A winter retreat with the communion of saints.

Can you see the robin near the roof?  
He's all puffed to stay warm beside the Abbey.

Two lovely ladies who are praying with the saints daily, Jane and Sr. Magdalena in the Abbey Church of Ste-Marie.

 After Sunday Mass (Latin with French readings and homily). Dom Charles (centre) is fluent in four languages and the nuns sing the propers with harp and organ accompaniament at the abbey of Ste-Marie-des-Deux Montagnes, Quebec.

And the picture would not be complete without my friend, Sr. Louise, sacristan and icon painter.

After our visit to the abbey, off to Montreal before heading home. But first, Jane had to "save some money" at The Bay.

 A view of the Anglican cathedral just near the Hudson's Bay Company flag-ship store. Naturally, we found a Baldwin ancestor of Jane's commemorated there along with Bishop Mountain and many of "the usual suspects."

  On our way to Schwartz's Deli we made a quick stop at the old Anglo-Catholic shrine church of Montreal - St. John the Evangelist. Sadly, locked up. 

It would make a great Ordinariate parish. 😉

Walking to Old Montreal.

Going to Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Montreal - magnificent!

             Even the chapel built after the 1970's fire is stunning 

if not so traditional. The "Trinity" reredos is very moving.

St. Patrick's, Montreal -- home of the 

Irish Catholic immigrants.

Close to Old Montreal is the beautiful St. Patrick's Basilica.  Carved wood in this magnificent church is second to none.  What caught my attention and my prayers this time were the seemingly endless mosaics depicting the saints - Biblical, Patristic, Celtic, Medieval, and Modern.  

Here are some that especially caught our attention and some of our votive candles.

 St Elizabeth Seton is commemorated on Jan. 4 

(our daughter Annie's birthday).

 Some other great lady saints.

 Many of my favourite saints are commemorated there along with relics of literally hundreds of saints.  Here are St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (2nd from left), foundress of women's education in Canada, amongst o others.  In the Reconciliation Chapel, just by the Confessionals, is a cabinet with relics of saints from all over the world.

 These Jesuit saints are in an alcove at the back and a little hard to photograph -- some did actually lose their heads as martyrs of the faith.

All these saints can make one hungry.

 A lovely little Chinese restaurant - La Maison VIP -  on a back street near old Montreal where we visited the 
Basilica Notre-Dame-de-Montreal 
and 
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de -Bon-Secours 

(the shrine of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys) 

Ste-Marie-Reine-du-Monde 

is the city's cathedral which makes a trifecta for our Lady in the city that was originally called (of course) Ville Marie!

Back to the saints at St. Parick's . . .

 An interesting grouping including our own Mohawk sister,

St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

 And there he is . . . our parish patron, St. Thomas More 

with St. Winefred.

 No enlisting saints for prayer would be complete without "The Little Flower."

 Of course, St. Andre of Montreal (Brother Andre), 

St. J.B. de la Salle and St. Vincent de Paul 

(our host parish patron).

 And finally . . .

Before leaving, a great dinner at Bonaparte Auberge. 

He was no saint, but the food is terrific.