Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of St. Jude
As Dominican nuns of our monastery at Marbury, we give ourselves totally to Jesus through Mary for the salvation of souls in the living out of our Dominican contemplative vocation. Our Holy Father St. Dominic founded the cloistered nuns first, even before the preaching friars, because he knew the importance of a life of prayer and penance to call down graces for souls. Zeal for souls is the marrow of our interior life, in imitation of Our Lord: as the Lord Jesus offered Himself completely for our salvation, both the friars and the nuns consider themselves to be truly His members when they are spending themselves totally for souls. While the friars, sisters, and laity of the Order are to preach the name of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world, the nuns are to seek, ponder and call upon Him in secret so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty, but may accomplish those things for which it was sent (cf. Is. 55:10).
The observances of the traditional monastic life, especially papal enclosure and monastic silence, foster in our souls that "good soil" for the Word, enabling our life together in Sisterly charity to be an example of the reconciliation of all things in Christ that our brethren proclaim in their preaching. The solemn celebration of the liturgy is the heart of our life and the chief source of its unity: daily the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the seven hours of the Divine Office unite us with the mysteries of Christ throughout the liturgical year, as we sing God's praise with the voice of His Spouse, the Church. We treasure especially our Dominican liturgical tradition, using Latin chant at Holy Mass and the Office along with English. Through lectio divina and private prayer, we continue to savor the Word of God and contemplate Christ Crucified, putting on more and more each day the mind of Christ. Study of sacred truth, a particularly Dominican element, also lifts our mind to God and helps balance our life of community, liturgical and private prayer, and household work.
In the privilege of having all-day Eucharistic Adoration and Perpetual Rosary, our life is truly ordered to the continual remembrance of God, and we perpetuate the special charism our Holy Father Dominic had of bearing the downtrodden and afflicted in the inmost sanctuary of his compassion. Throughout the day each Sister takes an Hour of Guard praying the Rosary before the Eucharistic Jesus exposed for Adoration, at the feet of Our Lady's statue, meditating on all the mysteries of Jesus' life through the eyes of His Blessed Mother, and bringing before Him through her intercession all the needs of the world and the intentions that have been entrusted to our prayers. Our community life is distinctively Marian as we love her, imitate her virtues, and entrust ourselves to her through St. Louis Marie de Montfort's Total Consecration. In this way we become more conformed to Jesus, our Spouse, and our hidden life of growth in charity becomes mysteriously fruitful for the growth of the people of God.
We invite those interested in our life to come for an individual visit or group Vocation Retreat.
Contact:
Sr. Mary of the Precious Blood, O.P.
Vocation Directress / Novice Mistress
143 County Road 20 East
Marbury, AL 36051
205-755-1322
vocations@marburydominicannuns.org
MarburyDominicanNuns.org
Professed Members: 7 Solemnly Professed (not including Sisters in formation)
Year Founded: 1944
Federation: Federation of Our Lady of the Rosary
Diocese: Mobile, AL
Qualifications: Single Catholic young women with good mental and physical health, able to live the close community life of the cloister and the solitude of the contemplative life. A love of the Catholic Faith and thirst for Truth, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady, desire to give one's life for God and souls, a basic ability to sing, and a good sense of humor are positive indications. High school education is required; college or work experience can be helpful.
Formation: Aspirancy of one year with the community, including a month-long visit inside the cloister; Postulancy of one year; Novitiate of two years; Temporary Vows for five years.
Age range/limit: 18-late 20s
Belated vocations? No