The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 14. This feast day gave me an opportunity to reflect again on the cross of Jesus and its meaning for me at this particular moment in time. As I began my meditation, the first image that came…
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It was a dark and stormy night. Yes, it really was. It was Thursday, March 12, 2020. Watching the local evening news, we decided to begin pandemic sheltering at home the next day. Coronavirus had arrived on our doorstep. As the rain pelted the windows, it seemed a precursor for…
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Unlike silence, obedience, and humility, The Rule of St. Benedict does not have a chapter on stability. However, stability is a hallmark feature of Benedictine life and spirituality. St. Benedict concludes Chapter 4 on The Tools of Good Works with this statement: “The workshop where we are to toil faithfully…
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Seeking, discovering, and then assenting to one’s life vocation is a simple but confusing process. There is no step-by-step formula to follow, but St. Benedict gives excellent instructions for discernment. “Listen carefully…and…attend with the ear of your heart.” Let’s break it down. “Listen carefully.” There is much noise around us…
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Hospitality has been one of the core values of the Benedictine way of life since the sixth century. St. Benedict describes the reception of guests in Chapter 53 of his Rule, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, who said: ‘I was a stranger and you…
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During our annual community meetings in July, the Peace and Justice Committee presented a thought-provoking program on racism, encouraging each one of us to consider our own prejudice and bias. I would like to share some of the more significant parts that challenged me during this exercise. We were given…
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On August 6th we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This beautiful feast celebrates the revelation of the eternal glory of the Second Person of the Trinity to the apostles Peter, James, and John. Normally, this glory was veiled during Christ’s life on earth, but on this…
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Due to my recent travels out of state, I have had some extra quiet time spent quarantining in Benet Guest House, the older one of our retreat houses that is located just above our lake. During the coronavirus pandemic, our Sisters have agreed that if we travel outside the monastery…
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Equal justice won a victory in June of 2016. That summer, Pope Francis requested the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, celebrated on July 22, be elevated to a major feast. Liturgically speaking, this decision put the feast of St. Mary Magdalene on par with the feasts of the male apostles….
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You’ve probably heard the old adage that meditating on scripture is meant “to comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable.” It takes courage and patience to sit with our discomfort in the presence of God. For Saint Benedict, “seeking Christ above all else” meant seeking Truth found at the…
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