Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

“Lent can be a cheerless time for those who tend to focus on what to give up during these 40 days, but I have discovered that having a positive motive for what is taken on makes Lenten offerings as light as a feather.

For example, when fasting and thoughts of food come into my mind, I ask the Lord to turn these into hunger and thrist for Him. Or I ask God to accept our alms to comfort those who are hungry – and there are millions who are in that condition.

This holy season was never meant to be an endurance test or time for guilt feelings when we fail. Rather it is meant to draw us closer to the one who loves us dearly. God desires a holy people and will accept any little effort we make to draw closer to his Divine Heart. Our sinfulness, no matter how great, is not an obstacle. Amazingly, Divine Love is fascinated with us and our weakness.

Here is a practical suggestion for Lent. Ask God the following question and then sit quietly until you get an answer: “Lord, what can I do these 40 days to give you honor and glory?” Even asking the question with all sincerity is a joy to God, who is quite easy to please. If all else fails, give alms to the poor and you will be blessed. Forgive one person from your heart and the angels will leap for joy.”

- Tucson Prioress Sister Ramona, Spirit&Life Magazine, March 2006

We’re excited to announce that Sister Ruth, our wonderfully cheerful vocations director, has launched her new blog aimed at vocations and those who are discerning a calling to religious life. It also comes in handy if you have a loved one or a friend who might be thinking about becoming a religious sister, giving some insight into what she might be feeling.

Sister Ruth shares about her life as a vocation director and her experiences of living in a contemplative monastery.

An example? This is her thoughts about entering monastic life in 1993:

“I was excited but scared. My desire to try religious life was stronger than my fears. That is a key sign in discernment, I think. Fears are normal and inevitable and I’m more concerned if someone doesn’t have some fears. To step into the unknown should cause some fears to arise. However, it’s when you don’t let the fears stop you that you can be more assured that this is an authentic call.”

Follow Sister Ruth’s thoughts, find out where she’ll travel next to vocation events and peek inside the life of a contemplative sister. As she says, “God’s grace is amazing…and it can be amusing as well.”

Please click here to view the blog.

Benedictine leaders discuss concept that monasteries are oases of hope and renewal for all

Even leaders need someone to lean on.

The Conference of Benedictine Prioresses held its annual meeting earlier this month at Immaculata Monastery of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, Neb., bringing together dozens of women religious leaders from monasteries across the United States.

Benedictine Sisters’ Prioress General Sister Pat  and Clyde Prioress Sister Sean attended the conference.

“The best thing about this annual meeting is getting together with others who are serving as leaders of their communities to talk about the challenges and joys that are part and parcel of such a position,” Sister Pat said. “Away from the day to day demands of our work, it’s a time to relax a bit in the company of people who have a keen understanding of those demands.”

“Getting together to share thoughts, concerns and hopes is important and provides an avenue to explore how something might be done better,” Sister Pat said. “We discussed how our communities can be oases of hope and renewal of spirit for any and all who long for them in the midst of our world’s current reality as well as being a voice for those who may not otherwise have much influence in the public arena.”

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Chapter 49 of the Rule of St. Benedict instructs us in Lenten observence. Learn how we observe Lent in the monastery – visit our Sister Lynn’s blog, Day by Day, by clicking here.

(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Today we begin the season of Lent.

Often we think of Lent as a depressing season, but the word Lent actually comes from the Old English word for Spring. It is meant to be a time of new beginnings, of new life.

We call the first day of this season Ash Wednesday because we take the palm branches that we used in triumphant procession last Palm Sunday and burn them into ashes. The priest mixes the ashes with holy water, blesses them and imposes them on our foreheads making the sign of the cross and saying, “Remember, that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

The ashes are a witness that we have entered into a period of renewal and a time of change. We let go of whatever it is that keeps us from coming close to God and let it be burned away in the fire of love. We set aside the triumphs of this world to humbly follow Christ our Lord.

