Christmas Day Celebrations!

Christmas Greetings!

Christmas celebrations began with the divine.  Our Lauds and Mass rang with joyful choirs.  While our morning prayer was open to all, the sisters were only joined by our chaplains.  However, our Christmas Mass filled many more of the Chapel pews with a celebration of diversity.  To the delight of all, the student sisters from Tanzania lead the procession at the offering of the gifts. Music filled with rhythmic drums played over the speakers as they danced before the gifts with khanga cloth from home tucked over their habits.  The celebration of God's Divine welcome continued as we stepped forward at the reception of the Eucharist.  The sisters began the line in variations of white, black, and red for the season.  Then our guests and visitors stepped forward; the young and old, those in Sunday best and blue jeans, the carefully-coiffed and those with green hair, little girls with brand-new sparkly Christmas clothes and their more somber grandparents. It was a wonderful celebration.

After our Christmas brunch, the monastery seemed strangely quiet in the afternoon.  A number of the sisters changed into their 'festive' Christmas best, located 'official' identification, bundled up, and carpooled caravan style down to the Federal Prison on the other side of town.  The sisters have celebrated a Christmas Mass with the men of the Federal Prison for many years.  Sister Musician-Liturgist sometimes plays at their regular Masses and coordinated a group of the residents to play the bells for the Mass with the Sisters.  Every year the little chapel space is packed for the Mass; it is a sacred time to share our welcoming the Lord into our lives and reminding them of our prayerful support of their conversion.  The hope we seek to share with the residents echos Pope Benedict the XVI's Christmas Message:

"If we believe". Here we see the power of faith! God has done everything; he has done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a child, has entered the human family...Yes, there is a good earth, a healthy earth, an earth freed of all selfishness and all lack of openness. In this world there is a good soil which God has prepared, that he might come to dwell among us. A dwelling place for his presence in the world. This good earth exists, and today too, in 2012, from this earth truth has sprung up! Consequently, there is hope in the world, a hope in which we can trust, even at the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations. Truth has sprung up, bringing kindness, justice and peace.

The afternoon was also time for our family Christmas party! All the sisters gathered in the Chapter room for treats, music, and laughter.  The party began with treats and a mix of Christmas Carols and songs.  The music ended with a rousing rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas"; except this year, we also had different signs for each table to wave during our part of the '12'.  Next the prioress shared the community gift, a book by the Abbot Primate (head Benedictine monk).  Finally, Sister Elves delivered the sisters' gifts from the generous members of St. Mary Church...the room filled with exclamations of joy and laughter.  Sisters continued comparing the family photos and cards that were included with many of the gifts and began to compose their 'thank yous' and 'promises of prayer' as we picked up the Chapter Room and prepared for evening Vespers.

We will continue to keep you in prayer throughout this Christmas Season!

Christmas Blessings,

Christmas Eve Events...

Greetings,

The monastery has been bustling with activity during this ONE DAY between the last Sunday of Advent and Christmas Day.  After Lauds, Mass, and breakfast, the preparations for the next day's festivities began.  The sisters divided into groups of merry elves to get all the work done.

Sister Sacristan and Sister Subprioress making final
poinsettia placement decisions while preparing Chapel.

The sisters decorating the Chapel had 'double duty' since the Advent Wreath and purple banners needed to be taken down before the white and gold Christmas banners and poinsettias could bedeck the sanctuary and pillars.  A few sisters artfully arranged a few dozen red and white poinsettias around the base of some simple evergreen trees that flank either side of our high altar while others continued to cart them in from their 'cool' storage.  Sisters with great balance tiptoed on the pews to lift down the purple and hang banners of gold with white.  Sister Sacristan was also quite busy; moving from candle to candle with new pillars and votives, refilling the little oil dedication candles, and positioning highlights of golden material around the Christmas candles.

Sisters home from mission join in the joyful work of
playing 'elf' and preparing the Christmas gifts.

