By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Visit the monastery this time of year and you might be surprised. All our Christmas decorations are still up! Christmas music is still playing!
That’s because the Church celebrates Christmas until the Baptism of Jesus next Monday. We also celebrate Epiphany for a week. Not too much time for such a momentous event! Continue Reading
By Sister Mary Core, OSB
Now the Magi have arrived at the Baby’s side, bearing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Gifts fit for a king. What did this mean? Continue Reading
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB
New Year’s Day brings us to a new day, a new year, a new resolve in our lives.
It brings us to a new awareness that the Babe, Jesus, did not stay in the crib. He grew in wisdom and grace. He is in the world, in all of creation but essentially he is in our hearts. He is in the lives of everyone … even those who do not recognize him!
Jesus is present in the poor and the rich, in the well and the sick, in the peaceful and in those who are at war. How will you recognize Him? Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
As we experience the final Sunday of Advent – where Mary says “yes” to God – we are invited to explore our own hearts, our own responses.
Do we say “Yes” to God? To hope? To tomorrow? Continue Reading
Chapters 24-25 by Sister Mary Core, OSB
After 5 days, Ananias and some of the elders arrived from Jerusalem, so Paul can now have a formal trial before the procurator, Felix, in Caesarea.
Tertullus, the “attorney” for Ananias and the Jews, begins with laudatory words about Felix, certainly meant to sway Felix in favor of the Jews. Continue Reading
Chapters 13-15 by Sister Mary Core, OSB
Paul and Barnabas take their message to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.
In every town their audience is divided between believers and unbelievers … an emotional hotbed for all.
At Lystra, Paul heals a man lame from birth, causing the people to believe he and Barnabas are the Greek gods Hermes and Zeus. Continue Reading
Chapters 1-7 by Sister Mary Core, OSB
As we begin our study of the Acts we recall that it was written between 80-90 A.D. by Luke, a Syrian physician from Antioch and probable companion of Paul. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
He was sent not to die but to share the life and love that is the very essence of the Holy One-in-Three. – Sister Barbara Reid, OP
I read this recently, and it has stuck with me for a couple of reasons.
First, Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB invited us to consider something similar during our summer retreat. He said we can over-focus on the cross and the suffering and pain Jesus went through. That yes, Jesus’ pain is part of the story, but only part. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
At one of the conferences I went to this summer, I experienced a particularly graced prayer time. It happened nearly spontaneously, when the Benedictines – there were 4 of us from around the country – came together at the end of a busy day of meetings to pray Vespers.
Believe it or not, we prayed from our iPads! Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
God looks down from heaven … to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Psalm 53
As we prayed this verse at Lauds recently, a question a friend had posed popped into my head. “Why have you made the choice to be a Catholic Sister when so few are doing so? Aren’t you afraid that your numbers are growing smaller?”
I’d be silly – and untruthful – to say it has never crossed my mind. But, then, there are a number of things I also think of. Continue Reading
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