The following comes from a June 5 release distributed by Yahoo.com.
MonksInk started two years ago, when an oblate (a lay Benedictine associated with a specific monastery) suggested to St. Andrew’s [in Valyermo north of Los Angeles] abbott, Abbot Damien, that the monks consider selling ink and toner cartridges after a hoped-for partner arrangement with another monastery fell through due to the other business closing.
“We liked the idea of selling these products,” says Fr. Joseph Brennan, prior of the order, who has been at the monastery nearly 20 years. “We needed to do something a little different. Every monastery has something unique about them. For example, a monastery in Louisiana makes soap. Some make jellies and jams. The Camaldolese make amazing fruitcake. But we never developed anything like that. Until now, we only produced ceramics, and even these were designed by a brother monk in Belgium. We really needed to do something different. MonksInk was a good fit.”
The monks got up to speed quickly. Ordering products is easy—whether done on the monks’ streamlined, easy-to-use website or by phone. Product selection meets or exceeds what one could find at any big box office supply store—including ink and toner options for every make and model of printer, fax and copy machine, from HP and Epson to Xerox, and every brand in between….
To read the full release, click here.
Sounds good, something to look into.
Unfortunately they have some stiff and price-sensitive competition:
https://www.databazaar.com/salesperson/result/?q=hp+74xl
https://www.compandsave.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y
I haven’t checked their website, but I doubt that they will come close to matching the prices offered by commercial discounters
Any price over the cheapest out there in cyber land could be considered as donations or contributions. That is kinda how it works for some of the other products marketed or processed by other monasteries. You don’t get the tax write off, but you still contribute over and above the business profit margine of the monks, and after all, isn’t this whole thing all about “above” anyway?
Skai, we finally agree on something !
Supporting those who pray and pass on the Faith is critical.
MIKE, disagreement is evidence for the need of a pope. If all we needed were books, then we could each start our own religions. The monasteries seem to know what is most important, which is why they pray, engage heavily with the sacramental life, and work and then share it all with the rest of us. Now if you don’t mind, it’s back to the rest of the blogging to try to push others beyond their wits’ ends.
Jim:
I think you’re missing the point. No one buys soap, fruitcakes, ceramics, or inks, for that matter, from a monestary just because it’s the lowest price…
PJB
Let us spread the words not only to family and friends but our pastors and parish offices.
Jim McCrea writes, ” *I doubt* that they will come close to matching the prices offered by commercial discounters.”
That’s your main problem! We should never be led by lust or a lack of trust. You’re a Doubting Jim. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Just ask the Nuns at the Top of the Charts. They prayed for assistance and their Novena prayer is being answered.
Introductory Prayer for Novena to St. Augustine
You have made our hearts for yourself O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you. We ask you to bless our restlessness in our search for you, so as you may live in our lives, and in the events confronting us.
Finding you, may we be faithful to you God of history, faithful to Christ our Lord and Savior, faithful to the Church and her teaching and faithful to our particular state of life which we have chosen to serve you. Let me banish the self and follow you and ever desire to follow you. Let me fly from myself and take refuge in you,
That I may deserve to be defended by you. Let me fear for myself, let me fear you,
And let me be among those who are chosen by you.
Miracle-worker St. Augustine, remember that it never has been heard that you left without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to you. O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. O eloquent preacher of the divine grace and mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (mention them here). For Doubting Jim McCrea
Introductory Prayer and St. Augustine’s Prayer
St. Augustine, who through your repentant
heart expounded the mystery of divine grace, I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me.
O glorious St. Augustine, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (mention them here). O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.
(1) Our Father, (1) Hail Mary, (1) Glory Be St. Augustine, pray for us!
to Saint Augustine patron of searchers; his mother was St. Monica, a devout Christian. Trained in Christianity, he lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. He lived with a woman from the age of 15 through 30 and fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. He taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, he became a Manichaean for several years, attracted by its lax moral code. Augustine finally broke with the Manichaens and was converted by the prayers of his mother and the help of St. Ambrose of Milan, who baptized him. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. As Bishop of Hippo, he fought various heresies and wrote extensively about the Trinity. Jesus visited him as a child who told him not to try to understand fully the Trinity because his mind was just a small hole that could not fit the ocean that is the Trinity. He oversaw his church and his office during the fall of the Roman Empire to the vandals, leaving behind writings that have touched the hearts. His most famous quote is the following: “Our hearts were made for you, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.” Born on November 13, 354, he died on August 28, 430.
