Creating Space

I think we could probably all agree that we desire God to be the center of our lives.  Our Lenten journey is a reminder to make this desire a reality.  It is easy to get off course and not realize that other things are creeping into our lives and taking up way too much space.  That’s where fasting comes in.  When we think of fasting we usually think of food.  That’s a good place to start.  When we fast from food for any period of time, our hunger pains quickly remind us that we cannot survive without food, especially the Bread of Life offered to us daily.  So . . .fasting from food is a good thing.  It is something I do to remind myself to turn to God for all my needs and to give myself to God wholeheartedly.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what fills my life, what takes up too much space in my heart.  I believe I am called to fast from these things as well.  It could be worrying, social networking, rigid ideas that stop me from loving etc.   This Lent I’m going to pay attention to what takes up too much space and then fast from it so that I can create more space for God in my everyday life.

Reflection:

Reflect on what takes up a lot of space in your life, what tends to consume you?  You might want to try fasting from it for even a week of Lent (if the whole of Lent seems like an impossibility) and pay attention to what happens within you and in the way you relate to others.

God of all blessings,

You desire to consume us with your love.

Help us to let go of those things that consume us so that we can make space for your love.

Give us the courage to give all to you so that we can truly receive all that you desire for us.

We ask this in your most holy name, Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Time to Begin Again

I have always loved Ash Wednesday.  Some people think that is strange but I don’t.   I like it because it is an opportunity to begin again.  We are all in need of this season of Lent.  The fact that churches throughout our country will be overflowing on this day of receiving ashes is evidence of that.  I am aware of my gifts but maybe even more of the areas where I fall short..  And so the Church gives this time to begin again, to turn to our Lord.  

In our monastery we have the tradition of filling out our Bona Opera (which means “Good Works” in Latin).  A little while before Ash Wednesday our Prioress gives us a card that says:  During these days of Lent, I, Sr __________________, will add to the usual measure of our service by way of . . .  Prayer  _____________________, Fasting ________________________ Almsgiving _________________________.   Each Sister spends time reflecting on these areas in her life and how she needs to grow.  After prayerful consideration, she fills it out and places it in a basket in our chapel.  During Mass on Ash Wednesday our Bona Operas are blessed as we begin the good work of Lent.  It is work, isn’t it?  It is hard to change, to grow, to let go of those parts of ourselves that don’t take us to God.  And, yet, grow we must if we are to become the person God has called us to be.

Reflection:

Reflect on the areas of your life where you most need to grow. Ask Jesus to help you turn back to him with all your heart.

What does Ash Wednesday mean to you?  Share the ways that this season of Lent calls you to grow.

Loving God,

You ask us to repent and believe in the Gospel

And to remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return.

We are nothing without you but with you we are everything.

Be with us as we begin this season of Lent.

May it be a time of continual turning to you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

DOUBLE CELEBRATION

\On Sunday, February 10th, the Sisters of St. Benedict in Beech Grove had a double reason to celebrate!  The Feast of St. Scholastica and the gift of the presence of our Archbishop!  Soon after Archbishop Tobin was appointed to our archdiocese we extended an invitation to have  him join us for the special Benedictine Feast of St. Scholastica.  This feast is especially important to us as St. Scholastica is known as the twin of St. Benedict, the founder of Benedictine Order.  

Sr. Mary Sylvester meets the
Archbishop

Archbishop Tobin joined us for Morning Prayer as we chanted the

psalms and sang the antiphons of this very special feast.  It was 

such a gift to have him join us.  After prayer he joined the 

community for coffee, food and conversation.  Archbishop Tobin

has such a friendly way about him.  It doesn’t take long in 

his presence before one feels totally at ease.  It was a joy to 

have Sr. Mary Sylvester, our 100 year old sister, meet him.  

He thanked her for her many years of faithful service.  

Gathering in our chapel for Mass we listened in intently as

Archbishop Tobin gave a powerful homily about St. Scholastica 

and what she teaches us and the Church.  One line from his 

homily that will stay with me always was when he said that the

Sr. Juliann, our Prioress, and
Archbishop Tobin

monastic vocation is a shining light in the heart of the Church and that it reminds everyone to prefer nothing whatever to Christ.  

Archbishop Tobin’s wisdom coupled with his delightful sense of 

humor touched me deeply.  I consider it a blessing to have him 

as our shepherd and have him lead us in the holy Mass.  Following

Mass we processed downstairs we sat down for a meal and 

more enriching conversation.  I thank God for this wonderful man 

and pray that the Holy Spirit will fill him with wisdom as he leads

us in and to Christ.

