Thanksgiving 2013

     Reflecting on Thanksgiving of course brings me to how grateful I am living in this country. Despite its problems it has provided a rather soft life and since I am a wimp I feel terribly blessed as I am sure many others do as well. i cannot imagine living anywhere else.

     So as I compiled my long list of thanks that I am sure resembles yours I paused at technology. For it enables us to enter the lives of persons and peoples living at great distances.We see those suffering great traumas of war and disasters, famine and disease. I am grateful. It gives me another way to be Christ to my neighbor.I usually think of Jesus in terms of kindness, charity, forgiveness, etc. But Jesus suffers. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, “How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a mother bird collects her young under her wings.”(Luke 13) I can be part of that Jesus as well and ever more so thanks to our many media sources.  Please join me in celebrating that we are one.

     For another take on gratitude I invite you to revisit Sr. Aileen's blog posted July 17,2013.

     Enjoy the holidays.   Sr. Mary Rabe, OSB

Visio Divina

     “Visio Divina” or Divine Seeing, or Seeing the Word - is much like the prayer form, “Lectio Divina” or Divine Reading, or Praying the Word.  Only here I pay attention to what I see, how God is revealing God’s self to me through the sights, things, art works, people around me.  These are some examples that come to mind:

     Right now the fall foliage is breathtakingly beautiful. How can we help seeing God’s beauty, and stand or sit in awe and wonder at what God has done and does seasonally in this climate.  Praise God! Take time to notice, allow it to fill you, feel the love and warmth of God’s unconditional live.  Such a variety of trees; Ginko, Maple, Oak, Sycamore, Sweet Gum, Moses Bushes displaying their leaves in all shades of yellows, oranges, rusts, reds, browns and even blacks, all shades of the flames of Spirit fire, consuming the leaves as they ready for the death of winter, and anticipate the resurrection of spring.  This is a symbol of the Paschal Mystery.  Every tree, every leaf is special, as we are each unique and special to God.

     One of our Oblates just shared with me another experience of “Visio Divina” using the illuminations from the new St. John’s Bible.  Each of the three sessions of the workshop she is attending is centering around one of the illuminations.  The first was from the Creation Story from the Book of Genesis that the artist, Donald Jackson, depicted so creatively.  The group listened to the scripture text and allowed the word to dwell within them.  Then gazing on the Creation illumination in seven panels asked God to open the eyes of their hearts and enable them to see what God wanted them to see.  Finally they prayed for inner transformation for themselves and each other.  Laura was amazed and moved by this prayerful experience, and called me to share.  She was eagerly waiting the next two sessions.

     This brought to mind our community retreat a few years ago, when Sr. Irene Nowell, OSB, used many of the illuminations from the St. John’s Bible in much the same way, projecting them on the chapel way, where we were overwhelmed by their beauty and power.  I was profoundly moved by this experience, and realized that this is what the committee behind the Bible did to come up with these powerful illuminations of the Word of God. It was truly “Divine Seeing”.

     I believe that Julian of Norwich must have prayed in this way as she allowed the hazel nut in her hand to speak to her of the God who made it, who loves it, and who preserves it.  From her “Revelations” she shared that she saw in it that “God is the creator and the protector and the lover.  And that we are not fully at ease because we seek rest in things that are so little.  We must come to recognize our God, who is all powerful, all wise, all good - who is our true rest.”

     Let us open our eyes and as well as our hearts to what God has set before us in so many ways night and day. Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB

We Remember ...

       We have had prose and poetry on our blog but no jokes.  So I will break the tradition, it also goes

with my blog.

       “A couple of friends were talking recently and they agreed that the one who died first would let the other know what heaven was like. One of the friends died and went to Heaven. She got word to her earthly friend. Heaven is wonderful! I have good news and bad news for you.The good news is that they have a beautiful big ball field! The bad news is that you are pitching tomorrow.” 

       On November 1, we celebrated All Saints Day and on November 2, we celebrated All Souls day.  It indeed was a celebration on both days of the Communion of Saints.  All of us have had close relatives and friends die and we still grieve their loss. These days help us to remember them and pray to and for them and know that some day we will be reunited with them.

       Sr. Barbara Woeste, OSB

A Way to Pray

          Three essential items get me started every morning, namely: a pen, a notebook and a bible. These facilitate an awareness of God’s presence and help me begin the day with God. Usually God’s words in the day’s Mass reading sparks questions, comments, exclamations in mind and heart and result in a short period of wordless prayer. Sometimes this is a mixture of thinking, questioning, or responding in awe.

