By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
I’ve been at a conference on religious life this week with Sisters from 57 different communities.
While informative, it’s also been a little jarring for this Benedictine.
Why? 2 reasons. Continue Reading
Benedictine Prayer
Why I Became – and Remain – a Benedictine Sister
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
After taking a few years to work and live my Catholic parish life, God sent me another message.
I was at church with my father and youngest sisters, when Sisters from a habited community filed in. The pastor introduced them, and they seemed very nice.
Called to Pray Together? Find Out with a Few Good Clues!
For those in monastic religious life, prayer practices take on both communal and private significance.
For instance, Benedictine Sisters pray together daily during Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist. Continue Reading
Letting God be God
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
I’ve been mulling over a passage from prayer recently: Relieve the anguish of my heart, and set me free from my distress. Preserve my life and rescue me. Do not disappoint me; you are my refuge. (Psalm 25) Continue Reading
Presence: A Poem
By Sister Margaret Murphy, OSB Continue Reading
Rooted in Scripture, Sharing … How?
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
The annual Monastic Institute at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn., provides a wonderful opportunity to study and reflect deeply on Benedictine spirituality for a few days every summer. Several of us usually go. I did last summer, and I’m still thinking about it. Continue Reading
A God Moment During Lauds
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
I have looked away, and kept silence, I have said nothing, holding myself in … (Isaiah 42:14)
We prayed this verse at Lauds recently, and it’s been on my mind ever since.
It’s funny at how you can say a phrase in prayer over and over for 7 years without thinking twice about it … until one day it stands out.
Definitely a God moment. Continue Reading
The Constant Interruption of Benedictine Prayer
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
As Benedictine Sisters, we come together 3 times a day (4 on Sunday) to pray in chapel. This wonderful rhythm of prayer dates back to St. Benedict’s time. Called Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office, or Opus Dei, we pray the psalms and other Scriptures morning, noon and evening. Continue Reading
Going Forth in Peace: Work and Prayer on Day 6
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Many people are familiar with the Benedictines’ motto of “work and prayer.” That is, Benedictines seek to balance prayer time and work time. Today, however, Sr. Antoinette helped us explore what it should really mean in practice.
Foremost, she said, work and prayer should be more than what we do. It should be what and how we live. Continue Reading
Join Us for November Prayers!
If you are close enough to join us for prayers, we welcome you! Check our schedule of Lauds, Eucharist, Noonday and Vespers. Hope to see you!
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