Mountains

     Recently, my niece, who lives in the mountains west of Denver, Colorado, gifted me with a trip there to celebrate my Diamond Jubilee. She lives in Carbondale, CO, an old coal mining town, which sits at the foot of Mount Sopris. She can see this beautiful snow-covered mountain from her home. What a view!  No wonder she loves it there!

      

      No matter which direction she travels she is driving around mountains, some higher, some lower than 14,000 ft., with mountain streams running along beside her.  Her mother and I experienced many such rides over our week's stay, as we toured other mining towns as well: Aspen, a silver mining town; Crested Butte and Red Stone, coal mining towns; and Marble Mount, an active marble mining area. Everywhere there were snow topped mountains in the background.  In the fall the aspens in the foreground turn all shades of yellow, orange and red.The photo below was taken in

December.

     On my return, it took some time to get reacclimated to the lower altitude, and re-enter the monastic schedule. Now the Scriptures have a renewed symbol to captivate my attention; “The Mountain.”  

      God’s special place of Presence to the Chosen People: “While Israel was encamped in the desert of Sinai in front of the mountain, Moses went up the mountain to speak with God…The Lord told him, “I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also.” (Ex. 19:2-3, 9)

      “They moved on from the mountain of the Lord, a three days journey, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord which was to seek out their resting place went with them. When they set out, the cloud of the Lord was over them by day.” (Nu. 10:3-4)

      “In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills.  All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” (Is. 2:2-3)

      In the Psalms we pray: “High the mountains of Bashan; rugged the mountains of Bashan.  Why look you jealously, you rugged mountains, at the mountain God has chosen for his throne, where the Lord will dwell forever?” (Ps. 68:16-17)

      “Incline your heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke …reach out your hand from on high and rescue me…” (Ps. 144: 5-7)

      “Praise God you mountains and all you hills…” (Ps. 148:9)

      Jesus frequented the mountains to pray: “Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  He was transfigured before their eyes.  His face became dazzling as the sun, his clothes radiant as light…a bright cloud overshadowed them. Out of the cloud came a voice…” (Mt. 17: 1-9)

      I am so grateful for the mountains of our Liturgical opportunities where we gather in the presence of our God; to praise God with Christ in the Holy Spirit, to hear God’s word, to be fed for the journey, and to respond to the call to go and spread the Good News to all.  In Lectio Divina and personal prayer we individually place ourselves at the foot of the mountain of God and get overshadowed in the comfort of that cloud.

                Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB

Service at Caridad de Corazon

          A week at the border: It may sound dramatic, and it truly must be for those traveling north away from violence and poverty. But for this nun from Kentucky, it has mostly been a week of providing shelter on a daily basis for 3 to 30 people, that is, a week of cooking dinner and breakfast, washing dishes, washing bed clothes, making beds, cleaning and trying to be friendly in halting Spanish. That’s what it seems like on the surface.

          But Caridad de Corazon (Charity of the Heart) is so much more. Sister Ursula Herrera, O.S.B. has been here at Eagle Pass, Texas for about 20 years, first initiating a clinic for the under served people here and more recently being the primary source for services that provide whatever is needed by the individuals who come here, from shoe strings to money for attorneys.  

Sr. Ursula and Sr. Luz

          I understand that Eagle Pass is now one of only a few points where Border Patrol officers are processing asylum applicants. All of our guests have come to us after passing through ICE registration. Most of our guests have young children, a few have infants. One of our guests was pregnant when she arrived, gave birth 2 months ago and returned here to live Caridad de Corazon until yesterday when she was able to straighten out her paperwork and get on her way again. Another family is trying to work out a difficult issue with the father of the 2 children incarcerated and in danger of deportation home to a situation which will certainly mean death.  The mother has no papers to permit her to work to support her family. Sr. Ursula is helping them sort this all out.

Srs. Ursula and Teresa Ann Wolf

           When Sr. Ursula is not performing heroic feats of social work here in the U.S. she is delivering donations to agencies in Piedras Negras, just across the border and I have been blessed to accompany her. Here are photos of Sr. Ursula and Sr. Luz, Mexican Community of the Sorrowful Mother, at the girls’ orphanage, Casa Hogar de Nazaret (left) and of Srs. Ursula and Teresa Ann Wolf, O.S.B (right) . a volunteer from Watertown S.D. at the Soup Kitchen hosted by the Jewish community which feeds children after school because there is no lunch provided there. We were delivering donated supplies including school uniforms to both locations.
          For me, it is beautiful to experience the cooperation and compassion of the various religious and civic groups in responding to the humanitarian crisis that is here. God is surely here.
                    Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB

Feast of the Assumption and the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

          This week we celebrate the holy day of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother.

          A year ago I began volunteering once a month as a greeter at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, the mother church of our diocese. It is a magnificent Gothic church with incredible stained glass windows and mosaic stations of the cross. Just entering the church one is overwhelmed by the sheer light and beauty at every turn.

          My greatest joy is introducing the many visitors to its treasures. I am not a docent and do not give tours, but get to tell the guests about some of my favorite features.

           Friends of mine are surprised at the number of visitors who come from cities all over the United States. Some are here visiting friends and family and add the cathedral to their agenda. Others are in groups who include the cathedral as a “must see” on their itinerary. Most of us who’ve lived here for many years are so used to the cathedral that we underestimate its beauty and place in the history and culture of our area.

          Having been to Notre Dame in Paris I can attest to our basilica’s resemblance to that huge church. I have always told visitors that I found Notre Dame to be darker and less inviting than our own cathedral. Perhaps being half the size gives it an intimacy that Notre Dame doesn’t have or the light catches our windows better for some reason. Regardless, I am proud to show off this beautiful tribute to our Blessed Mother.

          If you have the chance to visit the cathedral again it is well worth the trip—the paintings by Duveneck, the wood work in the sanctuary, the baldachino, the organs, the stained glass windows, the Stations of the Cross; everything adds to the spiritual experience. Celebrate our Blessed Mother in the quiet splendor that is our basilica of the Assumption.

       Sr. Nancy Kordenbrock, OSB

Glory, Glory, Glory

        Glory—The word “glory” occurs often in the texts that make up our liturgy. Yesterday’s feast of the Transfiguration illuminated several definitions I found in the dictionary:

• v  Great honor, praise or distinction; renown
• v  majestic beauty and splendor
• v  a halo, nimbus or aureole

Did the scriptural writers follow the advice given to aspiring writers: “Write what you know.”? Did they try to express the experience of God’s glory and find it difficult? How would one find the right word after spending time on the mountain?

        Glory is often contrasted in these texts with the acknowledgment of ordinary human weakness. We read in 2 Cor. 4:6:

…God…has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars…

The shining and the light and the glory come from God and not from us.

            And further on Paul says:

            We do not lose heart…This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal

weight of glory beyond all measure.

The affliction and the future glory go together. The glory is God’s. We ascribe glory to God as we pray Glory be to the Father…, Glory to God in the highest… and numerous liturgical hymns. We do not understand how this glory will be shared, and like many biblical men and women, we are afraid to see the glory of God. Those who have come close, in near-death experiences, describe the light and the warmth coming toward them. These glimpses reassure us that God’s glory will not frighten but welcome.

          The psalmist this morning speaks in faith:

Surely your salvation is at hand for those who fear you,

and your glory will dwell in our land. (Psalm 85)

       Sr. Christa Kreinbrink, OSB