The Road Less Travelled
Oct 21st, 2012, 12:57 PM
#81
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Yes, I bought a kindle 3g keyboard and on it I have the entire Divine Office, the entire Bible and even the entire Summa Theologica which I bought for 99cents. I can now carry l these without breaking my back. When I show M.Generate this(she is in Australia at the moment she will be intrigued and delighted I'm sure. I keep you in my prayers.
Oct 21st, 2012, 02:25 PM
#83
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Sister, your prayers are most appreciated. I am in awe that you find time for prayers with your busy travel schedule. Why just last December you shared with us that
<I>In May and beginning of June France, Corsica, Italy then to Singapore for Grandma's 95th birthday, then possibly going to Poland for my best friend's wedding. Not very well timed but we don't want to do Europe in July when it is so busy.
When I get back to Oz I will probably quit my job and either go back to teaching or have yet another major life change.</i>
<I>In May and beginning of June France, Corsica, Italy then to Singapore for Grandma's 95th birthday, then possibly going to Poland for my best friend's wedding. Not very well timed but we don't want to do Europe in July when it is so busy.
When I get back to Oz I will probably quit my job and either go back to teaching or have yet another major life change.</i>
Oct 21st, 2012, 09:29 PM
#84
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Yes, lots of people ask about prayer and one of the great things about being on leave is that I can experience how lay people cope with prayer during a full working day. The best I have been finding is to get up early in the morning and to get your prayer time in first.
I actually quit my job earlier than expected and didn't get to see grandma or to go overseas with my parents because of my new job in the diocese. My parents went on their own and grandma died 2 months ago. God bless.
I actually quit my job earlier than expected and didn't get to see grandma or to go overseas with my parents because of my new job in the diocese. My parents went on their own and grandma died 2 months ago. God bless.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 07:47 AM
#85
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PARIS (2 nights)
Sorrento marked the end of the first stage of my journey. As said before, our congregation has two founders. The first is St Benedict. So I call the Italian journey, the Path of St Benedict. The second part is the Path of Marie Adele Garnier. This path takes me to France.
Most of my journey in Italy were to places which were quite frequently visited. In France however, some of the places I am going to are really quite remote. If you look at one of my threads on Grancey le Chateau running back a few years ago ( this was in planning for a journey which was postponed until now), you will see some of the difficulty I had in trying to work out how to get to these nearly unheard of places.
I would have liked to have started off at Grancey le Chateau, the place where Marie Adele was born. As it worked out, it was much cheaper, easier and quicker to fly from Naples to Paris. So I began at the place where Marie Adele Founded our congregation - Montmartre.
Probably the first thing I noticed upon arriving in Paris is that my French is appalling. I found it relatively easy to communicate in Italy because I had some grounding in Spanish. It is going to take a while to get the pronunciation here but so far everyone has been kind and helpful.
I stayed at the Maison Eyrmard, the place where St Peter Julian Eyrmard lies. It is one of the cheapest places to stay in Paris but the location is outstanding, right near the Arc du Triomph. Growing up in Sydney we used to visit St Peter Julian's church in Haymarket. We would light the candles in front of his statue because it seemed everyone would go to Our Lady and we would feel sorry for him. But our prayers always seemed to be answered. So it was very special to pray before his body which is lying in a glass casket. His body is incorrupt.
The next day I felt quite ill with a tummy bug. As I write this I'm still not feeling the best. I took longer to get moving that morning. Travelling by metro in Paris is so cheap. I was trying to ask the tobacconist for a day ticket but he gave me a packet of 10 metro tickets for only about 12 euros. My first stop was of course Montmartre.
Sorrento marked the end of the first stage of my journey. As said before, our congregation has two founders. The first is St Benedict. So I call the Italian journey, the Path of St Benedict. The second part is the Path of Marie Adele Garnier. This path takes me to France.
Most of my journey in Italy were to places which were quite frequently visited. In France however, some of the places I am going to are really quite remote. If you look at one of my threads on Grancey le Chateau running back a few years ago ( this was in planning for a journey which was postponed until now), you will see some of the difficulty I had in trying to work out how to get to these nearly unheard of places.
I would have liked to have started off at Grancey le Chateau, the place where Marie Adele was born. As it worked out, it was much cheaper, easier and quicker to fly from Naples to Paris. So I began at the place where Marie Adele Founded our congregation - Montmartre.
