Journeying Toward Christmas - O Antiphons

    As we celebrate the fourth week of Advent, we journey closer to the birth of the Christ Child.  On the 17th of December we begin singing the O Antiphons at Evening Prayer.  Each evening we sing one of the antiphons to remind us remind us of who Christ is.

O Wisdom reminds us that Christ is the Word of God through whom all things are created.

O Adonai calls upon the Lord who spoke from the Burning Bush, telling Moses to lead his people to freedom.

O Root of Jesse speaks of Christ, born of the line of David; God born into the human family.

O Key of David refers to Christ who has the power to open all the prisons we find ourselves in, and to lock away all things that hinder us in our journey to God.

O Rising Dawn is the promise that even in our darkest times, Christ the Light of the World will shine forth.

O King of Nations looks forward to Christ's reign of justice and peace.

O Emmanuel brings us to Bethlehem, to that moment in history when Christ became a human being.

   

Beginning the Monastic Journey

Susan being welcomed as a
Postulant by our Prioress,
Sr. Juliann Babcock

Our new postulant, Susan Rakers sends out an email (postcard) every so often letting her friends know about her life as a postulant at Our Lady of Grace.  I was particularly struck by this one and so we thought we'd share it with you.

For this reason prayer ought to be short and pure, unless, perhaps it is lengthened by the inspiration of divine grace. At the community exercises, however, let the prayer always be short, and the sign having been given by the Superior, let all rise together.
(RB 20)

As I got ready for bed this Monday night, I was a little bit sore. I had been physically active during the last few days. I helped setup and take down a benefit fashion show and luncheon to support the retreat center, Benedict Inn. I went to clean the house that I have up for sale in Fishers, IN. On Monday morning, I was gathering and doing laundry for housekeeping.

Just as I have been physically active, I have been exercising some new and rusty spiritual muscles.  As I mention in my previous postcard, Postulancy is like being at base camp for a long mountain climbing expedition. One focus at base camp is physical training. For me and my fellow climbers (the Sisters), it is Cross training, spiritual exercising or prayer.

Daily, as a community, we have Morning and Evening prayer (Lauds and Vespers) along with Mass. There is also Mid-Day prayer on weekdays and Saturday before lunch. They are scheduled team practices where we support each other by our presence and praying in one voice.  Everyone also does private weight lifting training.  I do night prayer (Compline) on my own which includes an exam of conscience.  Individually (but sometimes as a group ), we do Lectio Divina or reflective Scripture reading.  That is a postcard in itself.  I also take some time to reflect each morning and night in my room or cell.

As we are strengthening our relationship with God, we are also praying for our benefactors, family, friends and the cares of the world.  Prayer builds that faith and trust in God or those anchors and lines that I mention in my first postcard.

Peace,

Postulant Susan Rakers

P.S.

Wednesday, I had my baptism of flour from the industrial size mixer in the kitchen as I was trying to making a large batch of Snickerdoodle cookies.  I learned not to try mixing in 22 cups of flour all at once. It took me a half of an hour to clean up the mess. 

September Growth!

September has been a wonderful month as we celebrated with two wonderful women who both happen to be called SUSAN!

On September 7th, Susan Rakers entered Our Lady of Grace Monastery.  Following Evening Prayer, the community gathered in the narthex of the chapel to welcome Susan as a postulant.  Standing in front of the statue of Our Lady of Grace Susan received a copy of the Rule of Benedict and the Office Books that she will use for prayer everyday.  After a prayer of blessing, each member of community came forward to welcome Susan.  It was a great day for Susan and for our community.

On September 28th, Susan Reuber was received as an affiliate of our community.  During this time she will continue to discern her call to our community and complete the requirements for entrance into our community.  Before Evening Prayer, the community gathered in the lobby of our monastery to welcome Susan.  

Please pray for Postulant Susan Rakers and Affiliate Susan Reuber as they continue to journey along the monastic way.  We also ask your prayers for vocations to our community so that we might continue to share the Benedictine way with the Church and our world.

Fall is upon our grove!

The season of Fall is upon us. Our grove is showing signs of letting go as some trees are beginning to lose their green. Outside my office window I have the view of a tree that is already turning red. What a sight and what a spiritual lesson on letting go. Here's a photo of our cemetery last Fall.

