6:00 a.m. Shrine opens
6:05 a.m. Divine Office (Morning Prayer)
7:00 a.m. Nuns' Conventual Mass 
8:00 a.m. Confessions
8:20 a.m. Rosary
11:30a.m. Divine Office (Daytime Prayer)
11:50a.m. Chaplet of Saint Michael
12:00 p.m. Noon Mass in the Lower Church
3:00 p.m. Confessions, except Thursdays and Sundays
5:00 p.m. Divine Office and Divine Mercy Chaplet, except on Sunday Divine Office begins at 4:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. Benediction/Devotions, Sunday Only
 
6:00 p.m. Shrine Closes on Sundays Only
 
9:30 p.m. Shrine Closes 

Everything listed above is open to the public.  Other events as announced. 

For more information, please call (256) 352-6267.

The Shrine is located about 6 miles from the intersection of Hwy. 91 and Hwy. 31 in Hanceville, Alabama. Going either direction on I-65, take Exit 291 for Hwy. 91 North. Turn right at County Road 747 and right again at County Road 548.

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
  3224 County Road 548
  Hanceville, Alabama 35077
  205-271-2917

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SAINT MICHAEL GUEST HOUSE
Mileage from the Shrine - 1
1725 County Road 548 Hanceville, AL 35077
(256) 531-2368 or (256) 531-2464
Entire House: 1-4 adults: $85.00 per night
(add $20.00 for each additional adult)
St. Anthony Guest Room
Private Suite: Queen Bed and Sofa Sleeper
1-2 adults: $49.50 per night
St. Bernadette Guest Room
2 Double Beds, Sofa Sleeper,
Mini-Kitchen and Living room
1-3 adults: $65.00 per night
(add $10.00 for each additional adult)

INN OF ST. CATHERINE
Mileage from the Shrine- 2
1221 County Road 548, Hanceville, AL 35077
(630) 779-9415
Contact: Jeanette Daniel
Entire House:
1-4 adults: $110.00 per night, includes tax (add $20.00 for each additional adult, children stay free)
Guest Suite:
Sleeps four adults: $66.00 per night, includes tax
Individual Room:
Sleeps two adults: $50.00 per night, includes tax

SAINT MARY GUEST HOUSE
Mileage from the Shrine - 1
1707 County Road 548, Hanceville, AL 35077
Toll Free (877) 778-2374; (256) 352-0271
Contact: Hale & Rhonda Wilson
Entire House:
First 4 adults: $85.00 per night
(add $20 for each additional adult)
Saint Francis Guest Room
Private Suite, Kitchenette
Queen & Full Beds
2 Adults: $55.00, Children Free

QUEEN OF PEACE GUEST HOUSE
Mileage from the Shrine - 2.5
315 County Road 548, Hanceville, AL 35077
(256) 352-9940 or (256) 352-4889
Contact: Maria Ferra
Entire House:
1-4 adults: $90.00 per night
(add $20.00 for each additional adult)
Lourdes Guest Room
Private Suite: Family Room & Full Kitchen $60.00 per night (add $20.00 for each additional adult)
Fatima Guest Room
Private Suite 2nd Floor: Full Kitchen $55.00 per night (add $20.00 for each additional adult)
St. Joseph Place
Each suite sleeps 2 adults for $60.00 per night.

Gesu Bambino Pilgrim’s House

Gesu Bambino Pilgrim's House A mile from the Shrine 1770 County Road 548 Hanceville, AL 35077 (256) 352 - 41135 or (347) 301-1611 Contact: Thomas & Sonia Salerni Room Rates + tax: Sgl - $50, dbl- $55, each addl in a room - $10 Rooms and occupancy: Sacred Heart - 2 ($50), Immaculate Heart - 3($65), Maria Bambina - 1($50), Our Mother of Perpetual Help - 4($75), Saints Joachim and Anne - 3($65), Our Lady of Mount Carmel - 3($65); Saint Benedict - 3($65) A 2-bdrm suite, each with private toilet and bath and a deck 6-8 ($155) Call for a seasonal rate for all 7 pilgrim-rooms, good for a big group most rooms have a private toilet and bath Two kitchen-dinning rooms are available for pilgrims. Great room, living and two decks overlooking nature for quiet retreats. www.GesuBambinoPilgrimsHouse.com or www.thepilgrimshouse.com e-mail: info@thepilgrimshouse.com