O Wonderful St. Augustine, glorious on account of your wisdom and miracles and through the will of Jesus who conversed with you, disguised as a little child, the mystery of the Holy Trinity, obtain for me of his bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (mention them here) for Doubting Jim McCrea, which I now ask for. Amen.
St. Augustine, please pray for us that all Catholics will obey Pope Francis. May we be the people he has asked us to be-welcoming, loving and forgiving. May we work to make the Church the place where all feel welcomed and understood, where they can feel the mercy and love of God. May we not interfere in others’ lives, not gossip, not inspect the faith of others. Pray for us to understand that martyrdom is a part of the journey of the Church and that we need to be humble and serve the poor. Amen.
Anonymous writes, “May we not interfere in others’ lives, not gossip, not inspect the faith of others.”
Anonymous is irritated and annoyed. Anonymous really means. “May we not interfere in others’ lives and allow them to consistently deny truth and distort the teachings of the Catholic Church and the meaning of God’s Natural Laws, after all this is how the homosexual lobby works. Silence faithful websites and everyone who exposes error and heretics and we will see how gullible people are and we will call that love.”
You nailed it, Catherine.
Vatican Insider May 18, 2013. Pope Francis at morning Mass. Sorry that you were taken by surprise by this. He also mentioned the temptation when we gossip to “only tell the half that suits us.” He did not mention making things up about others but I would assume that would be covered under the “Thou shalt not bear false witness” commandment. What does this have to do with homosexuals? You seem to be the one that is irritated and annoyed. You do not like the teaching of the Pope? Who do YOU obey? What does this have to do with silencing faithful websites? The Pope wants to silence evil. You are very confused. Do you know how to love? I will pray for you.
Jimminiy crickets. This is a post about ink and toner. And we have to turn it into a competition between St Augustine and Pope Francis? Really?
If I was going to have a one track mind, I would want it to be on something good, not on homosexuality. You poor thing.
Catherine, it is you who are irritated by the Gospel. When someone writes of Jesus’ demands or the Pope’s commands, you are the one who says it is the gay lobby. You keep twisting the Pope’s words to suit your obsession but he was not talking about gay-bashing or even admonishing the sinner. He was talking about proclaiming Jesus Christ. The Gospel is this: that Jesus Christ died so that sins could be forgiven. He is talking about bringing people to the Church “in an atmosphere of love.” Do not distort His Holiness’ words. Do not misunderstand the Word of God. The Pope has said more than once that we are to welcome everyone. We are to love everyone.
Anonymous, happy to read that you are standing in prayer with Pope Francis, who wants to get rid of the gay members of the curia and hierarchy, and who has commanded the bishops to practice what they preach.
Why wouldn’t I? I’m a Catholic.
Catherine good comments
I mean it Catherine….part of being humble is being able to take in charity. Especially with this type of forum…we write to get people to think….if they don’t want too then they are free to ignore too…..It’s not like we are face to face with folks…things are posted…then planting seeds is open for whom is open….of heart…
Abeca,
Thank you sweet sister in Christ. You are absolutely right!
Might I suggest that the monks also look into the spools of plastic filament used by 3D Printers? These might run from $30 to $100 depending on the particular type of plastic filament.
As Skai and PJB have pointed out, folks buy items from monasteries to help them stay alive, not to get the best price.
Many parishes, for example, buy altar breads from cloistered nuns even though the hosts are more expensive, because it helps the nuns.
I have done several retreats at St. Andrew’s Abbey and it is a wonderful and holy place — and some of these old monks have suffered mightily under communism.
Please tell me these products don’t just work on “Brothers” printers…
Very funny! :)
I was so excited when I was looking for cartridges a few weeks ago and came across the Monks’ website. I tried to order online, but they don’t deliver to Canada. Something to think about, although I must confess, there could be a very small market in Canada. People want things online yesterday and although shipping could be really fast, customs seems to hold everything up for an unreasonable length of time. I am sure they will find this venture to be wonderfully successful. Go for it, Brothers!!