SR. JULIE'S FINAL MONASTIC PROFESSION

This summer was filled with wonderful events and opportunities our monastic community.  One that brought great joy to our community was  Sr. Julie Sewell's Final Monastic Profession.  What a great day it was to witness Sr. Julie standing before the altar making her vows to God in the midst of her community.  This video will give you a glimpse into the beauty and power  of this day.

"You're the Berries" Donor Party

We are blessed to have wonderful friends who support us through their love, time, treasure and talent.  We keep them in our hearts and prayer throughout the year but we also stop to celebrate them for their kindness to us.  Yesterday we had a special "You're the Berries" Donor Party.  As I'm sure you can tell by the words and pictures, the party included LOTS of STRAWBERRIES.  All kinds of desserts were at hand as we said thank you to our friends.  Enjoy some pictures of our celebration.  It was a wonderful time spent with friends!

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Gospel of John 10:1-10

Commentary for the Fourth Sunday of Easter – Gospel John 10:1-10

In the Gospel of John, we are reminded that the sheep do not follow a stranger but rather they follow the shepherd because they know the shepherd’s voice.  In the Rule, Benedict reminds us to “Listen, carefully, to my instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart.”  Listening, tuning in to the voice of the one who gives us life, is very important if we are going to make any headway on the spiritual journey.  However, as we very well know, listening is no easy task. 

What does it mean to listen, to truly listen?  How do we discern God’s voice in our lives from the many voices that cry out around us?  God speaks to us and through us in a myriad of ways.  Sometimes God speaks to us in ways we expect and, at other times, God surprises us.  It is our duty to continually tune our hearts to God’s heart so that we recognize God’s voice whenever God speaks.

Benedict knew that if we want to tune our hearts to God’s heart we must listen daily with the ear of our heart.  As Benedictines, our call is to seek God in each person and moment of our lives.  As we gather each day for prayer, we tune our hearts to God’s heart so that we will more readily notice God’s voice at other times.  As we take time for our Lectio Divina, our hearts slowly grow in recognizing God’s voice when God speaks.  Through our obedience to our prioress and to one another, we allow ourselves to hear God’s voice in a way we might not have heard it before.  Through hospitality, the tent of our heart is stretched to hear God’s voice in the other and, in that way, our understanding of God grows and so do we.   

Christ, the Good Shepherd, came so that we “might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  It is this abundant life that Benedict desired for all who desire to listen to God with the ear of their hearts.  As we grow in recognizing God’s voice, our hearts expand “with the inexpressible delight of God’s love”(Cf. RB Prol. 40). 

Let us take a moment this evening to reflect on the ways God is calling us to listen.  It might be something God is asking of us.  It might be that we are called to listen in a way we have never listened before.  Or it might be a deeper listening than we have ever experienced before.  Whatever the call is for us at this particular time in our lives, let us open our hearts to follow God’s call.

Sr. Mary Sylvester's 99th Birthday

Today we celebrate Sr. Mary Sylvester Will's 99th Birthday.  It is a big day for her and for us.  She is an amazing person.  You would never guess she's 99.  Sister is so interested in the world around her and in helping others.  On Wednesdays she goes to St. Vincent DePaul to help bag food for the shut-ins.  She loves this ministry and  loves being able to be a part of it.  Today, when I wished her a happy birthday, she said to me "Can you believe that next year I'll be 100!"  She is so excited about that possibility.  Sister has had a wonderful life and has been deeply blessed by God.  She is so thankful for the gift of being a Benedictine Sister.  

Goose Delights In Her Little Ones

Each year we have a goose and gander that come to the monastery to lay their eggs.  It is quite a faith experience to watch her (we've named her Gladys) as she sits on her eggs through storms and beautiful weather.  She is the faithful mother who watches over her children.  Nothing frightens her away.  Many of the sisters have commented on how much it reminds them of God's love for us that is unwavering.  God holds us under the wings of love and never lets us go.

Thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of videos.  One is of the goslings exploring the world around them.  The other is of Mama and Papa processing from our retreat center towards our monastery to the sound of our bells.  It is almost as if they are making a procession to the chapel.

Enjoy!  We certainly have enjoyed them.

Christ has risen as He promised, Alleluia!

