Association Of Catholic Bloggers

A monastery bell is ironically consistent about one thing.  It always calls for change.  Time to stop one activity and begin another.  The sections of a monastic day are spoken into being by the bells.    Part of me hungers for such bells.  I find myself craving the insistent rhythms of their voices.  Predictable, familiar, reliable, steady bells that would insure my prayer and rest; bells that would regulate and balance the pieces of my life.  "Just as soon as we are familiar with one set of daily bells ringing," wrote one of you in the Parlor, "another set replaces them."   Don't we know the truth of this.  Seasons come and go, bringing school bells and wake-up alarms, church bells and wedding bells, baby cries and phones and stovetop buzzers.  They change with every passing year.... (continue)

I recently read a magnificent novel, The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau, which deals  with the fate of some English  Dominican nuns during Henry VIII's "reform." I was delighted and honored when Nancy agreed to be interviewed. I will be reviewing the book as well in a future post. To quote from the book description: An aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father—and preserve the Catholic faith from Cromwell’s ruthless terror. The year is 1537. . .   EMV : Nancy, welcome! Congratulations on your magnificent novel, The Crown , which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was especially impressed by the research that went into making it one of the most authentic novels of the Tudor era that I have ever read.  You bring to life the beauty and peace of the cloister even as it is about to be destroyed. Can you tell us a little about how you began your journey into the past, and where you found the best sources on such a turbulent, controvers...

Hello and a blessed new year.   I’m a new kid on this block, if a grandma can be considered a kid!   I am a “homeschooled grandmother,” being guided into greater understanding of God’s love by my three tutors (ages 5, 3 and 1).   In quieter moments I work on two blogs, both of which grew out of my 20-plus-year exploration of what it means to live as a “cloistered heart” in the midst of a busy world.   The Cloistered Heart blog looks into how we can live for God with the totality of a “monastic,” no matter what the circumstances of our lives.  The Breadbox Letters shares bits of correspondence past and present, snippets about this-es and thats-es, and things yet to be seen…   May God lead us all into a grace filled 2012! "I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord; plans for your welfare, not for woe!  Plans to give you a future full of hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)