IN THE CROSSING OF MY ARMS
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Autumn 2021
Vol. 66 No 3
IN THE CROSSING OF MY ARMS
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message to her children
Artist Rosemary Mertz captures the united in this land, and of all mankind,
essence of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s of all those who love me, of those who
message to Saint Juan Diego, his cry to me, of those who seek me, of
those who have confidence in me.
people and to all people in her
portrait featured here titled, Here I will hear their weeping, their
“In the Arms of Mary.” sorrow, and will remedy, and alleviate
all their multiple sufferings, necessities
What was this message portrayed on and misfortunes.1
the icon-like Tilma that brought a
Bishop to his knees and brought eight Could it be that in his grief and fear
million fierce, pagan Aztec Indians Juan forgot the lady’s words or did
and countless others to faith in the this simple, humble man believe that
Incarnate Son of God? the message was for the Bishop and
‘the people’ not for him?
In this portrait we see a humble,
trusting son in the arms of his But a mother’s love cannot be
comforting Mother. But Juan’s story thwarted. Our Lady just met him on
did not start that way. Twice he had the other side of the hill! There she
failed in convincing Bishop Juan de provided him with the Bishop’s
Zumarraga to honor the Lady’s requested sign: Castillian roses in
request for a Chapel on Tepeyac Hill. winter. Then, reassuring Juan that his
On the third day Our Lady promised uncle would be fine, she sent him on
to honor the Bishop’s request for a his way in peace-filled joy .
sign if Juan returned on the fourth With a light heart Juan returned to
day. the Bishop and as he dropped the
However, with his confidence corners of his Tilma, the roses
shattered and his uncle desperately ill, cascaded to the ground. The Bishop
Juan could not risk being delayed by hardly noticed the sign as he fell to
the Mother by stopping on the fourth his knees. The room vibrating with
day. His mind and heart were her living presence, Bishop Juan
highjacked by thoughts of death, grief Zumarraga gazed into the face of the
and the determination to succeed Mother of God.
fueled by an urgent need to act. His Her Presence and her beauty struck
dying uncle/father needed a priest! the Indians but it was something
He must find a way around Tepeyac much more that transformed their
Hill. He must avoid all delay, even the hearts. The Tilma for them was truly
beautiful Lady. He was a born leader an Icon, a ‘letter’ written directly to
of his people. He could, he must do them from Heaven.
this himself for the one he loved. Since the language of the Aztec
Often we know this urge to ‘get it people was pictorial and their culture
done’ on our own, but here we are was alive with symbols, Juan and his
tempted to say, “Juan, it’s the Blessed people grasped the fullness of Our
Mother who is waiting for you! Lady’s message at a glance. They
Didn’t you see and speak with her immediately recognized her as the
three times already? Didn’t she say,” Queen of Heaven and Virgin Mother
Know for certain, littlest of my sons, of Jesus our Savior.
that I am the perfect and perpetual Her dark hair parted in the middle
Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God said she was a virgin, the black ribbon
through whom everything lives, the around her waist told that she was
Lord of all things near and far, the with child, the teal color of her cloak
Master of Heaven and Earth.
said she was a queen and gold stars
I wish and intensely desire that in this aligned with the main constellations
place my sanctuary be erected. Here I of December 12th, 1531 winter sky -
will demonstrate, I will exhibit, I will those of the Northern night sky on
give all my love, my compassion, my
help and my protection to the people. IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND ST. JUAN DIEGO
the right side of her cloak and the
copyright© - In the Arms of Mary Foundation
Southern sky at dawn on the left side.
I am your merciful mother. The The constellations were displayed as
merciful mother of all of you who live “Communion of Life with Christ through Mary.”
Used with permission and gratitude. if seen from above, announcing that
Cont. on page 2
IN THE CROSSING OF MY ARMS cont. from page 1 MONASTERY WATER PARK (?)
this Woman clothed in the sun and standing on the moon
had come down from outside of the Universe. cf. Rev. 12:1 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
Meanwhile Our Blessed Mother visited, healed and through rivers, you shall not be swept away. Isaiah 43:2
revealed her name to Juan’s uncle, Juan Bernardino.
When he told his nephew, Juan, her name, the Spaniards When the Sisters moved to
heard him say, “Her name is Guadalupe.” Farmington Hills in 1966
A title of the Blessed Virgin familiar to them from a there was a lovely, gentle
shrine of that name in Spain where Columbus had creek meandering through
prayed before departing for the New World.