Chapel

At Easter Morning Prayer we always begin with the song "Light Breaks Forth."  It is one of my favorites.  The words are by Sr. Dolores Dufner, OSB (St. Benedict's in St. Joseph, MN) and the music is by our Sr. Mary Sue Freiberger.  It is absolutely beautiful.

"Brightness of beauty, gleaming of glory.  Morning Star, rise in our hearts! 
Lamp ever burning sun never setting, Star of the Universe shine!


Light breaks forth, empty the tomb.  Jesus Christ with us living, giving.  
Rise we from slumber to Easter splendor, Daystar dawning."


Each time we sing it, I feel such gratitude for the gift of salvation.  Our God lives!

Chapel Podium

Last night the chapel was full with our sisters and many guests as we celebrated the Vigil.  Even though there had been the forecast of rain, we were able to all be outside for the lighting of the Easter fire.  The procession into church and the singing of the Exultet is always glorious!  God has gifted us with wonderful musicians with beautiful voices.  As we sang together, I could certainly understand why St. Augustine said that "those who sing, pray twice."  It is such a gift to be in community worshiping our God together.  St. Benedict called us to live a life of deep prayer living each day reflecting on the Paschal Mystery.  As we gathered for the Vigil, we celebrated the depth of this reality.   After the Vigil, we always invite all of our guests to stay for breakfast (sweet breads and easter eggs).  It is always to continue the celebration together.

Our Lady of Grace Easter Garden

Today we had lots of guests for our Easter Sunday Mass and Easter meal.  It is always fun to see family and friends and to invite them to share a meal with us.  Most of all, it is a gift to know that we all seek God together.   As we celebrated Christ's resurrection, joy and hope resonated around the monastery.  What a gift it is that we have a God who loves us so much!  My hope is that we will spend our lives sharing that love with everyone we meet.  I hope that everyone who comes to Our Lady of Grace Monastery will  know the joy, hope and peace of Christ.

Entering into the silence of the Triduum

The Triduum begins with the Holy Thursday Mass and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.  I love this time in the monastery as we enter into silence together and we reflect on the Paschal Mystery together. 

On Holy Thursday evening we begin with a community meal served by our Prioress and Sub-Prioress.  It is a leisurely meal where we can savor the food and one another's company.  After the meal and the dishes are done, we move upstairs to prepare for the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  This is one of my favorite liturgies of the year.  I love the footwashing where we are reminded to bend to wash others' feet just as Christ did.  The Mass ends with the procession of the Eucharist to the Blessed Sacrament chapel.  This begins the silence in the monastery that will continue until the Holy Saturday Vigil.  


The silence in the monastery gives us the opportunity to ponder, reflect on Christ's life, death and resurrection and our desire to die and rise with Christ.  We have silence at meals with table reading that helps us to continue reflecting on the power of this holy time. 


Of course there is lots to be done during this time - chapel needs to be decorated, the Easter meal prepared - so there is activity in the monastery.  The gift is that we try to do it all in a spirit of silence that lends to a deepening of our inner life.  


Know that as we enter more deeply into the Triduum, we  hold you in the heart of our prayer.

Palm Sunday Procession

RISING FROM OUR TOMBS

This week we have the powerful Gospel of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.   This Gospel is laden with different images and themes.  We have Martha’s powerful profession of faith, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”   The image of Jesus weeping that shows us Jesus’ great love and deep humanity.  We have Lazarus in a tomb for four days and Jesus telling him, “Lazarus, come out!”  And, of course, we have Lazarus walking out of the tomb still all bound up, and Jesus telling those around him to take the burial cloths off Lazarus.  Too many to reflect on so let’s stay with Lazarus.

            Can you imagine being in a tomb for four days?  Can you imagine the stench that Martha spoke of when Jesus said to take the stone away?  Can you imagine what it must have felt like for Lazarus to rise and walk out of that tomb alive but still bound up?  And then imagine for a moment what it felt like for Lazarus to have those around him help to unbind him?  Initially, it might be easy for us to say no I can’t imagine any of that.  But, I think if we reflect on our lives more deeply, we could easily imagine it.

