Community members are rooted
in Christ by the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio.
Religious Life is a call to
living in community. It is a day-to-day encounter with one’s sisters
who have also answered the same call.
There are many personalities
in community that we encounter day to day. How do
we relate to each other? We learn very quickly what each person likes or dislikes. We try to promote the likes and minimize the
dislikes. (This produces harmony.)
Religious life is a blend of
talents or gifts that we share. Each of us have certain gifts that
enhance or compliment community. A few are good at planning
liturgies, some have good singing voices
some are artists, others are
good at baking or cooking, a few are good at moving furniture or fixing
broken objects. It is good that we are
not all good at everything
because it helps us to depend on each other. (It is good to feel wanted,
this produces humility).
Community life is also
celebration. We celebrate each other’s
birthdays, feast days and some holidays
and holy days. Community members love parties and we do have our
share of these as well as scheduled or unscheduled card games.
Community life reaches out to
help others either collectively or by each of one’s ministries, either internal
(at the Monastery) or external (within the broader Church or service
organizations) serving in various ways.
Benedictine ministry is very
conscious of hospitality and stewardship and these values are part of our
charism. A Benedictine Community is
never lacking in guests.
Dear Sister, thank you for inviting reflection on this gift -- Community is family in the Gospel gift of equality in love and veneration for the authority of the teachers, the older members, fathers and mothers. It is true communism, which can survive in small units but turns into something else on a large scale. We have waited 2000 years to arrive at today, women in community, now equal in society at large (both at home and in public). The hospital can grant us assistance and protection with procreation (this was once only possible as miracle), there is surely a stronger, lasting and confident happiness for women in religious community -- I am talking about the tradition embracing other traditions, and expanding into survival in that way, is that possible? Could we want that? It was what He was saying in the Gospel of Luke, there is power for women in the beginning, and it is good for the men. Be thou like Mary is. Me? You. God bless OSB, Happy Easter.
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