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

Reading with Sr. Andrea

       As a long time reader of America magazine, I have been familiar with the name of James Martin, SJ and his writings as they have appeared in the Jesuit magazine over the years. I remember details of his life as given there, struck by his call to the Jesuits and the readability of his compositions. Although aware of his published works, I had not yet read one until this year—and it was his first work of fiction—The Abbey. One of the sisters received a copy from a friend and gave it to me to read.

       A short novel with short chapters, it is strongly Benedictine as the title suggests and when I began to read, I could barely put it down. Although fictional biography seems a contradiction in terms, The Abbey’s three main characters, Anne, Mark and Fr. Paul seem real people drawn to God over time by the Benedictine influences of Sts. Philip and James Abby. I especially appreciated the conversations between Anne and Fr. Paul in her growing conversion to God after the tragic death of her 13 year old son. What remained with me after finishing the book was the wisdom in conversation thought, direction and example given by those associated with P & J Abbey. The novel  was not lacking in a bit of humor as it treated the monastery “business”—jam making!

                Read The Abbey for enjoyment and understanding. This novel has led me to the well-known, much longer work of Martin, Jesus, a Pilgrimage, in which I am now absorbed.

   Sr. Andrea Collpy, OSB

There is Life in the Desert

Lent is a time of a change of heart. It is a time of turning our hearts toward  God in a more intense way.

The image of the desert goes back to early Christianity and to the desert fathers and mothers. It goes back even before this to Moses and the Hebrew People and the Exodus.The desert is not as barren as we would imagine.  It supports all kinds of life.  However, in the desert, we come face to face with our own life and try to see life as it really is and how we are called to live because in the desert there are no distractions.

 

Being in a desert with a group of people, would call all of us to work together and thus forget our own agenda. In the desert, we come face to face with God and ask ourselves how we live by God’s law, the commandments, and by Christian values. In the desert

we turn to prayer because we know we cannot live our lives alone but must rely on God. In the desert we acknowledge our limitations and our need for others.

As we continue our Lenten experience to Easter, let us go into the desert to seek God and to be filled with God that we can truly pray and live the life of the Spirit and

truly rise to new life with Jesus at Easter!

                                               Sr. Barbara Woeste, OSB

Miracles: Walburga, Newman and Kingsley

       The feast of St. Walburga, abbess, draws near (Feb. 25). Rereading the section of John Henry Newman’s The Lives of the English Saints that pertains to her, I googled “saints who were unguentiferous”, referring to those whose bones exude some type of oil or liquid, as hers do. 

I was unaware of the ferocious response Dr. Charles Kingsley made to Newman in 1864 concerning this very work. Newman had compiled stories of saints’ lives “written by various hands.” 

        Dr. Kingsley did not object when the accounts were “treated openly as legends and myths”, but found them “dangerous enough, when they stand side by side with stories told in earnest, like that of St. Walburga.” He considered the stories of miracles attributed to Walburg’s oil “sheer Popery, sapping the very foundation of historic truth” and “stuff and nonsense…I really must recollect that my readers and I are living in the nineteenth century.” 

       From the perspective of the twenty-first century, I have to say I rather enjoyed reading the several pages of Dr. Kingsley’s outrage. Newman’s Apologia Pro Vita Sua was his eloquent reply to Dr. Charles Kingsley. 

      Are the miracles associated with St. Walburg and other saints mere myths and legends? The Lives of the English Saints recounts for us their charity and human kindness, that mercy which flows from love for their brothers and sisters, a “healing stream of compassion.” The miracle of the work of mercy brings a healing that no one can dispute.

Sr. Christa Kreinbrink, OSB

The Choice: Skepticism or Hope

       It's so easy to be a skeptic today! It's easy to rail against systems and people who are supposed to work for our benefit but fail us.

       I think today's political stage is so chaotic in part because it acts like a great pressure release valve for  the frustration and anger many people feel about systems that make their life difficult. Lots of things are broken, and people are searching for a "fixer." Candidates who promise something simple and certain get lots of attention. Desperation seeks quick solutions.

       Amazingly, there is something buried in this maelstrom that unites everyone involved. Every single person believes there is a way out. Every one has hope! Looked at from this perspective, Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Pope Francis and even Jesus all have something in common: the fervent crowds that follow them believe they have answers that can fix systems and better their lives. This seems especially obvious in the ministry of Pope Francis.

       Why has this man stirred the hearts of the world? One reason is, I think, because he exudes hope. He chooses to live and minister especially to the people who have little hope – the poor, sick, imprisoned, unemployed….  Like Jesus, people in need flock to him. Like Jesus, no one in our time has spoken quite like this, and he speaks with authority drenched in love and compassion.

       Hope is a power source; one can see that today in the crowds following both Francis and the presidential candidates. Hope contains a challenge though. It addresses what may come, not what is or was. This means work is involved. Hope lives not in a vacuum but in individuals. It gives them energy and impetus that must be tapped if it is to bear fruit.

       The French poet Charles Peguy (1873-1914) wrote that while "hope moves the world…and carries it," hope itself is carried by its two sisters, faith and charity. (Portal of the Mystery of Hope, 1912) The person with hope must believe in the cause and have enough love for self and others to do the work. It requires no work to be a skeptic or to accept simplistic answers to profoundly complex questions, so hope is often the "road less travelled," to use Robert Frost's famous image (The Road Not Taken, 1916).

       During this Lenten season we are conscious that Jesus didn't take the easy path. The path laid out by his Father took profound hope.  Knowing this, Jesus told us that if we want to be his follower, the cross must be our baggage too. Quick and easy answers weren't part of his life plan; we can't expect this to be true of ours.

       As the common saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it very likely is not, whether it's a "solution" for an immigration problem or an international dilemma like ISIS. Hope demands more than wishing or commanding. Hope's power is unleashed when a community of seekers decides to turn from skepticism, join hands in faith, and walk forward through the chaos in shared wisdom, strength, and courage. Maybe Lent is a good time to examine how often skepticism slips into our thinking and nudges out the labor-intensive hope that wants to reside there.

     Sr. Colleen Winston, 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

                        

A Blog Day Today

B             Recognize Blessings today.

L              Notice Life-sharing words and deeds today.

O             Give listening and loving Obedience by actions today.

G             Express Gratitude to someone in a practical way today.

                                          Sr. Martha Walther, OSB