HANCEVILLE INN & SUITES
912 Main Street North, Hanceville, AL 35077
256-352-0000
Across from Wallace State College
$34.00 - $69.00
COMFORT INN
810 Main Street NE, Hanceville, AL 35077
256-352-0151
Near Wallace State College
$55.00

BEST WESTERN HOTEL
1917 Commerce Ave, Cullman, AL 35055
256-737-5009
Located off of I-65, Exit 310
$52.00

COMFORT INN
5917 Hwy 157 NW, Cullman, AL 35058
256-734-1240
Located off of I-65, Exit 310
$59.99

SLEEP INN & SUITES
2050 Hwy 157, Cullman, AL 35057
256-734-6166
Located off of I-65, Exit 310
Groups less than 25 $54.99
Groups of 25 or more $52.99
Suites $65.00

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
2052 Hwy 157, Cullman, AL 35058
256-736-1906
Located off of I-65, Exit 310
$72.00

HAMPTON INN
6100 Hwy 157, Cullman, AL 35057
256-739-4444
Located off of I-65, Exit 310
$75.00

DAYS INN
1841 4th St. SW, Cullman, AL 35055
256-739-3800
Located off of I-65, Exit 308
$41.00

Pilgrims going to EWTN - comfortable rooms available located around the corner from EWTN. Continental breakfast served. $40. 00 a night. If you are interested, please contact Adele Gilbert at 205- 956-8068

Printable Version

The rite of solemn profession also takes place during the Mass.  The Gloria is always sung at the Mass of Solemn Profession.  After the Gospel, the nun states her desire to make solemn vows.  Following the homily, she is examined in this resolve by the priest.  He asks her a series of questions regarding the vows and the life of holiness, to which she responds: "I am so resolved." 
Then as the Litany of the Saints is chanted, the nun lies prostrate beneath a pall.  This is to represent her death to the world.  The nun then rises to symbolize her new life in Christ.

She then proceeds to profess her vows to Almighty God and into the hands of the abbess.  These vows are made for the term of her entire life. 

After the newly professed nun receives a blessing from the priest, she receives a blessed profession ring.  This ring is to symbolize her contract of virginity and perpetual chastity.  The ring is the seal of the Holy Spirit.  Through the reception of this ring, she is espoused forever to Jesus Christ.
 
 
She will be known for all eternity as the spouse of God. The nun is then commended by the priest to the abbess.  In this commendation, the priest states that this nun is entruste

to the care of the abbess to be guided, protected and preserved by her. Finally, the nun is admitted fully as a member of this Religious Community. 
Solemn profession is at one and the same time both an ending and a beginning.  The years of discernment have passed, the commitment has been made, and the definitive choice has been sealed.  And so in this way it is an ending of sorts.

But it is also a beginning.  In scaling the mountain of holiness, the highest peak is not reached until we gaze upon His Holy Face in the eternal embrace of Heaven. The religious life is a a mirror, a prelude, and a preparation for the eternal adoration of God in His Kingdom.  Solemn profession marks a definite beginning in scaling this great mountain. 

All of this can be summed up by the words of Saint Clare: 

"I have learned, O most dear sister, that, with the help of

God's grace, you have fled in joy the corruptions of the world.  

I rejoice and congratulate you because of this and, again, 

I rejoice that you are walking courageously the paths of virtue... 

Remain faithful until death, dearly beloved, to Him to Whom 

you have promised yourself, for you shall be crowned by Him with 

the garland of life.  Our labor here is brief, but the reward is eternal ... 

Offer faithfully what you have vowed to God and He shall reward you."