But the elderly Indian could neither understand or the property. A small pond,
pronounce that word since the Aztec language has no fed by the creek, was also
letter G. Later translators concluded that the Lady spoke present. However, over the
to Juan Bernardino in his native language saying, "te
coatlaxopeuh" which when spoken sounds very much years the flow from the
like Guadalupe.1 creek diminished and rain
"Te", means stone; "coa" means serpent; "tla'' is the noun was the only source of
ending which can be interpreted as the "the' while "xopeuh" water for the frogs and
means to crush or stamp out. Therefore, she was not referring swamp grass in the pond.
to herself, but proclaiming that her precious image would be
the object that would crush the religion of the stone serpent – Every now and then, rainfall is heavy enough to turn the creek into a torrent and fill the pond to
a cult known for its excesses and human sacrifice.1 overflowing. The Nuns are used to flooding on the “island” across the bridge over the creek but never
The Tilma was a living Icon for the native peoples of expected to be able to go white water rafting in the front yard!
Mexico revealing the Incarnate Christ in his Mother’s
womb. They saw a mestiza mother speaking their The storms of 2021 have been unlike many we have seen in decades. Add to that the reconfiguration of the
language, resembling their own natural mothers and
promising them victory over the evil forces which drainage system on our property during the Oakland County Storm Water Management Program in 2017 and
surrounded and oppressed them. suddenly you have the
The Spanish heard “Guadalupe”, the most important makings of a temporary
Marian shrine in the medieval kingdom of Castile. river.
Perhaps her name alone could have brought the
Spaniards to receive the holy Mother’s message. But it is There are multiple drain
also possible that when the Spaniards looked at the The Aztecs literally read a letter in written symbols
pipes, including one at
iridescent face of the Lady on the tilma they saw a found in the pattern on Our Lady’s robe. The text
woman who resembled their own natural mothers, since pictured here is an excerpt from the 1560 primitive story least 30-inches in diameter,
at one distance Our Lady appears to be a Native Indian, written in the Nahuatl language by a learned and noble which come under
but at another distance she appears to be of European Indian, don Antonio Valeriano. Middlebelt Road and drain
descent. How is it possible for two so very different
peoples to see a resemblance to their own mothers in a into a 14-inch pipe on the
portrait of the Mother of God? other side of the front yard. The torrential rains of this summer
Dr. Philip S. Callahan, internationally famous entomologist quickly overwhelmed the capability of the single smaller drain. As a
and ornithologist explained that the Tilma image achieves this result, we had both a waterfall and a temporary river.
effect of appearing to be different colors at different distances
by a trait that is only seen in nature, for example, in the Amazingly, the
coloring of the bird feathers or butterfly scales. No human
artist can duplicate this effect.2 yard quickly
The Blessed Mother tells us why she resembles many cleared when the
mothers at once when she tells Juan: Examinations of the supposedly painted eyes with clinic heavy rain
devices have found that they are living, organic, functional
I am your merciful mother. The merciful mother of all of stopped. In fact,
you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all eyes. Dr. Enrique Graue, director of Mexico’s
those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek ophthalmologic hospital, affirms: “I examined the eyes with
me, of those who have confidence in me. a high power ophthalmoscope, and I was able to appreciate in
This message of the Mother of the Incarnate Word was them eye deepness just as if I was seeing a living eye”.
distilled by Rosemary in her beautiful portrait. This Under 2500 X magnification, a Peruvian doctor identified within a half
message of her universal Motherhood converted and thirteen individuals in the Virgin’s eyes, including Saint Juan
united millions of Mexicans. hour, all that
Diego (seen above) and Bishop Zumarraga.
This message continues to be spoken from the Living was left was a
Icon on Juan’s Tilma - a miraculous presence of our All those present were captured in her gaze!
washout gully
Mother through which she embraces, teaches, heals and SOURCES - plus many others
comforts all who will place themselves under her shadow 1. The Virgin Mary Of Guadalupe, Helen Behrens, Mexico, 1963. Words of OLG and a little
and protection, into the folds of her mantle, taken from the primitive story written in Nahuatl language in 1560 trans. 1649.
