Nun Soap

Yesterday I extolled to you the wonders of Mystic Monk Coffee (I am enjoying a hearty mid-day cup right now); today I bring you another Easter/Mother’s Day gift idea: Nun Soap.

A New Jersey paper is writing up the bubbly efforts of the good Dominican Nuns at Summit, (whose prayers support us all) as they supplement their income with the craft.

Sister Mary Catharine said the nuns have experienced a fair amount of trial and error since they launched sales of the soap last fall in the small gift shop in the vestibule at the shrine, at the corner of Springfield and Morris avenues, a block west of downtown. Currently 21 sisters reside there.

As an example of mistakes that turned into learning experiences, the sisters offered the tale of the first attempt at swirling.

“Well,” Sister Mary Catharine asked, “can you picture a shop rag? It turned out sort of gray, like solidified toothpaste. After awhile, though, you just get to know how to do it.” Sales slowed down after the holidays, and these days they make soap about once a week, with plans to launch new scents in time for spring and Mother’s Day.

Hmmm…can’t wait to see what they’ve got up their sleeves!

I’ve used the soaps and like them very much; my husband takes them gentlemen’s scents with him in his gym and travel bags, so he always smells nice when he comes home!

And since we’re talking nuns and monks, Deacon Greg highlights a piece on the role parents play in forming these necessary folk, and Roman Catholic Vocations (scroll down a bit) has a piece on the surprising and heartening uptick in those numbers.

Gerald informs us that Padre Pio has been exhumed and looks pretty good for a guy dead 40 years.