A story from St. Scholastica’s life

We know of her through the writings of St. Gregory the Great. Scholastica and Benedict were close and lived in monasteries near one another.  One of my favorite stories about them is a story about Scholastica’s perseverance in prayer.  Benedict and Scholastica used to meet once a year for holy conversation.  On the day of what was to become their final earthly meeting, Benedict came to visit Scholastica.  They spent the whole day praising God and discussing spiritual matters, as was their custom at these annual meetings. As evening approached and they were dining, Scholastica begged Benedict to stay until morning so they could continue their conversation. She begged, "Please do not leave me tonight, brother. Let us keep on talking about the joys of heaven until morning." He replied, "What are you saying, sister? You know I cannot stay away from the monastery." Scholastica then folded her hands on the table, lowered her head, and with tears flowing down her face, she began to pray. The clear sky darkened with clouds, and a rainstorm followed as she concluded her prayer. The storm began as soon as her prayer concluded. In fact, they coincided so closely that the thunder was already echoing as she raised her head. Benedict complained, "God forgive you, sister! What have you done?" Scholastica answered, "When I appealed to you, you would not listen to me. So I turned to my God, and he heard my prayer. Leave now if you can. Leave me here and go back to your monastery." Benedict was forced to remain the entire night. God answered the holy woman's hopeful prayer with a miracle.  If we could all have such faith!

Ordinary Time

       I am teaching a class on spiritual disciplines at a local university.  I am looking forward to journeying with 13 young women and men as they learn more about prayer and what it means to grow closer to God.  I am so thankful for the gift of being part of our community that has taught me the importance of faithfulness to prayer.   My life has been changed by all the opportunities I have been given to grow closer to the One I love.  I have also learned that it is in the ordinariness of daily life that change and transformation happens.  Sure there are mountaintop moments but these usually don't last.  It is in the ordinariness of daily life that extraordinary things happen.  Don't miss these ordinary moments.  Live into them and offer thanks to God!

HOLY VISITATIONS

Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 23, 2012

            Today we have the beautiful story of the Visitation.  The word visitation has a variety of meanings and can have positive or negative connotations. And yet, when we look at the word Visitation in light of this Gospel passage, our understanding of the experience of visitation takes on a particular shape.  This encounter between Mary and Elizabeth can teach us a lot about how our visitations, our encounters with others should be.

           

            Let us reflect for a moment on this special visitation.  Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth so that she can share the good news of Jesus.  Looking at it in another way we can say that Mary literally took Jesus to Elizabeth.  Elizabeth, paying attention to the movement within and recognizing the Presence in Mary responds with praise and thanksgiving.  In this experience of visitation we have a giving and receiving of the good news of Christ, a recognition, and a response of praise and thanksgiving.

            How would the visitations in our life look if they took on the shape of this holy visitation?  What would it be like if when we encounter another we try to bring to the other and receive from them the good news of Jesus Christ?  What if we let go of the obstacles that stop us from recognizing the presence of Christ in another?  And how would we be changed if we gave praise and thanksgiving for the many people who bring the good news of Jesus Christ to us.

            Last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary there was a visitation of an evil kind and great tragedy ensued.  The ripple effects of this tragedy will be felt forever.  For some it is very close because they lost someone near to their very heart. For all of us though it was the realization of how one person can visit such evil and change the course of life forever.  As I listen to the stories that keep flowing out of the little town of Newtown, I have been touched by the beautiful visitations that have happened even in the midst of such evil. 

            The teacher who put her students in a closet and before she closed the             closet to hide them from the gunman told them how much she loved them.              Later she said that if they were to have died she wanted “I love you” to be             the last words they heard. 

            Or the retired psychologist who took care of students who had fled from             the school in horror.   He just sat with them and listened to them as they             waited for their parents. 

            The pastor of St. Rose of Lima parish who wept with his parishioners as

            they received the news of the loss of so many of their loved ones.

            The same pastor who said to his parishioners on the following Sunday that             “we have to             let all the world see the faith of the parish of St. Rose of Lima.              For this faith, that has been so apparent to many during these last few             heart-            wrenching days, is not something new for the people of this church

             . . . it is not something made up …  or recently put on.  Your Catholic faith is             who             you are; your faith defines you. I can attest to this personally,” he             said,             “because of             the profound way your faith has transformed my own             life.”

            These stories of visitation in our day echo the beautiful visitation story of the Gospel we just heard.  The teacher brought Jesus to those children in the form of her words of love.  The retired psychologist received the presence of Christ in the form of those frightened children.  And the pastor of St. Rose of Lima parish responded to his people’s faith with praise and thanksgiving.

            The powerful story of the Visitation we celebrate in the Gospel this Fourth Sunday of Advent is celebrated in our lives and in the lives of those people in Newtown who are experiencing such grief.  Maybe we can commit ourselves this Christmas to being a little more attentive to the many opportunities we have for visitations in our life and may they help us bring the good news of Christ to others.  And, when someone reaches out to us, may we recognize the Christ in them and respond with praise and thanksgiving.  Just as Mary had to set out and travel to the hill country, we might have to climb the hill of our prejudices and struggles with other people and ask God to help us make space for all people.  This Christmas let us make this powerful story of the Visitation come alive and may we all be changed because of it.

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!