            How many tombs have each of us inhabited in our lives?  It might be the tomb of low self-esteem that keeps you from truly being who God calls you to be and so you find yourself trying to be like others instead of yourself.  It could be the tomb of being disconnected from another and using all your energy to avoid this person so that you don’t have to talk or heal the relationship.  Maybe you’re caught in the tomb of murmuring and find yourself grumbling to others in community. The tomb of unworthiness can be another we find ourselves in.  When we live in this tomb, we can find ourselves comparing ourselves to others and always coming up short or putting them down to feel better about ourselves.  Of course, when we live in these tombs for too long there is a horrible stench that pervades us and all of those around us.  This odor is not the beautiful odor of good zeal that Benedict talks about but bad zeal that does not lead us to God or others.

           

            Yes, we all inhabit tombs in our lives.  Maybe we inhabit them for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime.  Maybe we inhabit more than one tomb at a time.  But Jesus tells us that we do not have to live in these tombs.  Yes, Jesus tells us that we will rise on the last day but we are also called to rise each day, in the here and now, to new life.  It is not an easy thing to do because even though our tombs aren’t fun, they are familiar.  And, yet, Jesus calls each of us to come out.  When we have the courage to walk out of these tombs, we will need a new courage.  We will need the courage to allow others to help unbind us from the burial cloths that have held us captive.  We will also need to look around community for others who are trying to rise from their tombs and we will need to go and help unbind them as well.

            We all have a tomb that we live in, at least one. Which tomb is the tomb that is hurting you the most?  (give a moment for them to think)  Do you have the courage to stand up and walk out of it?  As we journey closer to Easter, let us each stand up and rise from a tomb that we have inhabited so that we might more joyfully greet the risen Christ on Easter morn.

Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB

Matthew 17:1-9  Transfiguration

Rise and do not be afraid  Matthew 17

It is the second week of Lent and we have Resurrection language in the Gospel passage!  Yeah!  I think when you start off on any journey, you have to keep the goal in mind.  We have begun Lent not for the sake of Lent but for the sake of the Resurrection.  Rise and do not be afraid!  This line calls us to leave behind the fear of the struggle and walk bravely toward God’s call.

Mountain climbing is hard work.  We want the beautiful view but to get there requires rigorous effort.  It costs us to reach our goal.

Where do we want to be as a monastic group of women? As Christian people?

·      It will take hard work—giving up our own desires

·      showing up when we prefer something else

·      reaching out to someone who is not our favorite person

You can add your own one that is hard for you.

We know the mountain top view we want.  Let us keep our eyes on who is leading us up the mountain—Jesus

Let us listen for the voice of the Lord calling to us.  Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation.   Rule of Benedict Prologue 19,48

The effort and view will be worth it.

Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB

Matthew 17:1-9  Transfiguration

Rise and do not be afraid  Matthew 17

It is the second week of Lent and we have Resurrection language in the Gospel passage!  Yeah!  I think when you start off on any journey, you have to keep the goal in mind.  We have begun Lent not for the sake of Lent but for the sake of the Resurrection.  Rise and do not be afraid!  This line calls us to leave behind the fear of the struggle and walk bravely toward God’s call.

Mountain climbing is hard work.  We want the beautiful view but to get there requires rigorous effort.  It costs us to reach our goal.

Where do we want to be as a monastic group of women? As Christian people?

·      It will take hard work—giving up our own desires

·      showing up when we prefer something else

·      reaching out to someone who is not our favorite person

You can add your own one that is hard for you.

We know the mountain top view we want.  Let us keep our eyes on who is leading us up the mountain—Jesus

Let us listen for the voice of the Lord calling to us.  Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation.   Rule of Benedict Prologue 19,48

The effort and view will be worth it.

Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB

Matthew 17:1-9  Transfiguration

Rise and do not be afraid  Matthew 17

It is the second week of Lent and we have Resurrection language in the Gospel passage!  Yeah!  I think when you start off on any journey, you have to keep the goal in mind.  We have begun Lent not for the sake of Lent but for the sake of the Resurrection.  Rise and do not be afraid!  This line calls us to leave behind the fear of the struggle and walk bravely toward God’s call.

Mountain climbing is hard work.  We want the beautiful view but to get there requires rigorous effort.  It costs us to reach our goal.

Where do we want to be as a monastic group of women? As Christian people?

·      It will take hard work—giving up our own desires

·      showing up when we prefer something else

·      reaching out to someone who is not our favorite person

You can add your own one that is hard for you.

We know the mountain top view we want.  Let us keep our eyes on who is leading us up the mountain—Jesus

Let us listen for the voice of the Lord calling to us.  Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation.   Rule of Benedict Prologue 19,48

The effort and view will be worth it.

