Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey is located just off US 52 and Abbey Hill Lane. Unlike Hershey's where its costs 5 dollars for a parking space, there are only a few places to park and there are no tour guides waiting or gigantic roller coasters. The candy factory isn't open to the general public, but this shouldn't discourage tourists from making a pilgramage to this holy place. Because what you realize when you enter the monestary is the love these sisters have placed in the Abbey and the simplistic, daily-ritual of living the nuns have been called to serve.

Sister Regina who I first met in the gift shop was one of 13 nuns who started this new abbey in 1964. The reason the monestary sends 13 nuns is because Jeusus had 12 Disciples during His service to teach the word of God. Sister Regina's original monestary was Wrentham, Massachusetts and the reason she was called to Mississippi was because there were over 70 sisters living at Mt. St. Mary Abbey and it was time to create a new foundation.

This isn't an easy task because sisters make a solemn vow to live in one communal monestary their entire life. While this may appear counter-cultural, the sisters believe it isn't because they aren't sacrificing one life in deciding the life they have been chosen for. Rather, monastic living is considered a community of persons who live a life of solitude in divine worship of God while supporting the needs of each other as a community of workers.

The sisters rise at 3:30 a.m. and hold prayer vigils at 3:45 a.m. Prayer is held 7 times a day in between working at the candy factory or organic farming 550 acres. As Trappistines, the nuns follow a religious order that dates back over 1500 years and was amended in 1980.

Sister Regina offered me The 1980 Rule of St. Benedict to read. When I noticed some Holy Cards for sale at the gift shop, I told Sister that we received Holy Cards like this from our nuns as a reward for doing something good in school. I told Sister that we were able to use the Holy Cards as a "get-out-of-jail" pass whenever Mom caught us doing something wrong. We'd hand Mom a Holy Card and were given a reprieve for the heinous crime. Sister offered me a handful of Holy Cards (hopefully not because she sensed I was amiss for a wrongdoing).

Sister Regina was very kind and a patient listener. She and I bonded well and near the end of my visit she said, "God is strong within you. I can feel His spirit." It was what I needed to hear. In truth, though I am surrounded by thousands of children during my speaking engagements most of my time is spent alone in hotels. Perhaps this is the connection Sister and I felt for each other. She and I are living lives of isolation and yet our desire and commitment remain strong. Our beliefs are in serving as we believe we have been called to do.

Sister invited me to Midday Prayer service. The religious prayers were sang in psalm and helped to renew my spirit after a tenuous and grueling book tour schedule. Abbey Church was designed simply with no ornate glass-stained windows. The altar was built from stone and the crucifix was very simple in its wooden design. A brass urn carried a single flame in remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrament to mankind.

Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey is a place of worship, a place of healing, and a place of spiritual peace. You feel God's love in all the nuns do through their daily worships of Christ. If you're in need of spiritual renewal you will be welcomed.