         Other times my prayer requires sheer perseverance to read the scripture passage several times and be patient in listening more openly without forcing a “conversation”.  The active listening itself becomes my prayer.  Whatever personal presence, will and time are given, I believe the prayer is always heard by God.

       I count on it.   Sr. Martha Walther, OSB

What a Litany!

       As the feast of All Saints was approaching, I wanted to think of a special way to celebrate it this year. The first thing that came to my mind was the Litany of Saints. I remembered hearing that litany at the annual Easter Vigil ever since I was in the seventh grade! 

     I discovered that the litany was used in Rome as far back as 590 and that it is one of only six litanies authorized by the Holy Sea for public services. An abbreviated form is used at infant baptisms. A longer form is used at the election of a New Pope, at the blessing of an abbot, the dedication of a Church and at some religious professions.

     As I read the Litany of Saints, I began to feel overwhelmed. I felt as if I was trying to count the stars in the universe or the sands on a sea shore. The litany includes three intercessions to Mary, and at least 50 saints are mentioned by name. Then saints are grouped into categories, e.g.,  all ye holy monks, holy priests and  levites, holy bishops and confessors, holy doctors, holy martyrs, holy virgins and widows, holy men and women, angels, archangels, apostles, evangelists, innocents, patriarchs and prophets. 

     After looking at all the categories listed, I realized that one of the categories includes all of us who strive to live a holy life and our holy deceased loved ones!

Only a graced and Spirit-filled author could compose such a comprehensive litany.

When I pray the litany I’m going to add the names of some holy people that are part of my life. I enjoy that idea, but I may need to pray the litany in parts. 

      Writing this post became a gift for me as I have never before experienced identifying  at such depth with the entire Communion of  Saints.

     Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB

Festivals of October

    

         The leaves are slow to turn this year, it seems. Taking a day off to meander about the commonwealth, we were graced by a beautiful day with deep blue skies and mostly green leaves. No frost yet should have been a clue. Scenic Byway Route 68 South brought us to Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, the site of one of the last battles of the American Revolution. Nearly 70 Kentuckians were killed by the British and Indian tribes in the 15 minute-battle on August 19, 1782. Kentucky was then part of Virginia.

         At my brother’s family’s recent Pumpkin Fest, I learned that one can watch a video of selected fireworks before purchasing. No doubt there are even reviews online. Tony’s firework finale was spectacular. While I was at Pumpkin Fest, the community was enjoying an Oktoberfest meal. No fireworks, but homemade pretzels and a variety of October-styled beer. 

         The theme for Halloween party costumes this year is “Art Masterpieces”. Prior years’ themes have been Old and New Testament characters, Benedictines throughout history, Disney characters, and Aesop fables. The party is a yearly display of creativity, humor and the ability to come up with something at the last minute. 

         One day soon there will be a frost followed by splendid leaves all about. If that day is also warm and sunny, we may seek out another scenic byway.

                        Sr. Christa Kreinbrink, OSB

Religious Communities Against the Death Penalty

       Almost two decades ago Sister of Divine Providence Alice Gerdeman, now Director of Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center in Cincinnati, approached me to begin a conversation that led to the loose association of those of us in vowed life who have active ministries in the state of Kentucky and who have a passion about justice and a felt responsibility to address the needless and merciless killing of people by legal execution.

      In 1996 we organized Religious Communities Against the Death Penalty to educate our own communities about capital punishment, to promote healing for victims and families and to pray with and for all those who are involved in carrying out the death sentence. On May 22, 1997, a little over 2 months before Harold McQueen was executed by the people of Kentucky we began was has become an almost yearly practice of visiting and praying with the men on death row at Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville KY.

       We are now planning for our 2013 Fall visit where we will pray and chat with the men from death row who will be coming to chapel where we usually gather in a group. Our conversations are always inspiring. We have come to know some of the men pretty well over these years as we recognize them as God’s children who have made horrible mistakes.

       We also hold the victims of murder and their families (cf: www.mvfr.org) in our hearts as we pray in the sure confidence that Jesus calls us all to assist in the process of reconciliation with one another.

I feel incredibly blessed to be involved in this ministry of support and reconciliation. It is amazing what a wonderful choice it has been for me to become a Benedictine sister because it is this vocational path that has brought me to this point.

                           Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB