NunEssential

"While I am on the subject of books, women might be interested in reading a book by author Dawn Eden entitled, The Thrill of the Chaste. I would recommend this book for late teens/adults. It's a memoir by the author of her search for true chastity in her life. Ms. Eden shares with the reader her life that was filled with men and worldly things, yet it didn't bring her what her heart truly sought. She was looking for something far deeper than what society had to offer. Ms. Eden is open and honest about her experiences. She has a great wisdom, sense of humor and a desire to be everything that God wants her to be. I found it refreshing and insightful. Til then..."

"One of the things that I really appreciate about being in the desert and away from the city is that I have a lot of time to read. If you are looking for something to read this summer and want a book that will grab your attention and inspire you, may I suggest a book called, " Three Cups of Tea ." It's a true story about an American named Greg Mortenson who, after failing to climb the K2 mountain in Pakistan, gets lost on his way down the mountain and stumbles into a village wherein he realizes that the children of the village have no school. The kids sit on the cold ground outside in the winter and learn from a teacher who only comes three days a week. Seeing that the children deserve more, Mortenson, with no money and no idea how he will actually build one, promises the village chief that he will come back and build the village a school. And so it begins. I don't recommend it for very young children and would encourage adult parents to read it first as there ar...

" There are some very big things going on here in the desert. Yesterday, we visited our new convent being re-built in Holman, about 3 hours north of Albuquerque. Holman is where our community began almost 50 years ago and when the sisters left the area, the convent was destroyed. I remember seeing it 5 years ago before anything had been done to it and looking at the graffiti on the walls and the devastation of it, I didn't think there was much that could be done. However, the foundation was structurally sound and so the sisters and some amazing volunteers began to build upon it. I was unprepared as to how beautiful the convent would be. The walls are white and they reach high to touch the skylights in the ceiling. There is a tile inlay of the Miraculous Medal, windows that reveal the breathtaking views of the mountains and nature, and even compact little rooms for the sisters that have built in beds, closets and desks. The Sisters aren't finished yet with this project and ...

Sr. Miriam James is preparing for her Perpetual Vows in Bosque, New Mexico. These are some of her reflections from the desert. (please pray for her!) "After leaving cloudy and rainy Seattle for the desert heat of New Mexico, I've noticed some interesting things. First of all, it's hot. That being said, there is something about the desert that invites reflection and recollection. It's no coincidence that many of the saints left the city and the teeming mass of humanity to embark on an unknown path in the desert. Perhaps they fled for different reasons but I would be willing to bet that although they were leaving "distractions" behind, they knew that a different and perhaps more difficult battle lay ahead. Sometimes people think that the problems they have are locational. They think, "If only I didn't live here, I would be happy." Or "If only I didn't have this job, I would be happy." or "If I didn't have to live with so-and...

I read this story in the National Catholic Register about the Planned Parenthood organization. I already knew the damage that Planned Parenthood does to women so I guess something new like this shouldn't have surprised me but it saddened me to see how women and girls are being taken advantage of for the sole purpose of money and the destruction of life. Let us pray for all of these people. Abortion is a very difficult thing to encounter. We live in a culture that tells us we can kill innocent children and that it won't cause any problems or distress later on. However, the deeper we go into this mentality, the more we are finding women who have been devastated by procuring or being forced to have an abortion. Things aren't alright later on. Time doesn't make a woman forget about her lost child. She doesn't just "get over it." And often there is no one she can talk to. If you have had an abortion, please know how much God loves you and desires your healing...