One of the many blessings I experience in writing these blogs is that they are a wonderful opportunity to thoughtfully peel back the layers of who we are as monastic women and followers of Benedict and Scholastica in today’s world. During this glorious Easter Season, we, as a monastic community…
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How does the human mind and heart take in the wonder of the Risen Christ? As I pondered the Gospel readings for the week after Easter, I was fascinated by the various responses to what had to be overwhelming and astonishing encounters with the Risen Lord. Luke’s Gospel notes some…
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On Easter Monday, I went outside to enjoy the glorious sunshine and the warm spring weather. And there behind the main monastery building stood the fire pit used for the Easter Vigil’s new fire Saturday night. Curious to see what was left in it, I removed the mesh cover and…
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This past Sunday, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, brought us to the final stretch of our Lenten pilgrimage in accompanying Jesus on his journey to Easter glory. As we gathered for the blessing of the palm, the priest proclaimed the following salutation: “Dear brothers and sisters, since the beginning…
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Crammed into the massive Mitchell Center auditorium, I craned my neck and scanned the crowd. Twenty-two hundred in the University of South Alabama Spring Commencement. After a lengthy search, I finally spotted him, a tiny dot in the swarm. My Sam. We arrived early to secure a parking space, and…
Read More“By practicing love of the saints, we strengthen the unity of the entire Body of Christ in the Spirit. This in turn brings us all closer to Christ.” The saints have been a constant presence in my life as heroines or heroes, as guides and as friends. Some of the…
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“That’s Community!” one Sister happily exclaimed as she watched the crew hoisting the trusses for the new carport up and into place. One person operated the crane, another person was standing near the stack of trusses on the ground, attaching them to the crane’s cable one-by-one. A third person guided…
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The gospel for the second Sunday of Lent, the Transfiguration, is one of my favorite gospel stories. Jesus goes up Mt. Tabor with Peter, James, and John. And what happens? The disciples experience a magnificent happening. Jesus is transfigured–a sight to behold. Have you ever climbed a mountain? What was…
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I have always been an early riser, except in the winter when the dark, cold early mornings tempt me to remain under the warm covers for just a few minutes longer. Over the past year, a friend and I established a new pattern, although it happened somewhat by chance. We…
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When asked to write a blog for Ash Wednesday, my first thought was that it would be easy. For those of us journeying with participants in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent are times of increased excitement. Time is flying by and…
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