 Another sister collected all the Advent table decorations from the dinning room and carried away its Advent Wreath as well.  In their place, the tables were brightened up with white table cloths, season placemats, and rose bowls filled with mini-bouquets of red and white; a Christmas Nativity scene was also displayed in the center of the dinning room.  The cooks and bakers, gift wrappers and musicians were all bustling about the monastery all morning long.  And two merry little elves carted special gifts from St. Mary Church from a small meeting room to the Chapter room where other elves were lighting the tall Christmas tree.

Bishop Martin Marty Chapel
as Christmas Vespers begins



Tonight, we will share our traditional meal of oyster stew, potato soup, and cherry pie.  Then with the quiet of December winter all around, we sing "Silent Night" with our candles lit as we statio two by two to the front of chapel and then to our pews.  The Chapel stays semi-lit with our candles as the cantor choir sings the Christmas Proclamation! This Christmas Vigil Vespers builds our anticipation the glory of our Christmas celebration tomorrow.

May Christmas Blessings be Yours,

Advent Reminders...

Greetings,

Advent reminders can be found all throughout the monastery, even these last days of preparation before Christmas.  Our Chapel is still swathed in purple simplicity with the wreath standing vigil until our Christmas Eve Vespers tomorrow night.  The widow of our Chapel gathering space still bears the message to wait in hope and anticipation.  Another Advent wreath still stands central to our monastery dinning room.  These symbols of our faith are the reminders that are expected and obvious.  However, the Advent message pervades all corners of our life at the monastery...

These chalk boards are mounted to the wall near the entrance to each floor of our bedroom area (a.k.a. dormitory).  The sisters of 4th Floor have had a gentle Advent reminder this year.  That in all ways and in all places we are to 'Prepare the way...".  The simple drawing is reminiscent of Isaiah's prophecy that "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley (40: 3-4).  As we walked by this Advent reminder on the way to Vespers on this final Sunday in Advent, we were reminded that there was still time to prepare, still work to be done to make ready the way of our Lord. 

Blessings,

O Emmanuel

Our chapel window depicting the Nativity.

O Emmanuel, our holy King and Giver of the Law,
the expectation of the nations,
their longed for Redeemer
and Savior:
O come, come soon to save us,
our Lord God-With-Us!

O King

Our chapel window depicting Christ the King.

O King of Nations,

you for whom all lands are longing, you are the holy cornerstone who bind together all God's people:

O come, come
and save humankind,
whom you formed
from the dust of the earth.

A Social Network Christmas

Grettings,

Ever wondered how the Infancy Narratives of Jesus' birth would be shared with all the social media we use today?  Take a moment ponder and pray as we prepare for the Coming of Our Savior!

O Dayspring

O Rising Sun,
the splendor of eternal light
and brilliant sun of justice,
O come
and with your holy light,
shine on us
who sit in darkness
and in death's shadow!

O Key of David



Artwork by...
The Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey

 O Key of David,

and scepter of the House of Israel,

who opens the door
and no one closes,

who closes the door
and no one opens:

O come, rescue us
from our dark prison,

where we sit in death's shadow!

O Root of Jesse

O Root of Jesse,

who stands as a sign of the people,

before whom kings shall be silent,

to whom all nations shall pray,

O come, come Lord to freee us,

and delay no longer!

O Adonai

O Adonai,

and leader of the house of Israel,

who appeared in a burning bush to Moses

and gave him the Law on Mount Sinai,

O come, come Lord and redeem us
with your strong arm outstretched!

O Wisdom



Artwork by...
The Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey



Greetings,

Today, we begin a week of reflecting on Christ's coming in a deeper way with His many titles from the Old Testament. Each morning a new title is placed in the "O Antiphon" wreath that hangs in a central corridor of the monastery; and Each evening we chant the praises of His name in the O Antiphon to the Magnifcat Canticle.

O Wisdom of God,

Who came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from beginning to end,

and with great power yet gentleness

you set all creation in order:

O Come, come Lord

and teach us the way of Wisdom!

Gaudete! Rejoice!

Greetings,

The purples of Advent recollection and pinks of Advent rejoicing fill not only our chapel and hallways, but all of nature seems to be celebrating the season with beautiful sunrises and sunsets blazing the sky with Advent joy.  The readings from today's Gaudete celebration fittingly express our Advent joy and anticipation illustrated in our sisters' photos...

