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.