O King of glory,... You have ascended triumphantly into heaven! Do not leave us orphans, but send upon us the Promise of the Father, the Spirit of Truth, alleluia!

Dear Friends of Carmel,

As many of you already know, our happiest news is the Final Profession and Veiling of one of our young novices. We present a few photographs of the day to share a little of that joy with you. The religious habit and veil in our days often raises questions. Although there is a definite "return to tradition" in the Church and among her religious orders, the habit is not that often seen. "Why a veil?" is a frequent query.

The Catholic Encyclopedia acquaints us with a bit of the historical basis and reasoning behind the wearing of the veil by consecrated Religious women. We learn that in ancient Rome, a red veil, or a veil with red stripes, distinguished the newly-married women from the unmarried; so it was actually the married woman who wore a veil, to reveal to the world her status of belonging to one man. From the earliest times, Christ was represented to the Christian virgin as a husband, the only person, according to St. Paul (Corinthians 7:34) she had to think of, live for and please.

It was natural that the bride of Christ should adopt the veil, which thus symbolized not only the purity but also the inviolable fidelity to Christ which was to be reverenced in her. "The taking of the veil then suggested an obligation of constancy." In our own Veiling Ceremony, after the veil is blessed, the Sister sings this phrase from Psalm 118: "Accept me, Lord, according to Your word, and I shall live; and do not confound me of my hope."

And the celebrant, the bishop or priest who gives the veil, answers, "Receive the sacred veil, the symbol of modesty and reverence; and may you so ever carry it to the tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may possess life everlasting and may live forever and ever. Amen." It is worthy to note that the white veil of the novice is not blessed, only the black veil of Perpetual Profession; and it is the custom for us reverently to kiss our veil each time we put it on, the constant reminder of loving gratitude for our holy vocation of belonging only to Christ!

Our thoughts and prayers have been with the many towns and families who have been experiencing hardships because of the nation's violent spring weather. God protect them and help them recover! Spring came very slowly to Carmel this year, and at times, it seemed it might never come! After a snowy Easter, a few days of warmth gave over to cold again.

We had snow and frost well into May. But it worked surprisingly in our favor, for here at the altitude of 7000 feet, trees, flowering shrubs and perennials were preserved, blooming later but marvelously now in early June. We heard from friends and family who live in town, 1000 feet lower, that the warm spells brought out the leaves and buds earlier and the cold and frosty late April and early May ruined the blossoming.

We have been enjoying the loveliest lilacs ever since planting them some years ago around the new part of the monastery. Some good friends of the Carmel donated two cold frames for raised garden beds, so we are trying a few herbs and vegetables again. So far, so good! Although the nights are still quite cool for June, the plants are cozy and growing...

We should have lettuce by the end of June! We will let you know what comes of this little farming venture. Over these many years, both the short growing season at 7000 ft. and lack of time have made us unable to keep up a vegetable garden.

But we are assured that the cold frames, which are like small greenhouses, extend the growing season and should not take much time, since weeds will be minimal. We are just hoping that the rabbits around here keep their distance from the plants!