Month: March 2016

March 28, 2016

Easter: Personal Emmaus/Resurrection Moments

path-with-walker

Springtime is the perfect season for renewal! Here’s the final reflection from Sister Mary’s 15-part mini-retreat to refresh your soul throughout Lent and Easter. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’ posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk. 24:32-33)

On Wednesday of Easter Week the Gospel is from Luke 24: 13-35, the story of the 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus. It is one of my favorite stories in the Gospels. Continue Reading

March 28, 2016

Beyond the Empty Tomb

tomb-with-lilies-cropped

By Sister Marianne Burkhard, OSB

The story of the disciples running to the empty tomb has often baffled me (John 20:1-9). This year it suddenly seemed clear:

Visiting the tomb of a loved one is  part of our grief process, as we still want to be close to the one who left.

Whether a loved one has died, an important relationship has ended,  or a job or ministry has come to an end, we face a tomb, a great emptiness in our lives, in our house, in our daily living. Continue Reading

March 24, 2016

Easter: Feast of the Resurrection!

white-lilies-for-fb

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4; I Cor 5:6b-8; Gospel John 20:1-9

Do you remember Easter Sunday as the day you wore a new hat and coat and shoes and purse? I do. I also remember finding my Easter basket after Mass.

As adults, we might consider the deeper meaning of all things new on Easter Sunday, the Feast of the Resurrection. Continue Reading

March 24, 2016

Let it Shine!

magnolia-bud

The word “Lent” actually literally means Springtime, the perfect season for renewal! Here’s Sister Mary’s mid-week pick-me-up for the “mini-retreat” that will refresh your soul throughout Lent. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’s posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

Such confidence Jesus has in us, as he proclaims:  “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5: 14-16)

I‘ve been repeating that phrase every day this Holy Week, and on Wednesday, as I was thinking of entering into the Triduum (the 3 days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday), I sensed God saying: Continue Reading

March 22, 2016

Holy Week: Be the Light

bell-tower-by-sheila-at-sunrise-for-fb-and-blog

The word “Lent” actually literally means Springtime, the perfect season for renewal! Here’s Sister Mary’s Week #6 of the mini-retreat that will refresh your soul throughout Lent. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’ posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

You are the light of the world … your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5: 14-16)

If you have ever been in total darkness, you know how scary it is. You can’t see!

Then someone lights a match and slowly your eyes adjust and you begin to see around you. Continue Reading

March 20, 2016

Holy Week in a Benedictine Monastery

andrea-braids-palms

Sister Andrea Giltner, OSB braids palms.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

Holy Week is upon us, and, as many people do, we make plans to be with family. palm sunday chapel cropped

For us, that means our Benedictine Sisters.

We begin with Palm Sunday, with the blessing of the palms and a procession around the chapel.

The palms, waved at Jesus upon his arrival into Jerusalem, also signal victory … a hard-won victory. Continue Reading

March 18, 2016

Mid-Week #6: Persevere!

candles-and-hands

The word “Lent” actually literally means Springtime, the perfect season for renewal! Here’s Sister Mary’s mid-week pick-me-up for the “mini-retreat” that will refresh your soul throughout Lent. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’s posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

We’ve all heard the old adage: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s that perseverance and determination on the part of the blind Bartimaeus that so endears this man to me. Continue Reading

March 18, 2016

Palm Sunday: Serious about Following Jesus?

jesus-convicted

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

We began this series of gospel reflections noting that Jesus’ particular geographical place helps illustrate his message. The desert, for instance, means barrenness, while the mountaintop means nearness to God.

Today’s Gospel readings move from the entrance to Jerusalem, where children (filled with new life and joy) run to meet Jesus with their palm branches, to the Skull (the place where Jesus – and other criminals – meet their death). Continue Reading

March 14, 2016

Week #6: What Do You Want Me to Do for You?

sunrise-boll-cropped

The word “Lent” actually literally means Springtime, the perfect season for renewal! Here’s Sister Mary’s Week #6 of the mini-retreat that will refresh your soul throughout Lent. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’ posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

The story of the blind Bartimaeus is one of my very favorite in the Gospels.

Bartimaeus is sitting along the roadside begging as Jesus passes by. He calls out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Reprimanded by the crowd to keep still, Bartimaeus calls out all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.” (Mark 10:51) Continue Reading

March 10, 2016

Letting Go to Move Forward

trapeze-artist

The word “Lent” actually literally means Springtime, the perfect season for renewal! Here’s Sister Mary’s mid-week pick-me-up for the “mini-retreat” that will refresh your soul throughout Lent. Here’s a list of all of the weeks’ posts.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

Imagine yourself flying through the air on a trapeze bar. Another bar swings forward. You grab it, but don’t let go of the original bar now behind you. You freeze mid-point, neither moving forward nor backward.

In a word, you’re stuck. Continue Reading