Probably the first thing I noticed upon arriving in Paris is that my French is appalling. I found it relatively easy to communicate in Italy because I had some grounding in Spanish. It is going to take a while to get the pronunciation here but so far everyone has been kind and helpful.
I stayed at the Maison Eyrmard, the place where St Peter Julian Eyrmard lies. It is one of the cheapest places to stay in Paris but the location is outstanding, right near the Arc du Triomph. Growing up in Sydney we used to visit St Peter Julian's church in Haymarket. We would light the candles in front of his statue because it seemed everyone would go to Our Lady and we would feel sorry for him. But our prayers always seemed to be answered. So it was very special to pray before his body which is lying in a glass casket. His body is incorrupt.
The next day I felt quite ill with a tummy bug. As I write this I'm still not feeling the best. I took longer to get moving that morning. Travelling by metro in Paris is so cheap. I was trying to ask the tobacconist for a day ticket but he gave me a packet of 10 metro tickets for only about 12 euros. My first stop was of course Montmartre.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 07:55 AM
#86
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Tomorrow I'm taking the train down South and will be joining a community who I think do not normally take in guests. I hope I can get access to WiFi as the 3G with the French company Orange doesn't seem to work. I'm supposed to go to Lourdes in a few days time but its flooded so not sure if I'll be able to go there. In the meantime I would love you to get to know our Foundress Marie Adele Garnier. You can find information about her on this link www.tyburnconvent.org.UK . Then you will have more understanding of this journey. Until I get WiFi, Goodnight and God Bless.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 08:30 AM
#87
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"Then it hits you, how a living city like Pompei can suddenly and completely, disappear off the face of the earth."=========I had the same response. When I read that they had rebuilt the city, I was flabbergasted as well.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 10:51 AM
#89
Regarding French pronunciation, I am very bad at it as well. However, that has never stopped me. I have learned that if you make the effort to greet people (French and others) courteously in their language, they will tend to overlook the shortcoming and return your courtesy.
Earlier above you suggested that I might know Scott Hahn, who will be leading your pilgrimage next year to the Holy Land. I do not.
I have since Googled his name to learn that he is a theologian/apologist teaching at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, which is about two hours from where I live. I was in Steubenville only once, about 25 years ago.
With his qualifications, Prof. Hahn sounds like an appropriate guide for a tour/pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Earlier above you suggested that I might know Scott Hahn, who will be leading your pilgrimage next year to the Holy Land. I do not.
I have since Googled his name to learn that he is a theologian/apologist teaching at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, which is about two hours from where I live. I was in Steubenville only once, about 25 years ago.
With his qualifications, Prof. Hahn sounds like an appropriate guide for a tour/pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 06:53 PM
#91
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I am continuing to enjoy this report (apart from the snarky comments)
I have a client who is a nun who was granted indefinite leave to care for her 90 year old mother. She showed me the letter from the Abbess granting her permission to leave. I am not Catholic so I know little about these issues, but I see no reason to doubt Pellegrina's story- I think it has the ring of authenticity ( and yes, Marija, I have read her other posts)
Pellegrina, thank you for writing this, it's fascinating.
I have a client who is a nun who was granted indefinite leave to care for her 90 year old mother. She showed me the letter from the Abbess granting her permission to leave. I am not Catholic so I know little about these issues, but I see no reason to doubt Pellegrina's story- I think it has the ring of authenticity ( and yes, Marija, I have read her other posts)
Pellegrina, thank you for writing this, it's fascinating.
Oct 22nd, 2012, 10:14 PM
#92
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I have a few minutes before my taxi arrives to take me to the station.
Thankyou for the commiserations regarding French. I think I'm inventing a new language because every time I want to say 'Oui', 'Su' automatically comes out followed quickly by the correction. The result is something like seaweed without the D.
PARIS Continued....
Stanislaus who works at the reception at Maison Eyrmard said to me "Be very careful at Montmartre, the people there aren't like the people walking around outside here". When a Parisian warns you to be careful, you take heed. So it was with some degree of trepidation that I exited the metro station of Anvers.
You walk uphill past a short street of shops selling cheap goods and there are a few cafes. I knew this visit would be very special but I really wasn't prepared for the level of emotion that I was about to have. Even now my eyes are watering and there's a lump in my throat as I write this.
