May is the month devoted to our Blessed Mother and to all mothers really. Thanks to Sr. Cecilia Maria - on Sunday - Mother's Day - each sister found at her place in the refectory a little bouquet of pinks and a note of love and appreciation.

That evening Nick Higdon, a seminarian for the Owensboro diocese, arrived for a little solitude retreat.

Here he is seen after a community visit posing with Sr. Mary Therese and Sr. Mary Dolores who are both celebrating 50 years of consecrated religious life this year. They have been "official spiritual mothers" of priests and seminarians for 100 years total! That's amazing.

This afternoon we had our May Procession and Elizabeth (whose 22nd birthday is today!) crowned our Blessed Mother as queen of this monastery and of our hearts. Reminding her, as if she needed a reminding and not us, that she is to conform us into the image of her son and teach us fidelity from the Crib to the Cross to the Cenacle.

Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the procession we had in our courtyard but this photo was taken earlier this week. The clematis vines are in their glory! (and the rock garden is almost finished!)

To the Blessed Virgin Mary for May O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! Glorious Queen of heaven and earth! Powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! Look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy devoted child; accept the solemn offering I present thee of this month, specially dedicated to thee, and receive my ardent, humble desire, that by my love and fervor I could worthily honor thee, who, next to God, art deserving of all honor. Receive me, O Mother of Mercy, among thy best beloved children; extend to me thy maternal tenderness and solicitude; obtain for me a place in the Heart of Jesus, and a special share in the gifts of His grace. O deign, I beseech thee, to recognize my claims on thy protection, to watch over my spiritual and temporal interests, as well as those of all who are dear to me; to infuse into my soul the spirit of Christ, and to teach me thyself to become meek, humble, charitable, patient, and submissive to the will of God. May my heart burn with the love of thy Divine Son, and of thee, His blessed Mother, not for a month alone, but for time and eternity; may I thirst for the promotion of His honor and thine, and contribute, as far as I can, to its extension. Receive me, O Mary, the refuge of sinners! Grant me a Mother's blessing and a Mother's care, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.