Thursday evening I received I call from Mère Marie-Anne du Sacré Coeur, the prioress of the monastery of Craon, asking if I would consider going to serve a monastery in the Aveyron that would, otherwise, be without a priest and without Holy Mass for a fortnight. The monastery is attached to an ancient sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary called Notre Dame d'Orient. The origin of this title of the Blessed Virgin is the phrase, Virgo auriens — the Virgin who gives heed — which came to be translated as Notre Dame d'Orient. Here are two photos of Notre Dame d'Orient. I will leave Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne early Sunday morning. You can imagine my delight at being asked to serve in a sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin!
His Excellency, Bishop Edward J. Slattery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma has given
Father Mark a special mandate to live under the Rule of Saint Benedict in adoration before the Eucharistic Face of Jesus, offering thanksgiving, intercession, and reparation for all his
brothers in Holy Orders. In this way, Father is preparing the foundation of the new Diocesan Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle. Father Mark is available to the
priests and deacons of the Diocese for spiritual and sacramental support in their pursuit of holiness. He is also charged with the spiritual formation of women who desire to dedicate themselves to spiritual motherhood in favour of priests.
They didn't tell us about these things in Sunday School.