Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is always, well usually, a very pretty time of year in northern KY. Today, The sky is bright blue; the air is close to 40; leaves, though nearly gone, have a bit of color. Best of all, I just saw, for the first time, a hawk sitting in the grass finishing off lunch. Usually, I see them in the air looking for prey.

Thanksgiving is also a time when I remember my parents who were married on this date in St. Bernard's Abbey Church in Cullman, AL. On that day, the abbot told them "to send one back." I am grateful I'm the one who entered this community of Benedictine women. I've never regretted that decision.

May each of you have a very happy Thanksgiving as you gather with family and friends.

Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup

Then and Now

      When I entered our community three months after high school graduation in 1946, I talked to my 8th grade teacher, Sr. Rita Kettman, who offered to arrange a meeting with the superior and to accompany me. I felt sure that God was calling me to religious life; however, I had no clue what it would be like. The only thing I assumed was that I would be saying pretty many prayers. I had never before been in the monastery building or what the accommodations would be like, nor did it matter. I just wanted to be a nun. I loved and admired all the nuns who had taught me and I wanted to be like them. This was a far cry from how the process is handled today.

          When sharing with the six other postulants how we had decided to become a nun, some said they had always wanted to be a nun. They liked to play teaching school while draping their heads with a veil (frequently a diaper.) I liked to do things that I saw nuns doing, e.g,, I had made a habit of making a visit to church after school. Some of my teachers were also there. They frequently extended their arms in the form of across seemingly saying some prayers. So when I prayed at home sometime, I imitated what the nuns did. I would go to my parent’s bedroom, extend my arms and say some prayers. One evening my mother happened to walk in and saw me. I was startled when I heard her call to my brother, “Jerry, Come help me with your sister. She’s having a fit!"

          I was very surprised to discover that all of our prayers were said in Latin. They were quite lengthy, and my four years of high-school Latin were of little help. It was enough for me to know that we were praising God and to assume that God was pleased. At some point we were given a diurnal with each page in two columns, one side in Latin and the other with the English translation. Heaven sent! All our prayers today are in English. What a pleasure to praise God in our native tongue and to remember some of God's words to say throughout the day.

          I was delighted to find that we could have visitors one Sunday a month. It was the custom that we would not go home again except for one chosen day prior to our receiving the habit. Seldom was a lay person seen in the monastery. Blessing of blessings! We now have the opportunity to welcome lay visitors and to show what our charism of hospitality looks like in practice. It is commonplace to receive a note from visitors complementing on our hospitality.

          While focusing on the a few of the contrasts between then and now, I need to add that there are many aspects at the core of religious life that have never changed and that fill us with joy. A few examples would be our community prayers, our love for one another, our common vision, and on and on. I will save that for another blog.

               
Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB

Year of Women Religious in the Diocese of Covington

     Several weeks ago Bishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington, announced a Year of Women Religious (February 2, 2012-February 2, 2013). Good News! The diocese has welcomed women religious for over 150 years. Currently there are five houses (institutes) of women religious: The Passionist Nuns, The Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence,The Sisters of Notre Dame, The Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker, and us, The Benedictine Sisters of St.Walburg Monastery. There are quite a few other sisters who live in and serve the people of the diocese: The Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm who run Carmel Manor and The Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Over the years many other communities of women religious were here and left behind institutions and buildings that are still serve our people, such as the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor who opened St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, whose former Academy building provides affordable housing for the elderly. We come and stay and we come and go—at all times being faithful to our particular call, charism and mission. 

    As different religious institutes we follow different rules and have different charisms. We Benedictines follow the 6^th century Rule of St. Benedict and his mandate to seek God in community, prayer (liturgy of the hours and lectio) and work. What all women religious have in common is our baptismal consecration that finds its fullness in our complete consecration to God through profession of vows. During this coming year we hope to find ways to communicate to this diocese our gratitude for their generous support, stories that reveal the meaning and lifestyle of each institute and plant the seeds of a vocation in many women. Join Bishop Foys and each religious institute in this diocese and help us accomplish our hope for the future. Help us get out the word that the Church needs women religious. Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup, OSB

Vowed Life as a Benedictine

     At a recent Listen retreat held here at St. Walburg Monastery some of the young women wanted to know more about "vowed life." The topic is broad and may seem a little abstract. I interpret it in a Benedictine sense.

     "Vowed life" means consecrated life or a religious vocation. Both terms refer to a person's response to God by way of a public promise or profession. For Benedictines that includes the community confirmation of her profession to live and grow together in a lifelong relationship with God.

     For Benedictines "vowed life" means participation in a continuing communal commitment to Christ. Benedictines publicly profess three monastic vows which guide and free us to live together and love wholeheartedly. The three monastic vows are: Stability in a particular monastic community, which supports a woman's celibacy; Obedience according to the norms of the Gospel, the rule of Benedict and the Federation's Constitutions. Obedience is shown by the sister's living response to her prioress, her sisters, and the Church with its chief pastor, the Pope; Fidelity to the monastic way of life, which means living out Gospel values with single-heartedness, turning from self-centeredness, and holding all goods in common with her sisters. Common ownership as an effect of Benedictine monastic profession means that we provide for and share life with one another.

     Benedictines give priority to prayer and community because this is where our lifelong search for God happens. We structure our lives to support these essential elements and our mission "to serve Christ in the young and the old, the sick and the poor, the stranger and the guest." Since formation takes place in the center of the community's life, the monastery provides for each member's growth and well-being, physical, spiritual, social, emotional, educational and professional.

      As you see, "vowed life" is a broad topic and involves several other concepts, like authority, belonging, talents, individuality, personalities, relationships, abilities, collaboration, cooperation, etc. Because the long Benedictine tradition of vowed life is an unique call to practical reverences, adaptability and hospitality, these topics are relevant daily.    Sr. Martha Walther, OSB

Where are the women who want to seek God in prayer, community and service??

     I’ve just spent parts of the past two days with over fifty leaders of women’s religious institutes from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In our discussions it was clear that we believe in the choice we each made years ago to join a religious community—in my case, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery. We are faithful to our baptismal call, to the Gospel, our rule, charism, constitutions and perpetual profession. We are formed in the tradition of complete self-donation. We believe the Church needs and desires such commitment. 

     We know our median ages and our dwindling numbers. As individuals we will die one day. Our communities may die too, but we don’t believe that has to happen. We wonder, “Are there women who aspire to give totally of themselves to seek for God in prayer, community and service to others? If there are, tell them about us. If not, why not? We and the Church want to know.

      Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup, OSB