2. All other information was gleaned from the Blog, Abyssus Abyssum Invocat, puddling.
in the crossing of her arms. of Rene Henry Gracida. (94 yr.) Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX who
Her question echoes still, “Am I not your Mother?” in 1979 acquired permission for NASA scientists to examine the Tilma. God is good!
2 3
SR. MARY OF MERCY, OP - IRENE MARY HOULE
Mother, Mentor and Model
As long as she could remember, little Irene Mary wanted to convent on the following day, that would be fine as
become a Sister. What kind or what Order or Congregation, long as they earned their degree first. Subsequently the
she was too young to know; she just wanted to be one as she older of the two, Mary Rita received a scholarship to
told one of her favorite Adrian Dominican Sisters in early St. Bernard’s School of Nursing, taking a three-year
Grade School course of studies. Irene Mary, on the other hand, was
Sister Mary of Mercy, as she would later come to be known, awarded a scholarship to Xavier College to which she
was born to James and Sadie Houle on September 19, 1926 in had to commute on the Red Trolley with a transfer
Chicago, IL and baptized “Irene Mary” on October 3, 1926 onto a second trolley car. Getting off the first streetcar,
which happened to be Rosary Sunday that year. The place she walked a block for daily Mass at St. Augustine’s
was St. Columbanus Church in Chicago. Church and then to a little café for a cup of coffee
before using her transfer ticket to ride a second trolley
Her older sister, Mary Rita, born a year and three months to the College. Those were happy days, filled with
earlier, wondered at the little creature placed beside her and enthusiasm and satisfaction with new experiences and
made so much of a fuss over. As both girls grew older they the knowledge that was being imparted to her eager
were ecstatic at the prospect of being playmates for years to come. They did everything mind. Her favorite courses after Journalism, in which
together and loved to sing duets, Irene Mary doing the soprano and Mary Rita the alto. she majored, were Philosophy and Theology. Irene
Rarely did they quarrel, remembering their Mother’s caution at the first sign of friction: “you always had a great propensity for story-telling and
should not scold each other. After all, you are sisters.” Irene Mary never forgot that advice; it enjoyed writing both essays and articles. This gift was to serve her well after she entered the
served her well after she entered the Monastery and was surrounded by many “sisters”. But Monastery she eventually became a contributing editor of Echoes.
we’re getting ahead of the story.
It was Fr. Charles Johnson, OP who first introduced Irene Mary to the Monastery. He was
Born into a large Irish clan, Sister had many memories of family get-togethers at the home of one of the professors in the Department of Religion at Xavier, and Irene was enrolled in his
her maternal grandparents, “Ma and Pa,” as they were affectionately called. Always there Theology course. She told him about her desire to be a cloistered nun but that she did not feel
were sing-alongs of favorite Irish ballads and old American favorites. Aunts and uncles attracted to the Carmelites or Poor Clares! Should she settle then for the Adrian Dominican
would do solos and more often than not, duets. One that Irene Mary was remembered for Sisters who taught her in High School and whom she greatly admired? Father told her about
was her rendition of Why Don’t We Do This More Often? Just What We’re Doing Tonight. Oh, the Cloistered Dominican Nuns in Detroit and asked if she had ever heard of them. She
happy memories! hadn’t, so it seemed that the next step was to visit and find out more about them, as Fr.
Among the earliest of these were those of what life was like during the Great Depression of Johnson had suggested. Her Mother was a bit unhappy about the choice, but she in no way
the 1920’s for the somewhat upwardly mobile Irish Catholic families that clustered together would discourage Irene Mary from pursuing her vocation if this was what God wanted for
in Chicago’s South side. Grandpa Houle owned and managed a local bakery and grocery her daughter. Happily, Mary Rita married before Irene Mary entered religious life and it was
store; he died when she was in the 8th grade. Irene Mary’s Dad, James P. Houle, Jr., assisted an immense joy for her to be her sister’s Maid of Honor, a memory she fondly cherished.
him in the business. But times were bad and without the With her Dad’s support and blessing, on the Anniversary of her Baptism, October 3rd 1948
Senior Houle, the store went bankrupt. Irene’s father then Irene Mary Houle formally entered the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament as a postulant.
worked as a Real Estate Agent; business there too, dried up
and Dad was soon out of a job. The Houle’s had been living Mother, Dad and Aunt Lottie, Mom’s sister, drove with her from Chicago to Detroit. They
in a rented bungalow but now the family had to move in with arrived in the early evening, and the wide-eyed newcomer was ushered in as the nuns were
Aunt Irene, her mother’s sister. Her father soon found another singing Compline in the cloister chapel. Immediately she felt at home and in peace. She had
job as a milkman and life went on. no idea that eventually she would lead the Sisters in chanting the Lord’s praises, as one of the
Chantresses, for many years to come.
Irene Mary and Mary Rita both attended St. Columbanus
Grade School, taught by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. And From that time onward, her dear parents made a monthly trip by car to visit their beloved
despite the financial hardships the family faced, the two Houle daughter until her Father’s death on January 1, 1967. Her Mother continued to come as often
girls were enrolled in Mercy High School, which had only as she could, but by train. Such love and devotion between parents and daughter are typical
opened in 1924, two years before Irene Mary was born. The for those women who give themselves totally to God. Life in the novitiate was full of
Sisters of Mercy graciously admitted them at a lower rate. Mother, mentor and model surprises and challenges, joys and sorrows, great and small. The large group of lively and
And since the school was within walking distance from home, 09/19/1926 - 04/10/2021 energetic young women provided many instances for the new Postulant to put into practice
a bit of money was saved which would otherwise have been her mother’s advice of earlier years. When she was tempted to complain or criticize she
spent on carfare.
Profession Motto would hear her Mom say, “Don’t scold! After all, you are sisters.” Time passed quickly, and
“I am Who Am, thou art which is not.” soon, postulant Irene Mary received the white habit of St. Dominic and the new name of
Their father was determined that both girls would go to Dialogue, St. Catherine of Siena “Sister Mary of Mercy” on September 25, 1949. The merciful Mother, Our Lady of
college. Once graduated, he said, they could choose whatever Guadalupe, became her special patroness.
career they wished. Even if one of them chose to enter the
Cont. on page 6
4 5
SR. MARY OF MERCY cont. from page 5
2021 ROSARY TRIDUUM - OCTOBER 1- 3
Life was good and as There was some
Sister continued to learn question about her Dear Friends;
more about the faith, the ability to sustain the Some say that, “Holding the rosary is like holding the hand of our Blessed Mother.” This
practice of the virtues continual use of her year again our Rosary Triduum celebration will be simple. However, we trust that our
and the obligations of a eyes in chanting the Mother is reaching out her hand to each of us in these challenging days. So let us grasp
vowed, religious life, her Psalms in the Divine
her out-stretched hand by praying her Rosary together.
desire to spend the rest of Office since she was
her life totally committed born with Nystagmus, a On Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd you are invited to join the Nuns at
to God as a Cloistered condition of involuntary 4:00 PM to pray the Rosary and Evening Prayer of the Divine Office concluding with
Dominican Nun only eye movement that Benediction. On October 3rd, Rosary Sunday, please come to pray the Rosary at
increased. caused, among other 10:30 AM followed by the celebration of Holy Mass and the Blessing of Roses.
Novice Sr. Mary of Mercy pronounced her things, reduced vision. If you are unable to join us, perhaps you can take a few minutes to hold your rosary, pray the Triduum prayer and
First Vows on December 8, 1950, and But no matter, Irene Mary had always been an share your needs and desires with our Mother. Please remember us to her and we will include you in our prayers, too.
Solemn Vows on December 8, 1953. avid reader and would continue to
CLOISTER Any written intentions sent to us will be place in a basket before the Blessed Sacraments in the Nuns’ Choir.
be so up until the last weeks before
Here Eternal Beauty, May our gracious Mother hear the prayers from your hearts and grant them, Sr. Mary Peter & Sisters
Shrine of His throne on earth,
her death. More on that later. Sight
Drawing, compelling, loving; impaired, she made constant use of
All giving; all asking in return. a magnifying glass which she wore
Peace tranquilizing, around her neck so that it was
Joy sense could never share, always handy.
Love agonizing As a young Professed sister,
Till all surrendered, conquered, Sr. Mary of Mercy fulfilled many
Hushed other duties in the community,
Save love, save Love. among them being head of the
See, Eternal Beauty. Altar Bread Department:
Approaching near the vision of His overseeing the baking, cutting,
Face packing and distribution of altar
Not in the light of glory breads to parishes throughout the
Yet in the dawn of faith. EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SWEEPSTAKES
Archdiocese.