As ash fertilizes the fields, we let the ashes of today’s liturgy fertilize our hearts and souls so that God finds a garden filled with prayer, sacrifice and charity come Easter. May this Lenten Spring help us all to blossom beautifully.

Our youngest professed member, Sister Maria Victoria, hails from the land of the delta and loves sharing her New Orleans heritage with those of us at the Clyde, Mo., monastery.

So it’s no surprise that she gets so much enjoyment from decorating our refectory for our annual Mardi Gras meal.

There wasn’t a place left untouched! Tables and windows all looked festive. We enjoyed sharing this wonderful meal in anticipation of tomorrow’s Lenten Season beginning. Let the good times roll!

Our new Gift Shop at the Clyde monastery is open for business! This is a huge improvement, as many of you might recall with humor our Gift Shop Hallway from years past.

We now have an honest-to-goodness Gift Shop, stocked with many lovely finds, mostly created by our hands. All for sale to you, our friends, neighbors and guests. (Live too far away? You can also visit us and shop online with us at Monastery Creations!)

Sister Rebecca and Sister Jane were busy during the diaspora, and we now have many pieces of pottery that will beautify any home or office.

Sister Sarah has nimble fingers and crocheted a lovely baby set. Sister Cathleen and Sister Judy, as always, stay busy making lotions and soaps with holy water.

And Sister Lucilla has been making mug rugs.

Old tin ceiling tiles have been re-crafted into vases, picture frames, shelves and mirrors for the new shop space.

Come see our new look and our many offerings. We wait to welcome you and the blessings you bring.

There is a new light shining throughout the Tucson sky!

Our Arizona monastery is a little brighter after we installed a new light in the tower. It is set on a timer and shines brightly from dusk until dawn.

It joins the lights we already had on the chapel’s facade, which illuminated the Christ the King statue and the two accompanying angels (below).

As Sister Kathleen Clare said, “It looks so beautiful in the night sky.”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

We were called to contemplative monastic life. We were called to prayer.

And that’s what we do. All day. Every day.

Every. Single. Day.

We pray for the needs of the world. We pray for those burdened by worry or sadness or grief. We pray for those who feel alone, bereft in a world that isn’t always kind. We pray for the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the healthy, the ill, the strong and the weak.

What is your need today? What can we do to help YOU? Let us lift our hearts and voices in prayer to our Lord on your behalf. Together, we make a formidable team to beat that which has us down.

You can share your prayer request with us any time online by clicking here. Your prayers will be read by Sister Nancy Rose or Sister Maria Victoria or Sister Dawn or Sister Dorothy. Or one of the many other Sisters of our Congregation who will remember your needs, your troubles when in silent prayer throughout the day.

We also provide several ways to help you expand your own prayer life. Learn how you can get the most from Eucharistic Adoration while at church, pray the Liturgy of the Hours with us twice daily or discover through Lectio Divina how to get the most from Bible readings.

As St. Benedict’s Rule tells us: listen with the ear of our heart. With the ear of YOUR heart. Many blessings to you, and may the Lord watch over you and keep you safe.

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day!

We took the time on Sunday afternoon to bring up many of Our Lady of Rickenbach Sisters to tour the “new” monastery.  We had five carloads making the short trip up, but all the Sisters who came enjoyed their visit and seeing things first hand.

Sister Mary Annette looks in joy upon crossing the threshold of the new monastery entrance

Most had not been up to the house since the deconstruction began and the house was converted to a construction zone, which meant if you did not have a hard hat you could not enter.

Sister Jane (right) greets Sister Maureen from Our Lady of Rickenbach

When the Sisters arrived, they were greeted by several of us, and we partnered with them to give them one-on-one tours.

Sister Brigid (left) shows the new gift shop to Sister Lucilla

Afterward, refreshments were served in the refectory.  It was a wonderful gathering of Sisters, from some of the oldest to our youngest.  The OLR sisters returned home happy and a bit tired from their excursion.  This was a wonderful way to spend a sunny but cold Sunday afternoon.