Time For Spring Cleaning

            The Gospel for this Sunday connects deeply as we prepare to begin another season of Lent.  The word Lent comes from old English word meaning “Spring.”  Sometimes we hear Lent compared to a type of spring cleaning, a time to take an assessment of where we are so that we can clean out our lives.  Such a cleaning is needed so that we can grow closer to God.  Whenever I think of this comparison, I am immediately taken back to my childhood.  My sister, Kerry, and I shared a room for many years.  We loved to play and it wouldn’t take long before our room became quite a mess.  We were fine with a messy room.  The problem was that my mom wasn’t.  She didn’t only believe in a spring-cleaning but a monthly deep cleaning.  I can still remember her saying, “Girls, no playing today until that room is cleaned.”  This usually got us moving and we’d head into our rooms and rearrange the mess.  We’d shove things under the bed and into the closet until we had a clean looking room to show her.   My mom was not to be fooled, however.  She would walk in and go right to the core of our cover up.  She’d open the closet door or look under the bed and our scheme would be over.  She would always end by saying, “You’d think you would have learned the last time.”  Back to work we’d go except this time we’d get to the bottom of the mess and truly show here a clean room at the end.

            I share this story because I think it is way too easy to move around the mess in our lives and not get to the bottom of it.  And, yet, through the season of, we are called to go to the core of the things we need to change.  It is not enough to move around the furniture of our lives and call it good.  No, we have to get under things, look at the why of what we are about and begin to make serious changes, changes that are life-changing and life-giving. 

            In the Gospel  for this Sunday we read “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of God.” In his Rule, Saint Benedict reminds us,  “Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation.  It is bound to be narrow at the outset.  But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.”  (Prol. 48-49).  Both of these readings remind us that it is not always easy to do the will of God and, yet, if we persevere our hearts will be changed and we will know the saving love of God.

            During this season of Lent we are being called to look not only at the surface of our life but at its very foundation.  Is our life built on rock that will stand or sand that will wash away when storms come?  Isn’t it a gift to have this time of Lent, to have the opportunity to look at our foundation from the inside out and the outside in.  In a sense, it is like receiving a spiritual check-up so that we can continue to build on solid rock.  May it indeed be a time of deep cleaning so that we when we arrive at Easter we will be filled with the joy that Benedict speaks of so powerfully when he speaks of the season of Lent.  

Welcome to Indianapolis Bishop Christopher Coyne

On Wednesday, March 2, Father Christopher Coyne was ordained a bishop at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis. He will serve as Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Daniel Buechlein. Bishop Christopher Coyne is from the Boston Archdiocese.  When he spoke to the people at the end of the Mass, his personality shined through.  He showed himself to be a man of deep reflection as well as one with a great sense of humor.  We welcome him and look forward to working with him as we all continue to share the good news of the Gospel. (The picture of Bishop Christopher Coyne was taken as he spoke to the people at the end of Mass.)


We had a wonderful surprise this week when Bishop Paul Etienne, the Bishop of Cheyenne, WY, celebrated Mass with us on Monday evening.  How did Bishop Paul end up being at our monastery on a Monday evening, you might ask?  Well, he happens to be Sr. Nicolette's brother and a long time friend of our community.  He has been in town all week for Bishop Christopher's ordination.  It was wonderful to have him with us.  He is a great person and a humble and holy servant of God.  (The picture is of Bishop Paul and his sister, Sister Nicolette, at Bishop Paul's ordination.)

Indy Nun Run

This is the weekend for the Indy Nun Run.  There are 8 women making it.  They will have the opportunity to meet sisters of 5 different religious communities.  They will end at our monastery and join us for Evening Prayer, supper and then sharing about the Benedictine way of life.  It will be lots of fun.  I've enjoyed the other ones that I have participated in.  I always enjoy meeting the young adults who participate as they have such a desire to grow closer to God.  

55 & Under Workshop for Benedictine Sisters

This past weekend a group of us from Our Lady of Grace Monastery attended the 55 & Under Workshop for Benedictine Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, KS.  There were 92 Benedictine sisters under the age of 55 present.  It was a gathering full of joy and vitality.  The theme of the conference was Unity in Hope.  We certainly felt hopeful as we gathered to pray, share and learn more about one another and reflect on our future together.  The love of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our hope as we move into the future together.