The Basilica of Montmartre doesn't come into view until you get towards the end of the short row of shops, then all of a sudden a cascade of white looms up before you. It was brilliant even though the day was grey and drizzly. All of a sudden, the recollection and memory of all that I had read about Marie Adele Garnier's struggles filled my mind. Hers was an enormous journey filled with pain, suffering, joys and ecstasies. She was 60 years old before she was finally able to arrive at Montmartre to make the new foundation which was our Congregation. She had been once before a few decades earlier and had to suffer the heartbreak of illness and failure.
As I walked up the steps towards the Basilica I felt as if I was experiencing a fraction of what she must have felt walking on that momentous day towards the same holy place. These thoughts and emotions were mingled with my own struggles in these last few difficult years. How beautiful, how wonderful, how consoling the Basilica looks when you recall these things. " Come to me, all who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest". These were the words of our Blessed Saviour coming from His most Sacred Heart.
Thankyou for the commiserations regarding French. I think I'm inventing a new language because every time I want to say 'Oui', 'Su' automatically comes out followed quickly by the correction. The result is something like seaweed without the D.
PARIS Continued....
Stanislaus who works at the reception at Maison Eyrmard said to me "Be very careful at Montmartre, the people there aren't like the people walking around outside here". When a Parisian warns you to be careful, you take heed. So it was with some degree of trepidation that I exited the metro station of Anvers.
You walk uphill past a short street of shops selling cheap goods and there are a few cafes. I knew this visit would be very special but I really wasn't prepared for the level of emotion that I was about to have. Even now my eyes are watering and there's a lump in my throat as I write this.
The Basilica of Montmartre doesn't come into view until you get towards the end of the short row of shops, then all of a sudden a cascade of white looms up before you. It was brilliant even though the day was grey and drizzly. All of a sudden, the recollection and memory of all that I had read about Marie Adele Garnier's struggles filled my mind. Hers was an enormous journey filled with pain, suffering, joys and ecstasies. She was 60 years old before she was finally able to arrive at Montmartre to make the new foundation which was our Congregation. She had been once before a few decades earlier and had to suffer the heartbreak of illness and failure.
As I walked up the steps towards the Basilica I felt as if I was experiencing a fraction of what she must have felt walking on that momentous day towards the same holy place. These thoughts and emotions were mingled with my own struggles in these last few difficult years. How beautiful, how wonderful, how consoling the Basilica looks when you recall these things. " Come to me, all who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest". These were the words of our Blessed Saviour coming from His most Sacred Heart.
Oct 23rd, 2012, 01:16 AM
#93
pelligrina - on our last visit to Paris, we too went to the Sacre Coeur on a pilgrimage of our own so that DH could see the place that he had visited on a school trip when he was 14.
We were lucky enough to arrive when a service was taking place and [sadly unlike many of those who were visiting at the same time] sat down and listened in silence to the lovely music. We really enjoyed our visit and DH was thrilled to revisit a place that had made a big impression on him in his youth.
We were lucky enough to arrive when a service was taking place and [sadly unlike many of those who were visiting at the same time] sat down and listened in silence to the lovely music. We really enjoyed our visit and DH was thrilled to revisit a place that had made a big impression on him in his youth.
Oct 24th, 2012, 07:35 AM
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Im proud to say that I pell's younger sister, and can reassure everyone that everything she is posting is true ! Cloistered life is not an easy thing, an to have seen how my sister gave up absolutely everything upon entering ( at her own free will) is something that I know that very few people in this world as it is could do. So bare in mind, that after living a cloistered life for over 18 yrs , wouldnt you go nuts to see as much as possible! The internet and smart phones is new to her - we just take it for granted cos its part of our everyday lives, not for the benedictines! Some havent even seen or heard of The Sound of Music because they entered so young. Thank you to all those who are posting positive and less judgemental messages to my sister. Just take it as it is, a woman who has lived a very different life to the rest of us. Cloistered life does exist and once you see just how they live, you will surely understand.
Oct 24th, 2012, 11:35 AM
#96
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I love your story! Did you stay in the convent connected to Sacre Coeur when you were in Paris? My husband and I did and met a wonderful priest on retreat. We've also stayed at convents and monasteries all over Europe! We love the atmosphere, especially if they have enclosed gardens. There were nuns on retreat at one of the monasteries. We also knew that the nuns watched tv in the evenings at one in Venice. Most of them had computers too. How long did you work at the travel agency and was it in Australia? How old were you when you joined your order? If you ever visit Kentucky, we would love to meet you!
