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Dear Abbot Michael,

It can indeed be the official avatar . . .

All ICCBF members should have it as their identity badge here!

Alex

I like it. Actually, I like it better than the usual Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I haven't selected an avatar for myself - no offense, but I have thought them to be a bit dorky. I have it fixed in my mind that the Administrator is wild-eyed, has unmanageable hair, and looks like John the Baptist.

My Brother Alex,
Thank you and the Administrator for being so generous. How?
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Dear Abbot Michael,

Just e-mail this request directly to the Administrator and our other Carmelite members can do the same.

I got this off of the Carmelnet site.

Alex

Dear Administrator,
I am writing to ask permission to use the Avatar Alex is using as the Official Avatar for the ICCBF.
Thanks and may Our Lady of Mt. Carmel bless you and the BF.
Pray without ceasing ...MIchael

Brother Alex,
I haven't received official word from the Administrator, yet. Why doed my avatar take up so much more room than yours? I took it of the same site. Another question: Will the Aministrator limit the Official Avatar to ICCBF use, do you think.
Pray without ceasing....MIchael ICCBF

Dear Abbot Michael,

Actually, I like the size of yours better!!

But you can ask the Administrator to lessen its size.

He will do as we respectfully ask him, as long as we don't offend any bishops, churches, or the Orthodox! (Or anyone else, for that matter).

The Administrator is someone who is deeply committed to Jesus Christ through the Most Holy Mother of God, as we can all gather from his posts!

Alex

Brother Alex,
Actually, I like the larger Avata, also. If it doesn't take too much space I'll leave it.

I love, respect and pray for all bishops, churches, Orthodox and especially Byzantine.

Brother James if you see this post you are welcome to use the Official Avatar if you wish, providing approval of the Administrator.

With zeal am I zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,
Michael ICCBF

Dear Abbot Michael,

It would even be appropriate that our ICCBF Abbot have a larger avatar!

I understand that Benedictine priests have a Benedictine Cross that is 3 inches long, but the Abbots have one that is 6-8 inches long.

And I have both at home!

Alex

Dear Brother Alex,
I am not going to be envious.... but I envy you . The one I wear every day is a three inch.

I will do what ever you and James decide since there are just the three of us, so fa.

Pray without ceasing....Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

As I understand it, the Latin tradition was to wear a three-in Crucifix on a 30 inch chain - 33 for the 33 years our Lord lived on earth.

And mine is like that . . .

A beautiful tradition!

Alex

Dear Brother Alex,
Sounds like mine. Although I did recently replace the crucifix I had used from my day as a Master of Formation with the new (at least for me) with a 3 in Crucifix with a St. Benedict medal actually set into the cross beam behind the Corpus.

Most of us wore a three in crucifix on the outside and a Brown Scapular on the inside. Some souls are rather timid when it comes to such, though.

BTW, I had to stumble onto Tammy's site by accident. You shouldn't keep such secrets.
I've got to try the "Publican"!
Pray without ceasing.

With zeal am I zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.
Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

Yes, those are the ones (ie. with the St Benedict medal) that I have.

The Eastern Church generally advises laity to wear their Crosses (and they can be large ones) under their clothing.

In the Slavonic Churches, the pectoral Cross is the mark of every priest (rather than the bishop, as in the West) and our bishops wear "Panaghia" or "All Holy" i.e. a medallion of the Mother of God as a symbol of their episcopal rank.

I sat next to our bishop two weeks ago and he showed me his medallion that he said Pope John Paul II had held in his hands a few months before.

Alex

Dear Abbot Michael,

Could you share what particular style of scapular you have and where one could obtain a similar one?

Alex

Brother Alex,
Mine are made of dark brown, heavy cloth 6 X 9 in. with about a half inch straps. I think either Darien's scapular shop or the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Niagra Fall has something called "daily wear scapulars" that are larger than the small ones. My wife made mine years ago.
Of course, some souls prefer the medal. Mine have no picture or decoration.

A lucky soul, indeed, to have something held by John Paul the Great. Should be a relic soon.

Going...more thunder and lightning ...Michael