Benefits of Group Lectio

       A short time before Lent, a note on the bulletin board gave us the opportunity to join a prayer group to reflect on each Lenten Sunday Gospel if we so desired. Names of sisters who were willing to lead a group were also provided. I was delighted to put my name under one of the leaders as my past experience in such groups has been grace-filled.

       On Saturday, March 30, the group I joined met for our 4^thtime to reflect on Luke’s  story of the prodigal son. On this particular Saturday I felt worn out and edgy over how I would meet two other commitments due soon. God graced me to choose to attend the group—always a blessing.

       You may well be familiar with the format that is frequently used for group“lectio divina” (“holy” or “sacred reading.”) A group member reads aloud the gospel, and each one present listens for a word or phrase that particularly strikes him/her. That word or phrase is then shared aloud. The phrase that touched me was “The Father was filled with compassion.”  

       Someone then reads the gospel for a second time and each member shares more about the feeling, image or thoughts she/he experienced regarding his/her chosen word or phrase. I shared that the phrase, “The Father was filled with Compassion,” seemed to wash over me and calm my tiredness and anxieties regarding my other commitments.

       After all have shared the gospel is read a third time and individuals share what the chosen word or phrase is calling him/her to do during the following week. Each member then prayed for the sister on her left and it was time to attend the community’s communal evening prayer at 5 PM. I made sure to remember to let “my” phrase wash over me and soothe me throughout the coming week.

       Every Lent and Easter season Sr. Mary Tewes leads a weekly evening  lectio group here at the monastery and invites lay people to attend. If you would like to come, just give Sr. Mary a call to have a seat ready for you.

Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB

So how is your Lent going?

          Sunday marks the midpoint of Lent. Have you ever had the experience that with the exception of Lent time goes quickly? Staying with our Lenten practices when multiple temptations set in makes the season, even for the strong,a challenge. We can take some comfort knowing that even Jesus was tempted during his forty days. For me"the demon of acedia – “sloth or laziness” can set in. The early monastics referred to it as the “noonday demon –the one who makes it seem that the sun barely moves.”

Keeping close to the daily liturgical readings, pondering and responding to them provides an antidote.

One message from Wednesday’s reading is to “observe God’s teaching and we will have life.”(Deut. 4:6) How does my life reflect how I am observing God’s teaching?

          Tomorrow, God speaks to us directly “listen to my voice then I will be your God and you will be my people.”(Jer. 7:23) How do I listen with the ear of the heart? How have I become one of God’s faithful people?

On Friday, Hosea reminds us that we “have collapsed through our guilt” (Hos. 14:2)and it is our good and gracious God who “heals our defections,and loves us freely.”(Hos14:4)And in turn, Jesus, in the Gospel for today is explicit in his expectation of us: “You must love God with your whole heart. . . AND you must love your neighbor as yourself.(Mark 12:29, 31)That is a very tall order and ought to draw one out of acedia!

On Saturday, Hosea again reminds us, God is much more interested in our love rather than our sacrifices. (Hos. 6:6)If our Lenten practices are not leading us to be greater lovers we are missing the point of Jesus’ presence among us.

 The Sunday Gospel exemplifies that love, the merciful father daily scouring the fields and “while his son was still a long way off caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.”(Luke 15:21)The father exudes joy and warmly embraces his errant son and welcomes him home.

          God’s fidelity and love is so much greater than our malaise. May a renewed zeal drive us into the remaining weeks of Lent.

         Sr. Aileen Bankemper, OSB

Reawakening and Solidarity

This year, unlike in years past, I have found myself looking forward to Lent. Words like anticipation, opportunity and invitation kept coming to mind as I prayed and reflected on Lent’s approach.  Why the different attitude?  

Lent brings with it a sense of starkness in both liturgy and practice. I am craving the absence to enter more fully into the richness through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  During this season we each are called, so there is a built in solidarity with others who are marking this holy season.

Pope Francis writes:  “Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”  Lent calls each of us in different ways to “awaken” both individually and communally.  During Lent when I commit to prayer, fasting and almsgiving I do so in solidarity with my fellow pilgrims on the journey towards Easter. Here lies the power because as each of us commit to reawakening it spreads to those around us, and we together shake off our lethargy and move into action.

           May the practices we choose this Lenten season reawaken us to God and to our solidarity with one another as pilgrims on this journey not only through Lent, but through life.
      Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB

Oh No, Is It Lent Already!

            Not yet, but Lent is fast approaching. For many in this country and elsewhere in the world this is a difficult time.  Much hate filled language has filled the air waves. This Sunday we are presented with a Gospel (Matthew 5:38-48) that addresses how we are to be with all peoples, prepares us for Lent and possibly causes us to “squirm”. 

           Jesus directs us to love everyone including those we might find most difficult and we are to hate no one. There is no room for enemies. “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Prayer along with fasting and almsgiving are the tenets of Lenten practice. Praying humbly reminds us, it is only through God’s action within us that transformation can take place. Through fasting we fast from engagement in gossip, accusations, hurtful and hateful speech, and retaliation of any sort.

