Holy Simplicity

Saint Francis was zealous with more than usual care to show forth in himself, and he loved in others, holy simplicity, the daughter of grace, the sister of wisdom, the mother of justice.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
CHAPTER CXLII

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Congressman Mike Pence Offers Amendment To De-Fund Planned Parenthood

The Pence Amendment

The Prayer 'Absorbeat'

May the power of your love, O Lord, fiery and sweet as honey, wean my heart form all that is under heaven, so that I may die for love of your love, you who were so good as to die for love of my love.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Attributed to St. Francis by Thomas of Celano in his Second Life of St. Francis
(II Cel., 196: "The love of him," he said, "who loved us so much is to be loved.")

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Observe The Gospel And The Rule

Francis admonished the brothers faithfully to observe the holy Gospel and the Rule to which they had bound themselves; to bear themselves reverently and devoutly towards the services of the Church and all ecclesiastical observances; to hear Mass and adore the Body of the Lord with devotion and worship.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of the Three Companions - 57

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Receiving The Food Which Is God Himself

One day it was raining heavily, and he was riding because of his infirmity and pressing need. And although he was already drenched to the skin, he dismounted from the horse when he wished to say the Hours, and said the Office standing in the road with the rain pouring down on him, as though he had been in a church or cell. And he said to his companion, 'If the body likes to take food in peace and ease, although it becomes food for worms, how much greater should be the soul's reverence and devotion when it receives the food which is God Himself.'

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 94

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What A Man Is Before God, That He Is And No More

Francis used to say the Son of God descended from the sublimity of the Father's bosom to share our misery and become our Lord and Teacher, in order to teach us humility by word and example. Therefore, as Christ's true disciple, he was careful to preserve a low opinion of himself and appear worthless in the eyes of others, keeping in mind the words of the supreme Teacher..."What a man is before God, that he is and no more."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
CHAPTER VI

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Keeping Silence At The Portiuncula

Left to Right: Brother Francis Mary Michael and Fra Giles Mary Christopher

Saint Francis said to the Lesser Brothers concerning the Portiuncula; "Let them do as the old brothers did. This is already a holy place; they preserved its holiness by praying there continually night and day and by observing silence there constantly. And if they sometimes spoke after the time determined for the beginning of silence it was always to converse about God and the salvation of souls with much uplifting fervor"...

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 9

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Man Should Eat The Food Of Angels

Whenever Francis had the opportunity, he went begging on the principal feasts of the year; as he remarked, the words of the Psalmist, "Man should eat the food of angels" (Psalm 77:25) are fulfilled in God's poor, because the bread of angels is that which has been begged for the love of God and given at the inspiration of the angels, and gathered from door to door by holy poverty.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
CHAPTER VII

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Mystic Monk Coffee: Order Through Portiuncula And Donate To Birthright (a loving alternative to Abortion)

Order Mystic Monk Coffee through the Portiuncula Hermitage; ten percent of all their Commission Sales is donated to Birthright (a loving alternative to abortion.)

The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming

Mystic Monk Coffee is roasted by the Carmelite Monks, a Roman Catholic monastery in the silence and solitude of the Rocky Mountains of northern Wyoming. The monks live a hidden life of prayer and contemplation in the pursuit of God. The monastery is inundated with young men who seek to leave everything to pray for the world, in a tradition at least a thousand years old. It is the monks’ great joy and privilege to share the fruit of their life with you in every cup of Mystic Monk Coffee.


The Monk Master Roaster

Br. Java is the master roaster who meticulously roasts beans in small batches. His philosophy is that each roast must be not only the labor of his hands, but a master roast of the highest quality. Br. Java is passionate about obtaining the perfect roasts for you. He carefully roasts only the finest gourmet beans under conditions that will make each roast consistent and smooth with a taste that will make your taste buds tingle. With experience and perfection, Mystic Monk Coffee is a coffee to savor and enjoy – with or without cream.


The Legend of the First Mystic Monk

Coffee is a product perfected and loved by monks from its beginning. When a monk of old heard the anguished tale of a shepherd who had sleepless goats, he himself discovered growing on shrubs the berries, which had such a wonderful affect. Delighted at his find, the ingenious monk boiled the beans in water and drank the resulting coffee. He found in his discovery a hot drink that could keep his eyes awake even amidst the midnight vigils and unceasing prayers of the monastic life.