Oct 24th, 2012, 11:47 AM
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Oops, I just saw that you told us where you stayed in Paris:
"I stayed at the Maison Eyrmard, the place where St Peter Julian Eyrmard lies. It is one of the cheapest places to stay in Paris but the location is outstanding, right near the Arc du Triomph." I don't know any French but my husband was able to understand and speak a little, which is good, because the sisters couldn't speak any English. I have taken Italian and could communicate somewhat with the Italian sisters in Rome at the convent where we stayed.
"I stayed at the Maison Eyrmard, the place where St Peter Julian Eyrmard lies. It is one of the cheapest places to stay in Paris but the location is outstanding, right near the Arc du Triomph." I don't know any French but my husband was able to understand and speak a little, which is good, because the sisters couldn't speak any English. I have taken Italian and could communicate somewhat with the Italian sisters in Rome at the convent where we stayed.
Nov 7th, 2012, 03:31 PM
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Hi Pelligrina,
Just wondering how the rest of your trip is going. I hope you haven't been discouraged from continuing your report by one or two cynics on this board. Most of us are following along with appreciation, and hoping for an update soon. I hope you are enjoying the south of France and that all is well with you.
Just wondering how the rest of your trip is going. I hope you haven't been discouraged from continuing your report by one or two cynics on this board. Most of us are following along with appreciation, and hoping for an update soon. I hope you are enjoying the south of France and that all is well with you.
Nov 30th, 2012, 01:20 AM
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Hello Fodorites,
Can't believe I've been back in Australia for 3 weeks already and as expected very busy. The last 2 weeks in France was with limited internet access. So, it has been about 5 weeks since my last post. Now I am back where I started in more ways than one. In order to ensure that this trip is recorded I need to turn to my travelling friends again and have succumbed once more to the digital age.
PARIS cont'd...
When I entered the Basilica at Montmartre,I felt a strong sense of familiarity about the place. Perhaps because I had read so much about our foundress, Marie Adele's experiences. The sisters who you see singing and praying in the Basilica once were apart of our order. Their foundress is also Marie Adele but they do not seem to recognise this. They seperated from our congregation during WWII but their habit is still very similar to ours. It was a little bit strange seeing and hearing them sing, they were like our sisters and yet not, more like cousins.
I left the Basilica with my heart full and overflowing, what an incredible experience it was to be in that place. It was now raining fairly heavily and I went to look for one of the famous cafes around Montmartre to have lunch. Funny enough I didn't choose a cafe that looked out onto the Basilica because it was too crowded. I found instead a nice little cafe on the main street near the metro. There was a 12 euro special offered for two courses. The first was probably the nicest cabbage meal I have ever tasted. The cabbage was covered in a delicious cheese sauce. The second course was a beef dish and again it was amazing. If this was a simple French lunch special I wondered what a posh meal was like.
Can't believe I've been back in Australia for 3 weeks already and as expected very busy. The last 2 weeks in France was with limited internet access. So, it has been about 5 weeks since my last post. Now I am back where I started in more ways than one. In order to ensure that this trip is recorded I need to turn to my travelling friends again and have succumbed once more to the digital age.
PARIS cont'd...
When I entered the Basilica at Montmartre,I felt a strong sense of familiarity about the place. Perhaps because I had read so much about our foundress, Marie Adele's experiences. The sisters who you see singing and praying in the Basilica once were apart of our order. Their foundress is also Marie Adele but they do not seem to recognise this. They seperated from our congregation during WWII but their habit is still very similar to ours. It was a little bit strange seeing and hearing them sing, they were like our sisters and yet not, more like cousins.
I left the Basilica with my heart full and overflowing, what an incredible experience it was to be in that place. It was now raining fairly heavily and I went to look for one of the famous cafes around Montmartre to have lunch. Funny enough I didn't choose a cafe that looked out onto the Basilica because it was too crowded. I found instead a nice little cafe on the main street near the metro. There was a 12 euro special offered for two courses. The first was probably the nicest cabbage meal I have ever tasted. The cabbage was covered in a delicious cheese sauce. The second course was a beef dish and again it was amazing. If this was a simple French lunch special I wondered what a posh meal was like.
