Happy Feast! And Our First YouTube Appearance...

Icon by the hand of Sr. Julie

O awesome beauty, you are the true prophetic fulfillment for all the faithful.  You are the glory of the apostles and the joy of the martyrs, the pride of virgins and a wondrous protection for the whole world.  O Lady, with the mantle of your mercy, protect our Church and all the people who sing out to you: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, and through you He grants great mercy to the world.  (Stichera from Vespers for the Feast)

Happy Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God!  We also have to mention the feast day of one of our favorite saints...St. Therese! :)  I think the two feasts coincide beautifully, especially in the third reading for Vespers: "Let whoever is simple turn in here" (Proverbs 9).

Below is a video of ourselves that we found on YouTube!  A woman from the website ClevelandPeople.com went around the vocation tent at the Fest (August 8, 2010) asking members of the religious communities if she could record them praying their favorite prayer.  So we sang "It is Truly Proper."  I don't think it is our best singing voice, but we thought we would share it with you anyway!