The Former Nun Who Killed Herself

Only if she just became patient, I know this would not happen.

Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers entered the monastery in 1959. In religion, her name was Sr. Luc-Gabriel, and she was well known in the monastery for her artistic talent (painting, singing, etc.) Before she entered the monastery she was an art teacher. In 1961, encouraged by her fellow sisters, she recorded the song "Dominique". As far as I know, it is the only #1 Belgian song in the USA. She was known to many as Soeur Sourire - Sister Smile. She even had the chance to be at Ed Sullivan's Show. Her popularity rose.

But in 1967, she left the monastery to live as a lay woman. If I am not mistaken, she became a Third Order Dominican.

There were several reasons presented why she left: she's tired of monastic life since it's very outdated, she's very unhappy with the changes brought by the Vatican II, she wanted to make more money, and many others. Philips, her producer, got her money. You might encounter that her earnings went to the convent too. This is because of her vow of poverty.

She left the monastery and became a church-rebel: even to the point of writing the song, "Glory to God for the Golden Pill". She even supported ideas of married Roman Catholic priests (I read that she said before, I may even marry a Dominican and we'll have Dominican babies), of the remark of John Lennon (We're more famous than Jesus now.)

Outside the monastery, she wasn't very successful. She seemed to fail. She cannot use the name Soeur Sourire because of copyright issues with the recording company. She used the name Luc Dominique instead, but the world looked for the Soeur Sourire in black and white habit.

She continued to go down, together with her alcohol addictions, depression, as the Belgian government chased her, telling her she owed them US$63,000. Together with Annie Pecher, her lover, she wrote, "We are at the end - both financially and morally. We have no ideals anymore, only God. But that does not make us sick. We return to the Lord,"

They killed themselves on March 1985 through drug overdose (barbiturates), not knowing that Jeannine will receive that day US$300,000 for royalties.

Patience is really a virtue. I hope all us will learn from her story.

I'll Be Back

Promise!

Contemplation

Contemplative prayer is nothing else than a close sharing between friends." - St. Teresa of Avila

I am now in search for a contemplative music for our prayer gatherings. I found the Taize music at youtube.com and I find it very interesting, though I am quite not sure if the members of our prayer group would appreciate it.

I found this link. It's about preparing a welcoming place for meditative prayer. I find this very helpful. We got to save some money to but some vigil candles. They're not costly anyway, and it would really make our prayer hall conducive to prayer and contemplation

Geesh! I'm getting excited with the candles!

Prayers for the Victims of the Storm

I never thought that the storm would bring severe damages to our country.

I made a storm watch with the PAGASA's Official website because I was hoping that the rain would stop. We're supposed to have a prayer meeting yesterday. It was 7am. 12pm came and the rain didn't stop. We had to postpone our meeting and reschedule it next week.

I had a slight flu and colds yesterday.

Then I heard over the news the damages done by the storm. I can't believe it! When we were still living in Malabon near a river, that didn't happen to us. How come highly industrialized places would sink? We sense that a fraud hero contributed much to the damages.

Lipa was spared from damages. Some of my documents got wet but we're safe.

Tomorrow we'll have no classes.

When the Customer is NOT Right

She threw the plate to the waitress.

Yes, this is true. A lady saw a fly on her plate of rice. She called the waitress and threw the plate to the waitress. She was shouting at the food court this afternoon at SM City Lipa.

I was with my friends and were talking about it as it happened. The old lady seems to be very rich, but has no MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE.

She kept on shouting even a new plate is given. She asked for the manager, then for the guards. She was then escorted to the office. I don't know what happened next, but what I know is that the lady didn''t exercise her right as a consumer. She abused it.

I will always remember the rich lady in my prayers.

Grace to Love God

Wake up, then prepare for school.

Eat break fast then go to school.

After an hour of travel, wait for another hour for your professor who will not show up.

Then go home.

Then do assignments, if there are assignments.

Then rest. Then eat. Then sleep.

Then repeat them five times.

I always wish it is Saturday.

But I know if I will let God take charge of my day, everything will be new to me everyday! Then my life will be very exciting!

