on her blog. It is so very cute. Mine is Purple and Black and I have to find so fancy ponytail holders for my Afro Puffs...That's right! fairies have bitchin' Afro Puffs. If one more jack ass comes up to me and mentions Princess Effin Laia (sp) as a reference for my hair I will beat them to death (not really of course).

 

Anyway I am going to Ren Fest not once, not twice but THRICE--to use the lingo of the time. LOL! I will be a Fairy, A Toga-wearing Roman and A barmaid...all of which characterize me in some way shape or form. The cool thing is that I was invited three times. This is fantastic because as you all know I have no CAR so now I not only have a way but I have awesome company as well! Woo Hoo! Thanks Torridgirl  and Pony B and C ya'll rock! I am so freaking excited...I know, I know I am such a nerd!

 

Unrelated Note: I have been looking about on Mindsay and there is apparently some hoopla going on about folks with extra blogs...Not sure what the deal is but hey I have another blog...about Women and Children's issues (much of which is overtly feminist)...The same rules apply there as here though...no personal attacks and I don't mention folks names. I guess I am just saying that I have 2 blogs (no I will not tell you what the name is ) and I don't mention it because I don't want the blogs to become meshed in anyway...I like having a separate platform for my less light stuff and having a completely (well almost completely) different network base.... Like I say, it isn't necessarily hidden but I don't broadcast it either...it didnt seem like a big deal to me but  it might be to others...just thought I would put that out there....and dont be trying to guess the blog and broadcast it like you putting me on blast or somethin' .

  I guess my point is that sometimes you need another place to be other parts of yourself....and as long as you are respectful and adhere to other's boundaries, why not carve out a second space for thoughts that don't fit so well in the primary places....just sayin' ya know...let's play nice ya'll. We all have our issues....right?

Anyhoo...I gotta go hit the books ya'll see ya laters!!!

A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a
  
   sign out of the corner of his eye. It reads:
  
   
  
               SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
  
               HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
  
               10 MILES
  
   
  
   Thinking it was a figment of his imagination, he drives on without a
  
   second thought. Soon he sees another sign:
  
               SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
  
               HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
  
               5 MILES
  
   
  
   Suddenly, he begins to realize the signs are for real. He passes a
  
   Third sign saying:
  
   
  
   
  
               SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
  
               HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
  
               NEXT RIGHT
  
   
  
   His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the
  
   far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next
  
   to
  
   the door reading:
  
   
  
   
  
               SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
  
   
  
He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun
in a long black habit who asks, "What may we do for you, my son?"

He answers, "I saw your signs along the highway, and was interested in
doing business."

” Very well, my son. Please follow me."
    
The man is led through a winding passage and is soon quite
disoriented.  The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, "Please knock on
this door."
  
He does and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the
door.
  
"Please place $100 in the cup, then go through the large wooden
  
 door at the end of the hallway."

 

He puts $100 in the cup and trots eagerly down the hall. He slips through the door and finds himself back in the parking  lot, facing another sign:
  
   
  
               GO IN PEACE.
  
               YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED
  
               BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS.
  
               SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER!

 

 

BYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!