The Visitation ...by Sr. Dorothy
Have you ever had a dream so strong you were determined to make it come true? Maybe you worked hard for a while and then little by little you got distracted by things that happened, people you met, the little irritations of your work, all the busy-ness of everyday life. Does that mean your dream is dead or has disappeared? Not if it’s something you really care about.
Changing of the Guard
On the day I changed places with Sister Monika and became subprioress, at dinner time she made me an official present: the telephone she had used in her bedroom to receive night time emergency calls. Well, I was thrilled. The phone and I had a running battle for years—until at last that thorn was removed from my side by a kindly prioress. Amazing how many people called us when they thought they were calling St.
We Begin Again Every Day ....by Sr. Paz
St. Benedict tells us in The Rule that we begin again each day. You may wonder what nuns and monks do in the monastery every day? St. Benedict answered this question many centuries ago: We fall and get up, fall and get up, always. This New Year is a gift, a new opportunity, to begin again, anew, to stand up again. With new hopes, new challenges, new opportunities, to begin again fresh.
The Cantaloupe & I--Adventures of a Monastic Shopper Part 2....by Sr. Anna-Camille
It’s time to talk about the cantaloupe incident. In my defense, I am a reasonably experienced cantaloupe buyer and had never experienced a cantaloupe malfunction. Will this thing go off?! But that Wednesday was the day. I approached the melon table at Safeway innocently enough, having no idea what awaited me. I selected a small watermelon with no difficulty. Then I began looking for a good cantaloupe.
Appreciation
Last week Sister Dorothy wrote about care of the sick from the point of view of the caregiver. She quoted The Holy Rule of St. Benedict which places the greatest importance on caring for those who are sick. On a Tuesday in June I began to feel unwell. The healthcare team advised me to move to the infirmary. I watched as my sisters got the bed made and the room ready for me.
My Time in Jail--er, Isolation
I had intended to talk about my preparations for my First Monastic Profession in this post, but some fortuitous events changed my topic. This is the story. On Thursday, June 15, I felt a little tickle in my throat after Mass. After that I read on our community bulletin board that one retreatant tested positive for COVID and was in the hospital—for other medical reasons. Anyway, I decided to be very cautious and take a COVID test.
What Do You Do...?
“What do you do in the monastery?” This is a question we hear fairly often. And one answer might be the words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words. ” The act of living in community can be a powerful illustration of people from different backgrounds living in peace together.