I am just glad that yesterday's homily was about the role of the laity.That gave me strength. A lay person meets a lot of challenges because he is in the world but he is not of the world - and the world tries to destroy him.

The priest encouraged us to pray every morning, "Lord, grant me the grace to love You as much as I can!"

Let me try that prayer tomorrow and I am going to watch for the results! I am excited!

I Thirst

Give me silence. I will be very happy!

Give me solitude. I will be really happy!

Then, let me pray alone. Let me seek the presence of my God. I will be in ecstasy!

Let me be at peace. Let me leave everything!

RIP Mary Travers

Mary Allin Travers, the "Mary" of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, died last September 16, 2009 due to complications from chemotherapy, following treatment for leukemia.

For more info, click HERE.

Lady of All Nations - Hoax?

I found the letter just now. Copies of the letter were given out last September 12, 2009, at the 6th National Pilgrimage to Lipa:

September 12, 2009

Dear Fellow Devotees of Mary Mediatrix,

I would like to express my profound sadness at the attempt to use the annual pilgrimage to Lipa to promote the false apparitions of the "Lady of All Nations".

Many devotees came to venerate the Mediatrix of All Grace and Mary Mediatrix ONLY, and not some weird manifestation claiming to be the Blessed Mother.

The "Lady of All Nations" is a sacrilegious caricature of Mary Mediatrix and deserves the fullest condemnation of Marian devotees as this false apparition has already been condemned of Marian devotees as this false apparition has already been condemned not only once but several times by ecclesiastical authorities in Holland and in Rome date May 7, 1956, March 13, 1957, August 25, 1961, June 27, 1974 and May 20, 2005.

I call on all devotees of the Mediatrix of All Grace to continue venerating and to focus on Mary under that title that She herself came to give us in Lipa in 1948 and to promote the Mediatrix not only in the Philippines but to the whole world.

Lipa Carmel is sacred ground for it is the place chosen by Heaven to manifest Mary Mediatrix of All Grace to the entire world. Let us not allow heresy, blasphemy and sacrilege to pollute Lipa Carmel or taint authentic devotion to Mary Mediatrix with the false messages of the "Lady of All Nations".

Let us not fall for this snare of satan that is laid as a trap for us to mess up true devotion to the real Mary Mediatrix, She who appeared in 1948 in our beloved country and not in Amsterdam.

Signed
William Lorenzo
1763 Dumas St.,
Makati City 1204

Personally, I cannot understand why was the Lady of All Nations included in the National Pilgrimage. I am quite unsure if I should believe in the authenticity of the Lady of All Nations. But I have no rights to judge, because I do not know the story, the proposed dogma, etc. and I don't want to bash any statues of Mary in front of a crucifix. One time I may spend time "studying" the Amsterdam apparitions.

Solitude

I am alone here in our home. My brothers and sister are in school. Our youngest brother is supposed to be here after lunch, but it's 4pm, he's not yet here. He's with our aunt. Maybe they are trapped because of the rain.

Yes, it rains! How I love rainy days! But I hate too much rain.

I love to sleep on a rainy night, then when the rain stops, you'll hear the croaks of the frogs. I find this very beautiful and sweet. This shows to me the beauty of God and I enjoy everything He created.

"The other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help him in attaining the end for which he is created."

Just read this: "If in order to serve and praise God our Lord one withdraws from numerous friends and acquaintances, and from many occupations not undertaken with a pure intention, he gains no little merit before the Divine Majesty."

I should have read this before! This will help our Companion group in our formation meetings! I got to share this to the group!

We're going to the Mass tomorrow at Lipa Carmel. It is a part of the National Pilgrimage for this year. It's so great that God placed us in Lipa! We can go there without any problems!

If God wills it, it will happen! Japs, a few days ago, told me that he cannot join me in the National Day of Prayer (the Pilgrimage) this Saturday. He has a "make-up" class for one of his subjects. That discouraged me to go. But I feel the Lord wants us to go. Japs informed me yesterday that he can go, because the make-up class was postponed. See?

Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy your rest! Reserve your energies for the next week!

God loves us. God bless you.