Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

St. Benedict makes it clear in his Holy Rule that all the community should be assembled and lend their voices to the decision making process.

This is our responsibility. We are not looked upon as members who have no sense, thoughts or words of wisdom. We who live in a monastery have the important task of helping govern the community, from the oldest member to the youngest, from the highest ranked to the lowliest sister.

For two weeks our congregation gathered for our annual General Assembly to fulfill our responsibility. We came together to pray, listen, break bread and share our thoughts and feelings around several topics. A facilitator helped us focus our collective work.

Our work is done for now. It is time to return to our daily life of monastic women, continuing the conversation with God and one another, seeking the Spirit’s guidance and always, always, turning to God out of love.

Novice Maria receives the Benedictine medal, the Rule of Benedict and a copy of our Constitution

The Prologue of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict begins with a simple yet profound word – listen.  To enter into a monastery is to give your life over to listening for God in silence, in prayer, in conversation with one another and in the circumstances of the world.  Psalm 95 exhorts all who have ears to not harden our hearts if we hear God speaking to us, wherever, whenever, through whomever.  To seek God in a monastery is to step into a centuries-long tradition of prayer, community living and giving of oneself to others through a life centered on Christ.

With violence continuing to pulverize the Middle East and escalating unease building between countries in Asia, it is a sign of hope when a person decides to take the next step in surrendering her life to listening for God with unity in God as the ultimate goal.

Postulant Maria took that next step Sunday during Vespers.  She is now Novice Maria.  Let us continue to hold her and all those in formation in prayer as they courageously put one foot in front of the other and walk the path of selflessness, peace and love.  “And may God bring us all together to life everlasting” (RB 72:12).

Sr. Pat, Novice Maria, Sr. Lynn

Today is the 101st anniversary of our initial dedication of the Clyde Adoration Chapel to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Each year we commemorate this event with special prayers, readings and festivities. For more than 100 years, Sisters have been praying in adoration in this chapel (except for the time it was closed during the recent renovations).

Countless Sisters, countless hours, numberless prayers of intercession and petition as well as thanksgiving, countless hearts and voices have been raised to the glory of God.

Our chapel has been consecrated for the work of God, for prayer and praise and adoration of God Almighty since November 1911. We enter the doors with reverence and knowledge that we are entering God’s house of eternal love. The Rule of Benedict calls the entire monastery “a school of the Lord’s service.” (RB: Pro: 45)

Above our interior chapel door we have painted on the lintel, “HIC AMOR AETERUS HABITAT.” Translating the Latin into English, we read “Eternal Love dwells here.” This is what we celebrate when we recall this anniversary, yes, to remember our fidelity to God but more importantly to call to mind God’s fidelity to us. We believe it is right and just. We invite you to join us in this holy and sacred space.

The Clyde Adoration Chapel is open to the public. Please call (660) 944-2221 to learn about prayer and tour times. You can also view our online chapel tour by visiting this link.

This coming Monday we will begin the discernment and election process of the Clyde prioress, the house superior.  We spent Friday discerning goals and directions we need to be about for the next four years.  Now we prayerfully enter into the time of discerning and electing the sister who can lead us on this next phase of our communal and personal journey to union with Christ.

The Tucson community will be entering in the same discernment and election process at the end of the month.  Then Sr. Pat will appoint the superior of our Dayton community.

These are not decisions we make lightly.  We truly open the ears of our hearts to listen to the voice of God.  Without doing this we could have the blind leading the blind.  The Rule of Benedict states, “ In the electing of a prioress let the office be conferred on the one who is chosen with the fear of God.” (RB 64)  We trust in the Spirit’s guidance and step forward together.

We ask for your prayerful support for all of us, and we ask you to bless with grace whomever God has called forth to serve.  We humbly thank you for your support.

Prioress General Sister Pat

Prioress General Sister Pat reflects on St. Benedict’s Rule and how everyone can learn a little something from it.

Each year when the July-August issue of (Spirit&Life magazine) comes around, I view it as an opportunity to reflect with you on an aspect of the life and teachings of St. Benedict of Norcia, Italy.

As Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration we claim St. Benedict as our spiritual founder and guide. Fifteen centuries have elapsed since he wrote his rule, yet we are still delving into its depths and gleaning spiritual insights that have transformative power.

One of his insights that has the power for spiritual transformation is simply to listen. In St. Benedict’s mind listening allows us to quiet our inner noise in order to hear what God has to say to us. It is a means to lay aside our own will in order to obey God’s, and in that submission “the Lord in his love shows us the way of life” (RB Prologue:20).

A resolution to become better at listening can result in transformed relationships. Unnecessary strife can be avoided when parents or spouses listen to, rather than argue with, one another. Healing can be effected in families when misunderstandings are clarified through attentive listening—what St. Benedict would call listening with the ear of your heart.

When I observe and reflect on the over-stimulation that seems to be an out-growth of the never ending cacophony present in our culture, I cannot help but wonder what it is costing us in terms of spiritual growth and peaceful living. St. Benedict’s advice to “listen carefully to the master’s instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart” (RB Prologue:1) could be a 6th century voice well worth listening to by those of us in the 21st.

Sr. Cathleen Marie visits with Northwest Missourian reps, explaining her job making handcrafted soap

We frequently receive media requests from reporters and producers working on stories, but it’s usually on a specific topic: altar bread production or renovations or our prayer ministry.

Then, on occasion, we have someone who just wants to learn more about the monastic way of life. So today we welcomed two members of the Northwest Missourian, a student publication at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

The students spent the morning with us, beginning with our Ash Wednesday Eucharist, and stayed through Day Hour. They met Sisters, learned about our altar bread production, our soap shop, the correspondence department, our daily schedules and tasks and just listened to funny and interesting stories Sisters shared.

They observed our life in a way that isn’t quite normal for us as we’ve been a bit displaced during renovations. That means our prayer services are held in different areas rather than in our Adoration Chapel. Our offices are carved out of larger areas, creating cubby holes in which to work. However, we’re glad they’ve promised to return once the grass turns green, the flowers and trees bloom and we’re back together under one roof in our newly renovated monastery.

The Rule of Benedict instructs that we treat each guest as if he or she were Christ himself. So we treasure the moments, these opportunities, to share our lives and our homes with others. It is one of our greatest blessings!