Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Many thanks to Brian Lowney at the Rhode Island Catholic for his feature, “Midwest Drought to Impact Altar Bread Prices.” Click here to read the article.

He interviewed our Sister Rita Clair, manager of the altar bread department, to get her thoughts on how the area’s drought could affect wheat prices with regards to our altar bread production.

We are grateful that Mr. Lowney’s story was shared with the Catholic News Agency, allowing other secular and mainstream media the opportunity to share this story with their readers across the country and around the world.

As always, we keep everyone in prayer. We have been producing altar breads for over a century. Times change. Hard times come and go. Faith is everlasting, as is our confidence in the Lord’s guidance. We’ll continue making the bread that becomes the Body of Christ. And do it with prayer and a smile!

In related news, the area surrounding our community in Clyde, Missouri, received some blessed rain over the weekend. Thanks be to God! We continue to keep our neighbors and friends in our prayers, that more rain will come and renew our lands.

The drought hitting the Midwest has made it difficult for much to grow around our Clyde, Missouri, monastery.

However, the flowers lining this sidewalk have given us much to smile about when we take walks around the grounds. We hold in prayer all our dear neighbors and friends who desperately wait for rain to help with the fields and herds.

“Images of God differ from person to person, depending on personality, fervor, imagination, upbringing and a variety of circumstances.

They also differ from stage to stage of our spirtual progress. For those of a prophetic calling, the image of God as fire is not uncommon. For most of us, more than likely, this image raises the specter of the last things and God as Judge.

However, from ancient to modern times the metaphor of fire has been used to signify the passionate love of God for creation and creatures, as well as the indwelling love of God for Godself.”

Read more of Sister Bede’s essay, “Partakers of the Fire,” on the  in the May/June issue of Spirit&Life magazine by clicking here (story begins on page 12).

“La Asuncion de la Virgen” by Rubens

Today we praise God for the saint above all saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To her we owe a debt of gratitude for deep faith and ever-growing love for us whom Jesus loves.  It was she who became the ark of the covenant and the matriarch of the church when she consented to the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was she who believed beyond all possibility that God would do what was promised.  Her faith and example were rewarded by her assumption in heaven without having to taste death.

“Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Sister Joan Catherine Perridge, OSB who left us to this early morning to join her Lord in Heaven.

She once wrote, “It is difficult for me to express what a life, such as mine, hidden in God, is all about. I am grateful for my faith and the vocation, which I am sure will lead me to that life for which we are destined, through death to true life in God.”

What a just reward after 57 years of professed monastic life! We will post a story about her wonderful life soon.

Become part of the rich fabric of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and win this beautiful handmade quilt!

This and other great prizes are available to celebrate the blessing of our Clyde monastery renovations, which takes place on Sunday, Sept. 2. (No purchase necessary to win). Visit us here to learn more.

Best of luck!

The Transfiguration by Ludovico Carracci

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord!

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” (Matthew 17:1-8)

The response to the Canticle of Zechariah we sang, “In the brightness of the splendor of the Son of Man the prophets spoke of his passage; and in heaven a voice glorified him: ‘This is my Son, abide in his light.’”

Today we get a glimpse of the glory of God as Christ’s transfiguration is revealed to his chosen few. This good news, however, was not to be kept silent but to be shared to the ends of the world. It is the greatest news that anyone can share. Let us too be prophets of the good news, that Christ is the Savior and his fidelity to God’s covenant will open the gates of heaven for us.

Tucson Prioress Sister Ramona is all smiles

We are so happy to announce that Sister Ramona Varela, OSB has been chosen to serve a second consecutive term as prioress of our Tucson, Arizona, community!

Sister Cecilia Rose (left) pledges her support and obedience to Sister Ramona

She was installed during yesterday morning’s Lauds. Sister Cecilia Rose was the last of the Sisters in procession to give the symbolic gesture of support and obedience to our dear prioress.

A Tempe, Ariz., native, Sister Ramona entered the Benedictine Sisters shortly after her high school graduation. She made her first monastic profession on Sept. 12, 1963, and has held several positions throughout the Congregation.

She served part of a previous term as prioress in Tucson but was elected as prioress general of the Congregation shortly after in 2002. During that time, she spearheaded a variety of projects, such as an expansion of the Benedictine Sisters’ Web presence and e-commerce shopping site, development of a low-gluten altar bread, long-range strategic planning and exploration of renewable energy resources.

Sister Ramona is well-known for her musical compositions and expertise at the organ. Her musical background extends to the guitar, for which she has composed various songs. With her knowledge of the Spanish language and culture, she is an absolute gift to our monastery in the Southwest.

Sister Ramona, who was last elected prioress in 2008, will serve an additional four years.

We don’t have a lot of news to share today, so we offer this:

IT’S NATIONAL ICE CREAM SANDWICH DAY!

How cool is that?

Get it? Cool?

God bless this wonderful country, once again reminding us the importance to celebrating life’s little moments.

Prioress General Sister Pat Nyquist (left) installs Sister Gladys Noreen as the next superior of San Benito

We are excited to announce that Sister Gladys Noreen, OSB has been chosen to lead our San Benito Monastery in Dayton, Wyoming. She replaces Sister Josetta Grant, OSB who served wonderfully during her four-year term.

Learn more about Sister Gladys by visiting our online news center.