There were 6 sisters from our community who went (there were supposed to be 8 but 2 sisters got sick).  We actually have 18 sisters under the age of 55 but some couldn't go this time because of other responsibilities.

Sisters who went from our community:

Sr. Jennifer Mechtild, Sr. Maureen Therese,         Sr. Susan Marie, Sr. Sheila Marie, Sr. Pamela Kay and Sr. Cathy Anne.






Sisters who attended from the Federation of St. Gertrude - Our Lady of Grace Monastery belongs to this federation.

All the participants at the Under 55 Gathering - Federation of St. Gertrude, Federation of St. Scholastica, Federation of St. Benedict and Sisters of Perpetual Adoration -- plus the Presidents of each of these Federations and the Prioress General of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

Listening for God this New Year (Part 2)

Circumstances of Our Daily Lives

Of course it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we are called to listen for God in our daily lives.  However, it seems that it is easy to go through each day in a hurry, not fully awake to the presence of God in each and every moment.  Throughout each day we have many experiences – some we name as great, wonderful, and maybe others as bad or not so good.  We might enjoy an experience or want it to be over and yet, do we reflect on how God is speaking to us in our daily lives?  Could God be speaking to me in that disagreement I had with my father this weekend or that wonderful conversation I had with my sister?  When I passed that homeless man this morning and found myself looking down rather than meeting the sad gaze in his eyes, could God have been speaking to me then?  When I arrived this evening and someone welcomed me with a hug, did I take time to reflect on the warmth of God’s presence? God is speaking in every moment.  How do we listen?  Are we listening?

Integrity of Daily Life

            And, finally, how is God speaking to me and how am I listening for God through the integrity of my life.  What do I mean by this?  Well, it seems to me that, in today’s world, there are so many ways to present ourselves to others.  We can so easily compartmentalize our lives and not be true to God’s call in all places.  For instance, we can present ourselves one way on Facebook and another way with our Church community.  Or it might be that we look one way with our Church community and another way at a party.  People can meet different versions of us in different places rather than meeting who we really are.  Who is God calling you to be?  Can you risk being the person God calls you to be in every place you find yourself?  I think as we listen for God’s voice in 2011, we might do well to listen to our own lives and see if we are living our with integrity for God. 

            As we begin this New Year, we have been given the gift of 365 days (we’ve already lived 26 of them) to listen for God. Let us use this time well and may we find ourselves transformed by the experienced and filled with the love that God gives.  May we truly be astonished by what we hear when we truly listen for God in everyone and everything, every day of our lives.  

Listening for God this New Year (Part 1)

How are we called to Listen for God in the New Year.  God is close to us, always present, ever near.   In a sense, all we need to do is to listen, to open ourselves up to the presence that is already within and all around us.  It is so easy to walk through our life not fully awake.  But God wants to communicate with us and offers us a multitude of ways to listen.  So the first thing we need to do is wake up.  How and where is God speaking, and how are you called to listen?

If you have or would visit our monastery, you would read the words Seek God above the entryway as soon as you enter the doors of the monastery.  It is a reminder to each of the sisters and to all of our guests that we are called to Seek God to listen for God in each moment of our lives.  In fact, we have a refrain that is sung at the election of a superior, the vows of a sister, and at any other important moment in our monastery – “Seek God in everyone and everything, every day of your life.”  We could just as easily say Listen for God in everyone and everything, every day of your life.”  And yet, how do we do this?  I would like to offer us four ways of listening for God. 

Prayer

I believe that the foundation of all of our listening is found in prayer.  It is so important to take time each day for silence so that we can open up a space within to hear the voice of God that speaks to us in every moment and every place.  It is easy during our time of prayer to forget to listen for God.  We might have lots on our mind that we want to share with God and, as a result, we talk a lot but forget to listen.  So one way to listen for God is to include within your time of prayer time for silence so that you can listen to God with the ear of your heart.  Maybe this time will come after you have spoken to God, maybe it will come before. It is not important when you take time for silence but that you take time for silence.  As we learn to listen for God in the silence, we slowly tune our hearts to the sound of God’s voice.   There is no substitute for prayer.  It is on the foundation of prayer that all of our life is built.  It is through prayer, that we will more readily hear God’s voice in other places.

