Another warm, breezy morning greets us as we gather in the dining room for our conference. Thunderstorms have been forecast for the afternoon, but the sky looks benign right now. Haze tints the horizon a pale white and a few tufts of wool pass lazily overhead. Down to earth, a chipmunk races between the bird feeders and her nest, cheeks bulging with her loot. Abbot John brings us back to our immediate purpose, saying, Good Morning. Continue Reading
Benedictine practices
Back from Travels, Welcoming a Guest
It has been a very loooooong month for me. As Lent ended I got bumped off course when I agreed to give a faculty in-service program. It was a last minute invitation that I accepted and the amount of preparation through me over the top, so to speak. Then I gave a student retreat at a local university. Then I was gone for ten days to a conference that I helped direct so it was a mountain of work.
The point I would like to share is that the reality of life is that we get unbalanced. Continue Reading
Stability and Our Unconditional Acceptance of God's Love
By Novice Jackie Walsh
There’s very little stability in the world today. The economy, natural disasters and relations in war-torn countries around the world are examples of instability. So is the fact that people change jobs, cities, houses, cars and even spouses more than ever before. Yet, even though we may be considered countercultural by many in our fast-paced, throw-away society, women like me are still being called to religious life and one of the promises we make at the time of our profession is stability. Continue Reading
The Feast of St. Benedict
Today as we celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict and remember his death, I had to return to my Rome experience of last May and June. That 6 weeks in Rome and traveling to all of St. Benedict’s sites makes everything come alive for me today. The reading at the Vigil was of Benedict’s death and the image of his monk brothers holding him up. In the garden courtyard at Monte Cassino is a bold statue depicting that scene. Nothing speaks more to me of Benedict’s teachings on community and the common life than that statue. Continue Reading
Looking Forward with Joy and Spiritual Longing on the 1st Sunday of Lent
By Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB
After suggesting we deny ourselves some food drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, St. Benedict said we are nevertheless to look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing. Thomas Merton said, nearly 1,500 years later, the purpose of Lent is not so much to do penance to satisfy for our sinfulness as a preparation to rejoice in God’s love. Continue Reading
Your Desert Experience
It is a practice in our Benedictine community to read Chapter 49 from the Rule of Benedict on Ash Wednesday. “The Observance of Lent’ is an insightful chapter that sets the Season of Lent into perspective. We read it yesterday as an introduction to Lauds. The first line of C49 can be rather startling ‘The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent’! Oh no..is usually my first reaction. In my experience Lent can be rather a ‘downer’ when we are focusing on our faults, limitations and repenting for those times we are less than. I am not sure about a life of that!!! But, I admit, that is a small view of Lent. Continue Reading
An Ancient Form of Prayer for Lent
By Prioress Sister Phyllis McMurray, OSB
Lord, impart to us the meaning of the words of Scripture and the light to understand it. St. Hilary of Poiters
We read in the gospels of occasions when Jesus withdrew from others in order to pray in solitude. One episode was when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. When tempted by the devil to satisfy his hunger, Jesus replied, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Continue Reading
A Powerful Way to Engage your Passions
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for me. Everything fun and energizing, just plain BUSY. First of all, I met with a 48 year old woman who is serious about our Benedictine life. Continue Reading
Our Benedictine Community Prayer
This morning as I prepared to pray Morning Prayer with the Community I invited all the peoples of the world to gather to give glory and praise to God. Continue Reading
Peacemaking During Advent
In the First Sunday of Advent reflection I spoke of being quiet, of silence, and of listening to our own heart and feelings. I spoke of noticing what is going on the inside. These are very important qualities for developing spirituality any time but especially during Advent.
This week’s readings call us to peace-making, to reconciliation with each other and with all of creation, to transforming our hearts, opening them to a greater awareness of the presence and peace of God. Continue Reading
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