Blessings to you all this fine Thanksgiving day. We have much for which to be grateful – even in the midst of the chaos, unrest, and darkness in our world. Jesus is still Lord and He reigns. Praise God!!

I want to share with you the words to one of my favorite hymns… it seems fitting for this day of thanksgiving.

O GOD BEYOND ALL PRAISING

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honor and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we’ll triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.
- by Michael Perry

Its been a while since I have posted anything…here’s what I am giving thanks for today.

- for the gift of friends that can listen to what is underneath the words I am saying.

- for the grace of asking and receiving forgiveness

- for the wonderful week spent with my family in St. Louis – trip to the zoo, great Indian food, happy surprises

- for being able to share my love of  poetry with a  new friend who also loves words and the images they evoke

- for cool fall weathers and the lovely colors of this season

- for the simple joy I have found in daily exercise (this is pure grace because I hate sweating!) … even at 4:30 a.m.

- for the blessing of being called to this life of prayer and community

Hello all – just a very quick post to let you know I am indeed alive.

I am so sorry I let this blog lapse for so long.  I think I am ready to get back on the blogging wagon.

This has been a hugely busy summer.  I can’t believe it is already half over.

Till I can put a more coherent post together here are the blogs of some of my sisters’ in community.

1. Sacred Stones – this is our Clyde community blog.  Things of interest happening in our community as well as reflections on various Catholic feasts, etc.

2. Amuzing Grace – blog by Sr. Ruth, our congregational vocation director.  She uses example of our everyday life to help us see God at work.

3. Bible Bytes – our Sr. Sarah, a Scripture scholar, give us interesting little Scripture insights

4. Soap Sister – Sr Cathleen Marie, our soap sister, blogs about her soap-making and other adventures.

5.  Monastery Creations - the blog from our sisters in Dayton, WY.

6.  Monastery Podcast – join us daily morning and evening prayer from our chapel in Clyde!

Chapter 49 of the Rule of St. Benedict tells us how we are to observe Lent in the monastery.

The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten observance. However, since such virtue is that of few, we advise that during these days of Lent he guard his life with all purity and at the same time wash away during these holy days all the shortcomings of other times. This will then be worthily done, if we restrain ourselves from all vices. Let us devote ourselves to tearful prayers, to reading and compunction of heart, and to abstinence.

During these days, therefore, let us add something to the usual amount of our service, special prayers, abstinence from food and drink, that each one offer to God “with the joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thes 1:6), of his own accord, something above his prescribed measure; namely, let him withdraw from his body somewhat of food, drink, sleep, speech, merriment, and with the gladness of spiritual desire await holy Easter.

Let each one, however, make known to his Abbot what he offereth and let it be done with his approval and blessing; because what is done without permission of the spiritual father will be imputed to presumption and vain glory, and not to merit. Therefore, let all be done with the approval of the Abbot.

We refer to these extra practices as our “bona opera” our “good work” for the Lenten season.  We all tell our Prioress what little additional sacrifice we will make these 40 days and she gives us her blessing.  A few things we are doing as a community – keeping a greater atmosphere of quiet in the monastery, table reading at our noon meal instead talking, no desserts except fruit during the week.

May these small acts of self denial bring us closer to the heart of our Beloved.  I pray for many graces and blessings for all of us this Lent.  Peace!