O Antiphons

Starting on December 17 we sing the O Antiphons before we chant the magnificat at Evening Prayer.  Each of the O Antiphons is a name for Christ, one of his attributes in Scripture. They are over a thousand years old. If they seem familiar to you, it is probably because you  have sung them before in "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

When viewed from Christmas Eve backward, the first letters of the Latin texts (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapentia) spell out the phrase "eros cras" ("I come tomorrow.) 

We invite you to pray them with us each day:

December 17

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

December 20

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save us, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

. . . arriving from around the country!

It is a beautiful fall day in Beech Grove, Indiana.  The temps are in the 60's - just perfect for a brisk walk.  It is quiet around the monastery as everyone goes about their Monday duties.  Soon, however, there will be lots of activity as sisters from around the country come connect and learn from one another as they spend a week at the Benedict Inn, our retreat center.

The sisters that are coming are sub-prioresses.  The term prioress is the name for the superior of a Benedictine women's community.  A sub-prioress is an assistant to the prioress.  They have the big job of making sure that life in the monastery runs smoothly.  I am sure that they will enjoy spending time with one another and learning from the sisters who will be giving presentations.

We are blessed to be able to host this group and share our hospitality with them.  We LOVE having Benedictine groups join us.  It is like having extended family visit.

Please keep them and us in  your prayers during this week of connecting and learning.  Blessings!

Entrance Ceremony - Postulants Susan Reuber and Gayla Aspromonte

Becoming Holy One Day at a Time

     Lent!  A time of change, a time of transformation.   Through our baptism we are called to put on Christ, to grow in holiness.  It is through making the changes we need to make in our lives that we slowly put on Christ.  We commit to do this during the forty days of Lent.   As the ashes were placed on our forehead we began this process of change with all the fervor we could muster.

           

     It is now a week or so since those ashes marked our brow and it might be that the fervor we had on Ash Wednesday has begun to fade.  We realize that putting on Christ, becoming holy is not an easy task or one that is done once and for all.  It is a daily and sometimes tedious task that demands attention, intention and sacrifice.  Maybe that is why St. Benedict reminds us that we must “not aspire to be called holy before we really are, but first be holy so that we may truly be called so.”  Daily we must pay attention to our lives and with deep intention choose the way that leads to holiness.  Of course the path of holiness demands sacrifice but this sacrifice leads to fullness of life.             

     The Lenten journey we have started still has weeks to go and it is easy to be overwhelmed by the expanse of the journey. Yet, as we move forward, we move forward with Christ who teaches us what it means to grow in holiness.  Becoming holy happens one day at a time.  Let us continue on the Lenten journey that will take us more deeply into the love of Christ.

Epiphany

Thought I'd share an Epiphany poem.   It is written by Sr. Mary Margaret Funk


Epiphany shows a sleepy world that Christmas
is not stillborn
or a crib feast to remain in gift shops
and cultural miniatures.


Epiphany is a bold eastern feast of
symbol and connectedness
to Christ's ongoing life of preaching and healing.


Though gifts were brought, the favor sought was peace
before nations began to dominate.


We kneel today; homage is fitting.
One star more than galaxies enlightens us:
Born is the Christ.

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.