The secret of coffee continues to keep monks ever alert and vigilant for their prayers, but now Mystic Monk Coffee shares the hidden, master roasts of monks with all who seek a delightful cup of coffee.


Monks are passionate Perfectionists

The monastic life is one of ordered perfection, which you will taste in every bag of Mystic Monk Coffee. Passionate about perfection, no challenge is too great for Br. Java and the monks, if it will result in a Mystic Monk brew suited for the most discriminating coffee drinker. The Carmelite monks have mastered the ancient art of roasting coffee, laboring with steadfast determination to make each cup of coffee simply superb. Taste the monastic perfection in each brew, which makes all the difference.

Please remember that when you buy Mystic Monk Coffee through the Portiuncula Hermitage, ten percent of all their commission sales is donated to Birthright (a loving alternative to abortion.)

Please remember to keep our Pre-born in your daily prayers!


To order direct, simply click on the Mystic Monk Coffee Icon on the Left Side of this page:

The Carmelite Monks tell us, "Our Rule explains that as monks we need to earn our keep by the work of our hands. We were praying about what sort of product most people utilize on a daily basis, and it came to us that everyone needs coffee to start the day. On our side of things, roasting coffee can be very contemplative. It only takes one monk to run the roaster and bag the coffee, so it is very complimentary to our life.

"All the brothers have worked together to perfect the Mystic Monk roasts, from the selection of beans, to the creation of special blends, to the final roasting. We will have many types and flavors of coffee, all available in full one-pound bags. Our selection will include Columbian, Dark Roast, Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Sumatran, Ethiopian, Mexican, Breakfast Blend, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Irish Cream, Carmel, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Raspberry, and Royal Rum Pecan."

Mystic Monk Coffee

The double-handed mug is our special Carmelite mug that we use in the refectory. It is an old custom in Carmel that we drink using two hands as a sign of gratitude for the gifts of food that God provides from our benefactors. Similar mugs, complete with the Mystic Monk logo, will also be available for purchase.

To order direct, simply click on the Mystic Monk Icon on the Left side of this page!

Now this being a Carmelite order and the esteem we hold for Elijah I do wish they had a Zarepath blend. One where the bag of coffee beans never runs out like the flour and oil of the widow of Zarepath, but I guess that wouldn't be a wise business decision. Or possibly a blend based on the brown scapular, though it would be always out of St. Simon Stock.

I am really interested in the Carmel blend they have. Unfortunately they don't have a decaf version, which of course should be called "Carmel Light."

Deep in the hearts of these monks there is a profound loyalty to the Magisterium of the Church. Like their holy parents, St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, they wish to always remain "loyal sons of the Church." They firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church. They will forever remain firmly united to the Holy Father, the Supreme Pontiff and Shepherd of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the Bishops united to him. They are also determined to always remain in loyal obedience to their immediate shepherd, the Bishop of Cheyenne.

"Bean there, done that"...

Plans Begun for Teresa of Avila's 500th Birthday

Carmelites Appoint Commission for Saint's Celebration

ROME, (Zenit.org).- A commission of Discalced Carmelites is already preparing for the celebration of the 5th centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus, which will be celebrated in 2015.

The celebration for the saint, also known as St. Teresa of Avila, will be directed by this commission, which was appointed after an initiative of the order's general chapter.

The Carmelite vicar general, Father Emilio Martínez, will head the commission and will be assisted by Father Alfredo Amesti, a press release on the order's Web page reported.

The executive committee will coordinate various topical sections of activities.

The section for community projects will prepare study aids for each of St. Teresa's books as well as dynamics and activities to help individual, community, and lay reading of these works.

The pastoral projects section will organize activities with a special focus on young people, including the upcoming World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011.

The task of the cultural projects section will be the organization of seminars, conferences and other academic activities in collaboration with the Teresianum College in Rome, the International Teresian-St. John Center of Avila and other Carmelite institutes.

Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was born March 28, 1515 in Avila and died October 4, 1582 in Alba de Tormes. She founded the Discalced Carmelites, a branch of the Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and was a mystic and writer, and a doctor of the Church.

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Only A Small Piece of Bread

O wonderful ascent, O stupendous descent! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity, that the Lord of the Universe, God and Son of God, should so humbly hide himself, for our salvation, in what seems to be only a small piece of bread! Look, then, upon the humility of God! And pour out your hearts before him. Humble yourselves that he might exalt you. Hold back nothing of yourselves, that he may receive your all who gave his all to you.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Letter to the Whole Order

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Let Humanity Kneel In Fear

Let humanity kneel in fear, let the whole universe tremble, and let heaven rejoice when Christ the Son of the Living God is on the altar in the hands of the priest.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Letter to the Whole Order

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O God, My Flesh Faints For You (Psalm 63)

Once when Brother John was staying in the Place of Mogliano of the Custody of Fermo in the Province of the Marches...when he had proceeded as far as the Preface of the Blessed Virgin, the supernatural illumination and sweet consolation of God's love increased so much within him that when he reached the Qui pridie he could hardly endure such overwhelming sweetness. Finally, when he came to the Consecration itself and began to pronounce the words of the Consecration over the Host, he kept repeating the first of the formula - Hoc est - Hoc est - very often, and he was unable to go any further. And the reason why he could not go on was that e felt and saw the presence of Christ and of a throng of angels and saints, so that he almost fainted because of their grandeur which he felt in his soul.

St. Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis - 53

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Moved By True Liberty Of Spirit

When Francis went for alms, he was moved by true liberty of spirit, not by greed, and so God the Father of the poor had special care for him.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
CHAPTER VII

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Join Me at "In His Image" at Oldenburg’s Freudenfest July 17-18

Oldenburg’s Freudenfest to be July 17-18

Oldenburg’s Freudenfest has been described as “the biggest little German festival in Indiana,” reports committee volunteer Paul Selkirk.

“The atmosphere is reminiscent of Octoberfest in Germany,” he admits. “It gets bigger and bigger every year.”

Please drop by "In His Image" Christian Bookstore on Saturday! I will be there helping Eric give out free cups of our "Mystic Monk Coffee."

All the fun happens Friday-Saturday, July 17-18, near the town hall on Pearl Street (please see complete schedule in the box.)

Volun-teer Troy Ilderton encourages people to attend the “fun, family festival .... Many use it as a homecoming and time to visit .... People like to be in Oldenburg because it’s a very scenic place.”

Committee volunteer Karen Enneking is excited about the live auction Friday night. Many items have been donated. She reveals one of the most unique: a dirndl, a German outfit.

Live entertainment is a given. The Cincinnati band Pros’t performs Friday evening. The group “draws a big crowd .... This night used to be just for the locals and workers, but has grown so much over the last few years,” Enneking notes.

On Saturday, two funny guys named Die Doppel Adler Musikanten German Band arrive from Indianapolis, taking the stage several times. Batesville’s popular community ensemble, the Eureka Band, rounds out the sound. Indy’s Die Fledermauchen Tanzgruppe dancers perform twice.

Dinners include roast beef or fried chicken; sauerkraut; German potato salad or mashed potatoes; sausage and sauerkraut; green beans; slaw or applesauce. Lighter fare also is for sale: brats, metts, rib eye, barbecue pork and reuben sandwiches and desserts.

About 10 different imported beers will be available. “They are very popular price-wise and taste-wise,” adds Selkirk.

Athletes can walk, bike and/or jog Saturday. The early morning 10-K is a leisurely stroll through the countryside. Two distances of bike rides are scheduled, with cyclists departing at 8 a.m. Participants should meet in front of the town hall and wear helmets. For the $15 entry fee, they receive a T-shirt. Anyone under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

A free 1-mile fun run for children begins in late afternoon, followed by a 5-kilometer race. The Freudenthon will challenge the most physically fit. To win, one must complete the 10K walk, 20-mile bike ride and 5K and have the best 5K time.

“I applaud anyone who can do all three events on a hot day .... They often go unrecognized,” Enneking announces.