Relationships

God also speaks to us through our relationships.  Sometimes God nurtures us through these relationships and at other times God challenges us.  I think it is important to take time to look at our relationships and reflect on who the people are in my life that helps me listen for God more clearly.  As we reflect on these relationships, we will also want to take time to look at ourselves and reflect on how we help others listen for God in their lives.  It might be that as we reflect we realize that some of our relationships are not relationships that open us up to God’s voice.  It would do us well to spend time with this reality and discern what we need to do to change the quality of these relationships. 

I know that in my own life I am very thankful for the relationships that help me listen for God more deeply and more clearly.  In these relationships, I can be myself, I can be vulnerable and I am able to hear God speaking to me through them.

Courage to Follow God's Call

This past weekend, we received a new Affiliate to our Community. As I was waiting with our Sisters in the lobby, I couldn’t help but reflect back on the day that I became an Affiliate nearly 11 years ago. I had been discerning my vocation to religious life and was spending some time at Our Lady of Grace Monastery, learning about and experiencing Benedictine monastic life and getting to know some of the Sisters here. One day, I was telling my story to Sr. Catherine, one of our Senior Sisters. When I was finished, she pondered a bit, and said to me, “I think you are ready.” So, she walked with me down the hall to Sr. Joan Marie’s office (Vocation Director at the time) and then she got on the elevator.

I know Sr. Catherine was praying for me as I stood on the threshold of my future life. I stepped into Sr. Joan Marie’s office, took a deep breath, and before I would run out of courage, I told her that I would like to become an Affiliate of this Community. As we began planning the next steps, I felt a slight panic. What was I doing? My whole life could change if I pursued this call that I felt deep in my heart. I told her, “I feel really reckless right now.” “How do you think Simon and Andrew felt when Jesus called them?” was her response. I felt in good company then, and a deep peace in taking this first step toward the rest of my life. Actually, I knew deep down, as those early disciples of Jesus must also have known, that my heart had been “seized by Christ.” I could make no other choice than to follow him.

My spiritual director at the time had been helping me to understand that Christ was laboring within me to lead me to where I would find union with him. On the evening of my Affiliation ceremony, I had this image of Christ riding on a stationary bike (laboring within me). For a brief moment, Christ stopped pedaling, raised his hands off the bars, rejoiced that I had taken this first step, and returned to his pedaling – he knew he still had a lot of labor to do on my behalf. In the weeks and months that followed, I received a profound grace to prepare to begin my life here at Our Lady of Grace Monastery. Christ’s labor within me and God’s love, grace and mercy continues to keep me here as a Sister of St. Benedict.

During this National Vocations Awareness Week I thank God for the gift of my vocation and for the abundance of blessings I continue to receive as I strive to follow God’s will. I know for certain that God cannot be outdone in generosity. And, I am continually encouraged by a saying that appeared on a bookmark that my mother gave me on the day I entered: “The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”

Holding Christmas and the Triduum Together

On Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, we will come to the end of the Christmas Season.   This Christmas Season was short and it seems hard to believe that it will be over so soon.  In just two months from Sunday we will begin the season of Lent.  Sometimes the seasons of Advent/Christmas and the season of Lent/Easter can seem so different and yet they are so closely connected.  The reading from the Orthodox Royal Hours is deeply moving to me and makes the deep connection that we cannot celebrate one with the other.  I hope that you find it meaningful as well.

“The Winter Pascha”

(Verses from the Orthodox “Royal Hours”

for Christmas Eve and Good Friday)

The One who holds all creation in the hollow of a hand is born today

of a Virgin.

The One who hung the earth upon the waters is hung today upon

the Cross.

The One whose essence none can touch is wrapped in swaddling clothes

as a mortal.

The One who rules the angels is crowned today with thorns.

God, who in the beginning created the heavens, lies now in a manger.

God, who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in mocking purple.

The One who rained manna down on the people in the wilderness is fed on milk from a mother’s breast.

The One who set Eve and Adam free in the Jordan is slapped in the face.

Today the Church’s Spouse calls forth the Magi.

Today the Church’s Spouse is nailed to the cross.

The Virgin’s Child accepts their gifts.

The Virgin’s Child is pierced with a spear.

We worship your nativity, O Christ!

We worship you passion, O Christ!

Show us your glorious Nativity!

Show us, too, your glorious Resurrection!