           Again Jesus asserts; “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. . . Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles”. Through almsgiving we “Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn our back on the one who wants to borrow. . . If someone wants to go to law over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well”. Jesus speaking to us has great expectations of those who love him and want to be a follower, a Christ-bearer.

            Each year in preparation for Lent do you find yourself asking the same questions? What am I going to do this year? How much effort and commitment am I willing to put forth? How much do I really desire to grow into the person God is calling me to be? When the ashes are signed on our foreheads and the words spoken “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” maybe this Gospel message that seems to ask the impossible of us will come to mind.    Sr. Aileen Bankemper, OSB

Being Carried through this Lenten Season on the Wings of Prayer & Song

       At the beginning of this Lenten Season our chaplain, Fr. John, pointed out one of the older Lenten prefaces that summed up the meaning of Lent for him.It really struck me, so I copied it and prayed it daily as a thanksgiving prayer to God for this season, and asked God to bring the Image of the Son to perfection within me and all of us.

         “Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed.You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our Father, and of willing service to our neighbor. As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ, you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us.Now, with angels and archangels, and the whole company of heaven, we sing the unending hymn of praise:  Holy, Holy, Holy!”
       This prayer reminded me that through our working and praying and singing together here at the monastery, God is bringing the image of His Son to perfection within us.When I view the prayer/liturgy bulletin board, I’m aware of how many of the community members assist with the preparation of our liturgies. We take turns assisting the Eucharist Liturgy co-ordinator, Sr. Colleen, especially with the Sunday masses; reflecting on the readings together, choosing the hymns, deciding on minor rituals, reminding the ministers, writing intercessions, welcoming guests, etc. There is the list of lectors for the month and Eucharistic ministers for each day.  For the Liturgy of the Hours, we sign up to preside at the community prayer one day at a time; choosing the hymn and canticles and preparing the intercessions for this most important Work of God.  The Liturgy of the Hours is coordinated by Sr. Christa.
       One of the hymns that has become a favorite of mine, was written by our organist/musician, Sr. Colleen Winston, in 1972 as a reflection on John 1:16. I think it could be our theme song for this Year of Mercy. We have sung it as a round or as a refrain by itself. For me it is a prayer I love to sing.
                        God’s Fullness
           “Of your fullness we have all received our share, love and more love.                                                    Your mercy is ours thru Jesus Christ. 
                                                       Your mercy is ours thru Jesus Christ.”

        May you be carried on through these last holy days of Lent to Easter Joy, on the wings of your favorite prayers and songs of praise, along with your companions on the journey.
                                                                       Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB

Lent: A Healing Remedy

“…that our Lenten fast may be pleasing to you and be for us a healing remedy”

This section of the prayer after communion for Ash Wednesday caught my attention, launching a dialogue in my head about Lenten practices as healing.When I think of healing I think of injury or surgery which requires not only rest but often specific practices (e.g. physical therapy or a change in diet). Lent has the possibility of being such a period of time for rest with God and practices which impact our relationship with God, ourselves and the broader community to which we each belong. What healing remedies does this Lenten season possibly offer?

Quiet space amidst the busy days to be with God in prayer

    Fasting from indifference to really see and connect with people both near and far.

   Acts of service or mercy which spread kindness and generosity

          Each of us in our own way is in need of healing remedies. 

May we each as the prophet Joel invites rend our hearts during this Lenten season, opening ourselves to the healing potential of Lent on our journey towards Easter.
     Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB

                        

The Rite of Election and Lent

     The First Sunday of Lent is the Sunday the Diocese of Covington

celebrates the Rite of Election at the Cathedral. This Rite is for the R.C.I.A. in the parishes when the catechumens and candidates, with their sponsors and R.C.I.A. teams, gather for this prayer service. Those who are catechumens (who are not baptized) are now called the “elect” after this rite, and they add their names to the Book of the Elect of the diocese. Those who are already baptized, the candidates, are called to continuing conversion.

     On the third, fourth and fifth Sundays in Lent, the elect will take part in the scrutinies. These scrutinies are special blessings for the elect to deliver them from sin and evil.

     Lent is a special time to recall our own baptism and what it means to share in the resurrection of Jesus.

      Sr. Barbara Woeste, OSB

Because of our testimony

     Lent has begun, and yesterday I finished a chapter on John’s Gospel in the book Like a Hammer Shattering Rock: hearing the Gospels today. Author Megan McKenna summed up John’s Gospel with Jesus’ line, “I am the way, the truth and life.” She cites the encounter of the Samaritan women with Jesus and quotes, "Many Samaritans from that city came to believe in him because of the woman’s testimony.” May this Lent stimulate us to deepen our testimony to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

            Sr. Martha Walther, OSB

The Color Purple

      No, not the movie or the book. While gazing at Sr. Emmanuel’s Lenten banner in chapel, I was struck by its purpleness. Knowing that purple is a color both of royalty and of penitence, I wondered if there was a connection. It is not immediately obvious. 

      Ancient royal purple was produced by the dye made from the gland of a tiny sea snail, the murex (See cloth at left.). Beginning in about 1500 BC, the citizens of Tyre and Sidon developed the dye through a long, difficult and expensive process requiring thousands of snails. Because of the expense, the use of Tyrian or imperial purple was restricted to kings, nobles, priests and magistrates. The color was rich, bright and colorfast, varying in hues from crimson to violet. 

     Cardinals in the Catholic church wore purple until 1464, when Pope Paul II changed the color to crimson, as Tyrian purple was no longer available. Bishops wore purple, but not of the imperial hue. In time a broader spectrum of colors became available. The Council of Trent in the 16^th century standardized liturgical colors, assigning purple to Advent and Lent. 

     Liturgical clothing expresses the church’s life in Christ. White serves as symbol of the resurrected Christ. Red, of Christ’s love, the blood of the martyrs, and the fire of the Spirit. The darker, more somber color of purple connotes the church’s share in the kingship of Christ realized through Christ’s suffering and death. Our use of purple, then, is a sign both of penitence in these seasons of preparation, and of expectation of the coming of Christ, when all colors will be united into the white of resurrected glory.

Sr. Christa Kreinbrink, OSB

Be merciful O Lord, for we have sinned.

     This psalm antiphon (in the title above) for Ash Wednesday Mass says so much to me as the psalmist speaks so well to God on my behalf.

     My relationship with God has grown over the years and yet the posture of asking for mercy is most basic for me and I pour all of my trust in God’s loving providence for me in this petition. I have sinned. I take responsibility for failing to respond appropriately and adequately to God’s love, and instead so often chose my own desire for prestige, power, possessions (cf Jesus’ temptations). And taking this responsibility implies the willingness to make needed changes with God’s help.

     Can I chalk it up to maturity that I do not need to think of myself as perfect, that I no longer need others to think I am perfect? Perhaps it’s the natural maturity of aging. But probably even spiritual growth just takes time. At any rate, it’s easier for me now than it was when I was younger, to admit my faults and failings to myself, to God and to others.

     Another dimension of Lenten practice is that we participate in this penitential season together – “we have sinned”. There is something strengthening, even comforting about the mutual support and mutual desire for healing among others who are “in the same boat”. (Read here: “The Bark of Peter”.)

     As I continue my Lenten prayer, Be merciful O Lord, for we have sinned, I will keep you in mind.

        Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB

    

"Look forward to Easter with joy and spiritual longing"

            There is a country song entitled, “Live Like You Were Dying.” On Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the Church presents us with a similar invitation, “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” These words of the Church are stark and they, like the song, remind us that we are going to die. When Tim McGraw, the author of the song, discovered that he was going to die he went skydiving and Rocky Mountain climbing. He also loved deeper, spoke sweeter and gave forgiveness he’d been denying. During Lent the Church’s invitation also calls for such a renewal of one’s life. 

            Regarding the renewal of my life, the odds are against my going sky diving but I will read, again, what St. Benedict writes in chapter 49 of the Holy Rule on the observance of Lent. “The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times. Benedict encourages us to “add to the usual manner of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food and drink so that each of us will have something above the prescribed measure to offer to God with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” I have several practical ideas of how to wash away some of the negligences of my manner of living the monastic life and I will resolve to do them this Lent. As for adding to the usual measure of my service I will be on the lookout for circumstances that will call me to do just that. 

            In the past I have not looked forward to Lent as I do to Advent. But in the process of this writing, through a chat with a friend and the words of a country song, I have come to another resolution, again from the Rule of St. Benedict. I will offer my Lenten resolutions to God “…with the joy of the Holy Spirit” and I will “…look forward to Holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.” In Lent, as in Advent, the accent is on joy and longing. I resolve to keep that in mind. Sister Justina Franxman, OSB

A Lenten Reflection

     Ash Wednesday ushers in another Lenten season for all of us. No matter what we decide to do as a Lenten practice, just stopping to think about the possibilities gives us a chance to examine our way of living the Christian life. Are we at one with those who suffer hunger? Do we give ourselves the chance to be silent and listen to our God in prayer? Do we do works of charity for others? 

     In the Holy Rule, Chapter 49, St. Benedict tells us that while “there is no doubt that monastic life should always have a Lenten character about it, there are not many who today have the strength for that.” In some ways it’s encouraging to know that the monks of the 5^th century were as weak as those of us in the 21^st century. The human condition hasn’t changed all that much. We don’t have the corner on selfishness and other faults. 

     St. Benedict further encourages each of us to take on some extra prayers, fasting and good works, to improve our Christian life. The readings for Ash Wednesday do the same, especially emphasizing keeping our resolutions to ourselves or at least not making a spectacle of our good works and fasting. 

     There are so many good choices. It’s hard to know what to choose for a Lenten resolution, but that’s no excuse not to make a choice, though. My mother who’s 91 years old does not eat dessert during Lent. She a real witness to me because she is totally committed and steadfast in that resolution. I can only hope to do as well when I finally decide. 

     For me, one of the blessings of the Christian community is knowing that others are committing to a special practice and making that effort to strengthen their spiritual lives at the same time as I. I count on that moral support and offer mine to all of you in your Lenten journeys. 

     A blessed Lent to all of us.  Sr. Nancy Kordenbrock, OSB