Patrons who want to be part of the Dress for the Fest German Costume Contest are welcome to come prepared as judges will be walking around the fest to determine the winners.

The amateur photo contest is back. Pictures can “be anything at all .... as long as they were taken in or of Oldenburg,” says coordinator Cheryl Webber. They can be any size from 4-by-6 to 8-by-10.

There is a limit of two entries per person. All photos must be turned in by Wednesday, July 16, at 4 p.m. at The Village Store. There is no entry fee.

Please drop by "In His Image" Christian Bookstore on Saturday! I will be helping Eric give out free cups of our "Mystic Monk Coffee."

Read more >>

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Extraordinary Miracles

Because of the extraordinary miracles which highlighted his preaching, the people listened to St. Francis' words as if an angel of God were speaking. The extraordinary degree of virtue he had attained, and his spirit of prophesy; the power of his miracles, together with his divine appointment to preach, and the obedience irrational creatures paid him; the profound change of heart in those who heard him, and the fact that he had been taught by the Holy Spirit without the aid of man, and commissioned to preach by the Supreme Pontiff as a result of a revelation, in addition to the rule in which the approach to preaching is laid down, and which was approved by Christ's Vicar, together with the mark of the Great King which was impressed on his body like a seal - these were all so many testimonies which proclaimed before the whole world that Christ's Francis deserved to be respected because of his office, to be believed because of his teaching, and to be admired for his sanctity, and that therefore he preached Christ's Gospel as a spokesman from God himself.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Bonaventure, Major Life
CHAPTER XII

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Win Both Clergy And People

If you are sons of peace, you will win both clergy and people, and this will be more pleasing to God than if you were to win the people alone and alienate the clergy. Conceal their mistakes and make up for their many defects; and when you have done this, be even more humble than before.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 55

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Hermitages

Not more then three or at most four friars should go together to a hermitage to lead a religious life there. Two of these should act as mothers, with the other two, or the other one, as their children. The mothers are to lead the life of Martha; the other two, the life of Mary Magdalen.

Saint Francis of Assisi
RELIGIOUS LIFE IN HERMITAGES

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'Lesser' Brothers

St. Francis said: "The Lord has called us to awaken the faith and to assist the prelates and clerics of our holy Mother the Church. Likewise, we are bound, to the extent possible, to love them always, to honor and venerate them. The brothers, as a matter of fact, are called 'lesser' because they must remain very humble with regard to all the men of this world, humble in all their behavior and by their example, as well as by their name"...

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 15

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To My Grandsons Will and Luke Pulskamp

BE NOT AFRAID !

St. Bonaventure Sermon of October 4th, 1255

The Lord was pleased to endorse and to confirm the teaching and Rule of St. Francis, not only by miraculous signs, but also by the marks of his own stigmata, so that no true believer could possibly question them on external or internal evidence. And in his goodness God was pleased to affix his own seal to the Rule and teaching of St. Francis, who would never have presumed to teach or write anything other than what he received from the Lord. As he himself testifies, it was God who revealed to him the entire Rule.

Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Bonaventure's Sermon of October 4th, 1255

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Feast Day of St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

St. Bonaventure

Monday, July 15 is the feast day of St. Bonaventure. A Doctor of the Church and a Franciscan Friar, St. Bonaventure had an eventful life. He was a theologian and a philosopher from Bagnoregio (Italy). Born in 1221, he died on July 15, 1274 in Lyons (France). His full Christian name was Giovanni di Fidanza. A mystery arises surrounding Giovanni’s name change to Bonaventure. We have no definitive solution to this query, but we do have a legend that emphasizes Franciscan continuity.

St. Francis of Assisi

It is said that when Giovanni di Fidanza was a baby he was very sick. Desparate to save their child, Giovanni’s parents brought him to Francis of Assisi who uttered the exclamation, “O buona ventura” or “Oh, good fortune.” Thus cured through the interecession of Francis of Assisi, Giovanni became Bonaventure.

Bagnoregio

Although the above story cannot be proved, it works very well on an inspirational level. The Conventual Franciscans today do their best to reflect the Franciscan way of life in everything that they do. They refer to Francis and all other friars not as a historical figures from the near or distant past, but as brothers who are alive and with God today. This sense of connection through time strongly suggests a respect for history. By remembering the past, Franciscans try to learn from it, always keeping in mind their vocation to serve God by serving their communities.

