What is Cloistered Life?
Cloistered life is a formal way of life recognized by the Church to invite men and women to find within the hidden life of the monastery a place where they can experience the loving exchange of hearts with Christ Jesus. In this enclosure, they find their true selves and experience a foretaste of Heaven!
Former Baptist Farmer and WAC Nurse
Becomes Cloistered Carmelite Nun
Lena Alice Watson, the third of eight children, was born on October 17, 1917 into a struggling Baptist farming family. Her great uncle—Dr. Thomas Watson—helped Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone. The young Alabaman had never seen a Catholic nun until she entered St. Vincent’s Nursing School in 1939 but was greatly impressed by the Catholic faith and devotional life. Before graduating, Lena Alice received the grace of conversion and entered the Church.
Soon afterwards she joined the Army Nursing Corps and literally traveled the world—England, France, Panama, Japan. After her discharge from the Army she enrolled as a student at Catholic University of America where she met a Carmelite Father who helped her discern a vocation. On March 25, 1949 Lena Alice was clothed in the habit of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and given the religious name of “Sister Marie of the Incarnation.” Read entire story. (1 MB PDF).
Cistercian Monks Launch “Lasermonks” to Support Monastery and to Help Fund Support Charitable Works
The Cistercian monks of Our Lady of Spring Bank in Sparta, Wisconsin, were searching for a project to make their monastery self-supporting when they came upon the idea of selling replacement toner and inkjet cartridges. Their “Lasermonk” enterprise has grown beyond their wildest imagination, and and now provides an inspiring business model of “commerce with compassion.” Read story. Go to Laser Monks.
Pro Orantibus Day (For Those Who Pray) — Nov. 21
Nov. 21, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, is the Church’s annual Pro Orantibus Day, a day of support for cloistered life throughout the world. Cloistered vocations are “an indispensable presence in the Church and in the world,” said Benedict XVI after his Angelus message on Nov. 16, 2008.
In his remarks following his weekly Angelus address, the Holy Father reminded the faithful about the importance of Pro Orantibus Day and said:
“Let us thank the Lord for the sisters and brothers who have embraced this mission dedicating themselves completely to prayer, and who live off what they receive from Divine Providence. Let us in our turn pray for them and for new vocations, and undertake to support the material needs of monasteries. Dear sisters and brothers, yours is an indispensable presence in the Church and in the world. I remain close to you and I bless you with great affection.”
Later that week, Pope Benedict spoke about the importance of monasteries when he received an audience representatives of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. In his Nov. 20 address the Pope stated that the vocation of monasteries is to point the world toward what is essential in life: seeking Christ and putting nothing before His love.
Read Pope Benedict XVI’s address on the Vatican’s website.
For instruction and aids to celebrate the day please see our FREE resources.