Glow of His Beauty
Early on, she was also the Mistress It’s Sweepstakes time again at the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament! The proceeds of this
Seeing and sharing -
of the Lay Sisters, a group of nuns
Mothering Christ, annual event help us to maintain our Monastery and the grounds. They provide us with peace of
Christ in His members - who opted to serve by keeping .
house, cooking and doing other mind in the event that unexpected needs arise. And most importantly they allows us to continue our
Fruit of a heart in labour
Bearing a world to grace. domestic chores. They were a jovial life of intercessory prayer and praise before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Now she was His forever! ! Yet love proves in fruitfulness - bunch and Sister Mary of Mercy
made sure that they had ample time So once again we turn to you, our faithful friends, to support our 2021 Sweepstakes effort.
Her whole life, henceforth, would be And pain the price of birth,
dedicated to singing the Lord’s Since Eve's transgression, Enclosed in this issue of Echoes you will find nine tickets, which we believe the Lord will use, with your
praises in the Divine Office. For daughters of earth help, to make this year’s Sweepstakes a great success.
Interceding for His people by day Pain not of body
Sorrow of spirit As in the past, the grand prize will be $1,000.00. There will be
and by night as she prayed before the
Blessed Sacrament, perpetually Crushed one second prize of $500.00 and five $100.00 prizes for the third place.
exposed in our chapel. A grace-distilling pain
Distilling rain The drawing will take place after our 7:15 AM Mass
Early on, Sister was singled out to be For thirsty souls,
one of the Chantresses of the Souls on Thanksgiving Day
community, meaning that she would For thirsting Spouse. for recreation and fun - with the
lead the Nuns in chanting the Divine Come ye to Me and drink You need not be present or make a donation to be eligible to win,
dog or even when they were peeling
Office by intoning the hymns and Spouse of the Font of Live, vegetables or canning huge loads of but we would really love to have you here.
starting off the Antiphons and Place here an eager mouth peaches or tomatoes that arrived Please, REMEMBER to write, on every ticket, the name, address and phone number of the person
Psalms. A duty she loved and And draw of grace of peace, of love from our friends and benefactors.
embraced with enthusiasm and care But first (Today, many amazing people, like them,
entering the Sweepstakes. You can’t be a winner if your information is not on the ticket drawn!
for many, many years. Singing was A sword. still bless our table with good things!)
prayer in song and pray, she did. Sr. Mary of Mercy, o.p. Sister’s story will be continued in the next Echoes. “We thank our God every time we remember you. ” Philippians 1:3
6 7
echoes is published four times a year for the friends of the Dominican Cloistered
Nuns, Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament, 29575 Middlebelt Road,
Farmington Hills MI 48334-2311
WEB ADDRESS: www.opnuns-fh.org
Donate on-line via PayPal or “Givng”
Prayer Line: 248-626-8253
SEE IN THIS ISSUE:
IN THE CROSSING OF MY ARMS page 1
MOTHER, MENTOR AND MODEL page 4 - 6
You may donate on-line via PayPal at www.opnuns-fh.org and please consider remembering us in your will.
ROSARY TRIDUUM - OCTOBER 1, 2 AND 3
Please join us for Three Days of prayer and petition.
Father of holiness, for the journey
4:00 PM Friday & Saturday - October 1 & 2 we will: of your pilgrim Church on earth,
PRAY THE ROSARY, you have provided the
RECITE THE TRIDUUM PRAYER Virgin Mary as a sign and beacon.
PRAY AND CHANT EVENING PRAYER Through her intercession, hear our
CONCLUDE WITH BENEDICTION petitions, sustain our faith and
enliven our hope, that no
10:30 AM Sunday - October 3 we will: obstacle may divert us from the road
PRAY THE ROSARY, which brings us salvation.
RECITE THE TRIDUUM PRAYER Grant this through Christ Our Lord.
CELEBRATE HOLY MASS Amen.
ROSES WILL BE BLESSED AND DISTRIBUTED
On Friday and Saturday, the Chapel will open from 7:00 AM for 7:15 AM daily Mass * Please unite with us spiritually by praying
the rosary at home if you are
On Sunday, our Chapel will open at 9:00 AM for Mass
unable to be us in our Chapel during
There will be no 7:15 AM Mass on Rosary Sunday. our Rosary Triduum.
The Chapel closes daily at 2:30 PM, reopening at 3:45 PM on Fri. & Sat. for the Rosary Triduum.
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