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The Blessed Sacrament

Our Lord Jesus told his disciples, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. If you had known me, you would also have known my Father. And henceforth you do know him, and you have seen him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been so long a time with you, and you have not known me? Philip, he who sees me sees also the Father (John 13: 6-9).

...It is the Most High himself who has told us, This is my Body and Blood of the new covenant (Mark 14: 22-24), and, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting (John 6:55).

Saint Francis of Assisi
THE ADMONITIONS
Admonition I

Please Help Build The Portiuncula Chapel

Above photo is of the Portiuncula Chapel at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

To duplicate this Chapel, the Portiuncula Hermitage needs to raise $120,000

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It's times like these that tempt Catholics to throw in the towel and give up on the culture of despair.

Greed and corruption have wreaked havoc on our nation's economy. Euthanasia just received Washington State's stamp of approval. And all the pro-life victories of the past decade are now in jeopardy. It's the perfect storm for despair. But despair is the last thing we should do.

In troubled times, Christ calls us to pray, to trust in his perfect will, and to cooperate with his grace.

Ultimately, Christ calls us to hope. He calls us to remember that for Christians, peace does not rest on who wins an election or on the value of our stock portfolios, but in a loving God who “in everything...works for good.”

Of course, God doesn't just call us to hope. He gives us reasons to hope and signs of the good things to come.

I truly believe one of those reasons, one of those signs, is the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center.

While many other Catholic institutions have sold out to the culture of death, the Portiuncula, along with a few others, has fought steadfastly for a culture of life. It has faithfully stood alongside the Church, forming men and women capable of true leadership and committed to bringing Christ to the culture.

But the "Portiuncula Chapel" can't be built alone. To continue building, we need your help! And that is why I'm writing you today: To invite you to join me in helping our culture through these troubled times by helping build the Portiuncula Chapel.

United in the Roman Catholic tradition and obedient to the Magisterium of the Church and the Bishop of Steubenville, we are committed to our Lord and Savior in the Scriptures, the Eucharist, the Sacraments of the Church and in our Brothers and Sisters.

With God's grace and your help, I believe past Portiuncula retreatants and those soon to follow in their footsteps will lead our culture and our country out of these troubled times.

That is why I invite you to share the work of these Catholics and the Portiuncula Hermitage that is forming them.

First, allow them to pray for you.

Prayer is the lifeblood of the Portiuncula Hermitage, and the Franciscan family would be honored to include you in their prayers. Please e-mail your most pressing intentions to: dicksoncorp@parallax.ws

Everyone at the Portiuncula will pray for your intentions before the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and at Mass.

In turn, please pray for the Portiuncula, that it might continue to form leaders who can be salt and light to our world.

Finally, I would be grateful if you supported the work of building the Portiuncula Chapel with a generous financial contribution.

Your support of the Portiuncula will make it possible for the sons and daughters of the Church to grow in faith during their retreats, and become the courageous Catholic leaders the world desperately needs.

Today, I want to challenge you to become a partner in the Portiuncula's mission to build the Portiuncula Chapel by donating $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, or more.

PORTIUNCULA FRANCISCAN HERMITAGE/RETREAT CENTER

ON LINE DONATION

Please, become a part of the Portiuncula Hermitage's work today. Don't let this chance to turn the culture around pass you by.

Pax Et Bonum!

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Who or What Is The Wolf In Your Life?

When a very large crowd had gathered, St. Francis gave them a wonderful sermon, saying among other things that such calamities were permitted by God because of their sins, and how the consuming fire of hell by which the damned have to be devoured for all eternity is much more dangerous than the raging of a wolf which can kill nothing but the body, and how much more they should fear to be plunged into hell, since one little animal could keep so great a crowd in such a state of terror and trembling.

