The Faithful Departed and Purification

          As a postulant in 1964 I recall making multiple visits to chapel to pray for the dead. In order to have each one “count” as a separate visit one had to leave the chapel and come back in. It was probably November 2, and I do not know if it was a monastery custom or a church practice. Certainly there was a “more is better” point of view behind the practice. I could not find its source.

          The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed was instituted by Odilo, Abbot of Cluny in France, in 998. It was accepted in Rome as part of the liturgical year in the 14^th century after the monks spread the custom of this remembrance. The departed who were not quite ready for heaven spent time in purgatory, less an actual place than an opportunity to be purified. Western theology in the Middle Ages focused on the penal and expiatory character of purgatory. Eastern theology explored its mystical nature, as a process of maturation and spiritual growth.

 

          The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but who are still imperfectly purified…undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” How often do we hear ourselves and others say that he or she went straight to God. We are not entitled to judgment, so we testify to the maturation and spiritual growth that has been a witness to us.

          Following the tradition of centuries, we pray for the dead at each Eucharist:

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face. (Eucharistic Prayer II)

          Two lines from our Liturgy of the Hours readings affirm the belief that God’s love pursues us until we are face to face:

St. Augustine: “…Faith…assures us that when believers die they go but a little distance from us that they may pass to a better state.” (4^th-5^th c.)

St. Catherine of Genoa: “God so transforms the soul that it knows nothing other than God…God will not cease until the soul is brought to its perfection.” (15^th c.)

          I am long past 18 when I made multiple visits to chapel on Nov. 2. My parents have joined the “faithful departed.” These readings and those from the lectionary for this day confirm that:

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.        (Romans 6:4)

           Sr. Christa Kreinbrink, OSB

Return on Investment

                A year or so ago I started exchanging gratitude text with a friend each day. The text became a source of connection and mutual accountability for taking time each day to acknowledge the positive in our lives. Recently, I’ve taken the practice as routine without much thought on its larger impact. That changed last week.

                In a moment of mindless hurriedness, I locked my keys in the car. What I hoped would result in a quick resolution became a two and half hour wait for assistance.  After my initial frustration with myself my focus shifted. I noticed the beautiful fall afternoon as I waited by the car.  I was aware of a sense of relief that this occurred in a safe area in the daylight. Kind souls let me back into the school I had just left which allowed me to get some work done. 

                After receiving a text that assistance would soon arrive I went back to the car. The next 30 minutes involved several phone calls from the driver trying to figure out exactly where I was after GPS led him astray. During the third phone call he expressed his frustration with being led astray and how he often is called all kinds of names by angry people waiting for assistance.Without pause I responded with a promise not to call him any names or to express anything but gratitude for his assistance. Once he arrived he quickly opened my car and sent me on my way with a warm goodbye and a wish for a safe evening.

                It was only as I was driving home that I paused to think about my awareness and reactions through the afternoon.I realized that a situation that once would have only brought frustration, anger and impatience took on a whole different experience. My gratitude practice with my friend, 20 years of praying the psalms in the monastery, and many other practices over the years have shaped my reactions that afternoon. The return on investment of my time and focus was evident last week. The unwelcomed and unexpected event became an opportunity for gratitude, awareness of grace, and even joy at the kindness of others.

This experience gives me hope to persevere even when I wonder about the impact of my investment.   It also reminds me of my own humanness as I now work on being more mindful (especially when getting out of the car). May each of us persevere in those practices which mold us into more kind, compassionate and grateful human beings!

Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB

Sauntering toward the light

          Cincinnati is not known as a city that comes alive at night like downtown Chicago or New York City. This past week, however, the region was abuzz, “alight” if you will (pun intended), with the BLINK festival. “BLINK is one of the largest light, art and projection mapping events in the nation. This year it spanned more than 30 city blocks and crossed the historic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River. BLINK turned "the region into an outdoor art museum with large-scale projection mapping installations, murals, and immersive art.” While most of this year’s event will remain a mystery to me, I did manage to see the displays on the Covington side of the river. And they did not disappoint.

          While the world’s largest disco ball was a sight to see, there were other stops along the walking tour that prompted a bit more pause. One was the Suspension Bridge. It was stunning. But the more impressive sight was the people crossing the bridge. From my vantage point, I could not hear them or see any features, just silhouettes were visible. Just people. But they just coming, and coming, and coming, slow and steady. It was an endless procession sauntering toward the light. Perhaps there was more to see on the other side—something brighter, more colorful, something new. At the very least, there were many opportunities to see our world differently, if only for a few brief nights.

          Did I walk the bridge? Not a chance. I didn’t want to be caught in that crowd after hearing reports of the bridge swaying! But will I saunter towards the light? I certainly hope so.

          Eileen O'Connell

Feast of the Holy Rosary

In just five more days we will celebrate the feast of the Holy Rosary. It also reminds me of the way I came upon my name as a religious (Sr. Victoria.) In 1946 I was a nun in our high school senior class play about a Catholic Boarding School. How could the director find enough habits to outfit the nuns in the play? The elementary school principal had the answer for me. Her deceased sister, Sr. Victoria, had my perfect fit. I returned the habit, but the name stuck.

Next, I wanted to know from which title of Mary the name was derived. I found the titles in alphabetical order and far to the bottom was “Our Lady of Victory.“ As you might guess, the origin of that title would be another blog! After I graduated high school in 1946 and entered St. Walburg Monastery, the postulant phase ended, and It was time for the novitiate year and for a new name. We were given the opportunity to write three names in order of our preference. Was I ever excited as my first choice, Sr. Victoria’ was announced.

In preparation for the feast on October 7^th, I enjoyed doing a little research on the Holy Rosary. I discovered that the word rosary came from the Latin word, Rosarium, crown of roses or garland of roses. That brought additional thought for me when I say the rosary. I had known that people in very early times counted prayers on a string of beads. I did not know that the Our Father was the prayer repeated 150 times.

In 1214 Our Lady is said to have appeared to St. Dominic, gave him a rosary, and told him to promulgate the rosary for the protection Mary gives the Church in answer to the faithful who pray the rosary. She also told him to substitute the Hail Mary for the Our Fathers and that adding the meditation on the mysteries would help eradicate a current heresy. While this apparition may be legend, there is adequate historical proof that Dominic and the Dominicans who followed him did as Mary requested.

I had no idea that the 150 beads were related to the 150 psalms. Then someone had the idea of separating each set of 10 Hail Mary with an Our Father. In monasteries it became the custom for the uneducated who could not read to substitute the rosary for selections from 150 psalms that the educated prayed several times a day.

. From the 16^th to the early 20^th century the structure of the rosary remained essentially the same. In the early 20^th century the Fatima prayer was added to the end of each decade and became very popular. There were no other changes until 2002 when Pope John Paul II instituted the Luminous Mysteries. For me these were a beautiful addition and brought the mysteries of the rosary full circle.

         Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB