THE SISTERS BY THE SEA…..continued.
I have been watching the weather all morning. It is cloudy and a rain shower starts as I am taking photos. So I run up the stairs and try the door to the Chapel. It is open and I shelter inside until the rain stops. I am really not sure I am allowed in here, but I take one quick shot before I step outside.
Later I find that there is Mass open to the public every morning except Saturday .
Now I head to the north side of the monastery and am totally wowed by the architecture and the plantings.
The rhododendron is in bloom as are the roses and the wisteria vines are loaded with blooms.
The view from the monastery toward the ocean is breath-taking.
Continuing around I find a wonderful little shrine .
When I post this photo on flickr, my contacts tell me that she is Our Lady of Guadalupe.. of the Flowers.
They also give me a link to a site that explains :
“she made a request for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested her for a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question to the Church’s local Bishop, and sent her native messenger to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assortment of roses for the Bishop.”
This is so appropriate for she is located in a rose garden that the Nuns have planted here in remembrance of nuns who are now deceased.
“One hour in the morning and one in the evening is spent in personal prayer.Spiritual reading in silence and solitude nourishes our prayer. Through study of the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, they come to a deeper knowledge of Christ. The daily schedule affords time for prayer and work in solitude as well as time for communal prayer and sisterly sharing at recreation.”
Bookmark of St. Teresa of Avila
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing affright you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patient endurance attains all things.
God alone suffices.
Carmelite Monastery
27601 Highway 1
Carmel, CA 93923
(831) 624-3043
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Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea 
Such fantastic photos! Pure poetry!
Just Awesome