"So, dear people," he said, "come back to the Lord, and do fitting penance, and God will free you from the wolf in this world and from the devouring fire of hell in the next world."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis - 21

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Honor And Glory Are To Be Given To God Alone

When blessed Francis was praised and called a saint, he used to answer such comments by saying: 'I am not as yet so secure that I might not have sons and daughters! For if at any time the Lord were to deprive me of the treasure that He has entrusted to me, what would remain to me but a body and a soul, and even unbelievers have this? In fact, I am quite sure that if the Lord had granted a thief or an unbeliever as many great gifts as He has to me, they would have been more faithful to Him than I. For in a picture of our Lord and the Blessed Virgin painted on wood, it is the Lord and the Blessed Virgin who receive honor, while the wood and the painting claim nothing for themselves; in the same way the servant of God is a kind of picture of God, in whom God is honored for His favor. But he may not claim any credit for himself, for in comparison with God he is less than the wood and the painting; indeed, he is nothing at all. Honour and glory are to be given to God alone; but to a man himself nothing but shame and sorrow as long as he lives amid the miseries of this world.'

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 45

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Mystic Monk Coffee: Order Through Portiuncula And Donate To Birthright (a loving alternative to Abortion)

Fra Chris

The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming

Mystic Monk Coffee is roasted by the Carmelite Monks, a Roman Catholic monastery in the silence and solitude of the Rocky Mountains of northern Wyoming. The monks live a hidden life of prayer and contemplation in the pursuit of God. The monastery is inundated with young men who seek to leave everything to pray for the world, in a tradition at least a thousand years old. It is the monks’ great joy and privilege to share the fruit of their life with you in every cup of Mystic Monk Coffee.


The Monk Master Roaster

Br. Java is the master roaster who meticulously roasts beans in small batches. His philosophy is that each roast must be not only the labor of his hands, but a master roast of the highest quality. Br. Java is passionate about obtaining the perfect roasts for you. He carefully roasts only the finest gourmet beans under conditions that will make each roast consistent and smooth with a taste that will make your taste buds tingle. With experience and perfection, Mystic Monk Coffee is a coffee to savor and enjoy – with or without cream.


The Legend of the First Mystic Monk

Coffee is a product perfected and loved by monks from its beginning. When a monk of old heard the anguished tale of a shepherd who had sleepless goats, he himself discovered growing on shrubs the berries, which had such a wonderful affect. Delighted at his find, the ingenious monk boiled the beans in water and drank the resulting coffee. He found in his discovery a hot drink that could keep his eyes awake even amidst the midnight vigils and unceasing prayers of the monastic life.

The secret of coffee continues to keep monks ever alert and vigilant for their prayers, but now Mystic Monk Coffee shares the hidden, master roasts of monks with all who seek a delightful cup of coffee.


Monks are passionate Perfectionists

The monastic life is one of ordered perfection, which you will taste in every bag of Mystic Monk Coffee. Passionate about perfection, no challenge is too great for Br. Java and the monks, if it will result in a Mystic Monk brew suited for the most discriminating coffee drinker. The Carmelite monks have mastered the ancient art of roasting coffee, laboring with steadfast determination to make each cup of coffee simply superb. Taste the monastic perfection in each brew, which makes all the difference.

Please remember that when you buy Mystic Monk Coffee through the Portiuncula Hermitage, ten percent of all their commission sales is donated to Birthright (a loving alternative to abortion.)

Please remember to keep our pre-born in your daily prayers!

To order direct, simply click on the Mystic Monk Coffee Icon on the Left Side of this page:

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The Bread We Beg Is Holy Bread

The bread we beg is holy bread. It is made holy by our praise and love of God. When a Lesser Brother goes begging, his first words are, "Praised and blessed be the Lord our God," and then, "Give us alms for the love of the Lord our God."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 61

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Offer The People God's Love In Exchange For Alms

"...you trust more in files than in God." For Saint Francis called money flies. "Go," he said, "to the houses you visited and offering God's love in place of money, beg humbly for an alms. Do not be ashamed, for all things have been given to us as an alms after sin, and the great Almsgiver bestows his gifts with loving kindness to the worthy and the unworthy."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
CHAPTER XLVII

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Insignificant and Unbalanced

Have no fear of being thought insignificant or unbalanced, but preach repentance with courage and simplicity.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 36

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