Month: October 2016

October 28, 2016

Week #6: Marriage, Gratitude, Suffering, Compassion

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“After decades of living on the edge, Heather King settled into sobriety, marriage, and a financially lucrative but unfulfilling career as an upwardly mobile lawyer.” Amazon calls her book, Redeemed, “An unforgettable, fervent, darkly funny tale of an ongoing, stumbling conversion.” Join us as we read, discuss, and share our thoughts about it in our Fall, 2016 Wisdom Seekers Book Club!

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

CHAPTER 15  (Marriage, Gratitude)

Married by a Justice of the Peace, basically oblivious of the hard work involved in a marriage, and with her $35 wedding ring, King remained married for over 14 years.  Continue Reading

October 28, 2016

Celebrating Loved Ones on All Saints Day

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The Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, celebrate All Saints Day by remembering the Sisters who have gone before us, as well as all of our other loved ones.

By Sister Charlotte Sonneville, OSB

“Happy Feast Day!” I called out to my grumpy brother.

It was All Saints Day, and he was feeling a bit grouchy. I, on the other hand, was feeling joyful. All Saints Day is a lovely feast day! Continue Reading

October 26, 2016

What Will Upset Your Whole Life … and Lead Somewhere Wonderful?

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… something completely new and unexpected happens, something that upsets their hearts and their plans, something that will upset their whole life. They see the stone removed from before the tomb; they draw near, and they do not find the Lord’s body. It is an event that leaves them perplexed and hesitant, full of questions … (Pope Francis)

By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Newness – change – challenges us. When out of our control, it often makes us fearful. As Pope Francis says, it can leave us perplexed and hesitant … full of questions.

This quote has stayed with me since I read it a couple of weeks ago. Continue Reading

October 24, 2016

Week #5: The Willed Optimism of a Born Pessimist

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“After decades of living on the edge, Heather King settled into sobriety, marriage, and a financially lucrative but unfulfilling career as an upwardly mobile lawyer.” Amazon calls her book, Redeemed, “An unforgettable, fervent, darkly funny tale of an ongoing, stumbling conversion.” Join us as we read, discuss, and share our thoughts about it in our Fall, 2016 Wisdom Seekers Book Club!

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

CHAPTER 13  (Barbara, the Dancer)

Living in Los Angeles, King’s “willed optimism of a born pessimist” slowly begins to let her see some good and positive things about the city.  Where does she find the good? Continue Reading

October 14, 2016

Lesson and gift: How my Tribunal Ministry awes me

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By Sister Marianne Burkhard, OSB

Sister Marianne serves as a Canon Lawyer in the Peoria diocese, helping restore sacramental life for those who are divorced. “Once people come to us, they should know that they’ve come through the worst. They’ve survived and grown and come to a better place. To visit that failed marriage again will promote more healing. We want to help them achieve that. We want to help bring them back to the sacraments.”

Looking over my 23 years of working in the marriage Tribunal, the first important lesson is a very marianne-small-for-blogBenedictine one: Listen! Continue Reading

October 7, 2016

Week #4: A Little (Growing) Light

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“After decades of living on the edge, Heather King settled into sobriety, marriage, and a financially lucrative but unfulfilling career as an upwardly mobile lawyer.” Amazon calls her book, Redeemed, “An unforgettable, fervent, darkly funny tale of an ongoing, stumbling conversion.” Join us as we read, discuss, and share our thoughts about it in our Fall, 2016 Wisdom Seekers Book Club!

PLEASE NOTE: Wisdom Seekers Book Club has been rescheduled due to Sister Martina’s funeral. We will resume Wed. Oct. 19 with a discussion of Chapters 10-12.

By Sister Mary Core, OSB

Our group discussion this week was again lively and engaging. We covered the material in chapters 6-9 in a random manner, as opinions about the author and her memoir were shared with much feeling. Continue Reading