Sister Mary Kay found our monastery's emblem filled with Advent color
on her way to Laud's one winter morning a few years ago.

 "Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!" Zephaniah 3: 14


Another Sister Photobug captured this moment of sunset with the
Advent colors from the sky filling the waters of the Missouri River.

Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 12: 2-3

Blessings and Rejoice!

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

"O holy Dwelling Place of God.  O holy Temple of the Word. 
O holy Mary, holy Mother of God!" ~ Lauds Antiphon.



The Immaculate Conception by Monastery Icons

"Hail, bright star of the ocean, God's own gracious mother, Virgin ever sinless, take our supplication, to your Son, our Savior.  Surely he will hear you." ~ Vespers Responsory

One Jolly Monastery Tradition

Greetings,

The quiet of our simple Wednesday supper was interrupted with a joyful chorus of "Jolly old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way; Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say!"  Saint Nicholas himself came into our monastery refectory on the eve of his feast with two helpers to visit with the sisters and share his gifts of apples and oranges as well as chocolates and candies. As Saint Nicholas visited around the dinning room, he teased the sisters about eating all their spinach (the vegetable for supper that night) or they might get coal instead.  Saint Nicholas also visited our elders in the care center in their dinning room as his helpers and our staff sang and joined in the fun.  All of the sisters received a special blessing from our ancient bishop and legend.


Sister Sub-Prioress, Father Chaplain, and Postulant Peggy
with all Saint Nicholas' goodies for the sisters!

Our monastery has been celebrating the visit of Saint Nicholas for over 70 years! With our Swiss roots and many early sisters from Germany or German Ancestry, this festive celebration of generosity, hospitality, and child-like awe is a natural and joy-filled expression of our Advent waiting for the Lord's coming.  Our saint's visit began with with singing and laughter; and after he left, the sisters continued to visit  about their Saint Nicholas memories.  Over those 70 years, Saint Nicholas has been played by new novices and junior sisters, monastery and college chaplains, but the earliest memories were of Sister Georgia who died in 1968.  She would come to evening recreation, all dressed up with apples and oranges for all the sisters who then joined in with welcoming, song, and laughter...only to be quickly quieted at the bell for Compline. 

As this tradition continues to welcome and bless, new members and guests to the monastery are initiated into this celebration of our heritage.  This year on the eve of Saint Nicholas; Sister 5th Grade Teacher had invited a few of her students for a visit to the monastery.  They loved the 'surprise' visit by the saint and couldn't wait to go home and back to school and tell the tale of their monastery guest!

Blessings and Happy Advent,

Happy New Year!

Greetings,

The season of Advent ushers in our new Church year.  At the monastery, the season is welcomed with new color and greenery in the Chapel and prayer spaces, with extended silence in our mornings, and with a deeper awareness of God's presence among us.  While the Rule of Benedict has much to say on the season of Lent, Advent wasn't yet part of the Church's Tradition and celebration during Benedict's lifetime.  However, we infer many of the Saint Benedict's recommendations from Chapter 49 to this season: to pray more, to read and reflect, and prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Christ's Incarnation and His triumphant return.

This autumn was filled with many events which gave us the opportunity to share our blessings.  The Monastery Gift Shop (and the whole monastery) hosted our 6th annual "Holiday Fair" on October 27th.  Throughout the year, sisters prepared the best crafts of crocheting, quilting and sewing; beaded dozens of rosaries, bracelets, and jewelry; Father Monk brought down breads and soaps from his monastery while Sister Baker whiped up batches of her own treats and poured candles to boot!  It was an amazing variety that spread throughout the monastery's front parlours and hallways, and between 9:30 am and their afternoon closing, the sisters had sold...
542 various loaves of bread!
122 plates of other baked and candied goods!
81 bags of homemade 'Nun-Better' noodles
573 jars of jam, jelly, pickles, and salad dressing from the monastery kitchen and cookers!
1054 handmade items from the sisters crafting, sewing, beading, and other artistic gifts!The proceeds from this one day of wild and wonderful sales goes to support the international sisters who live with us while studying at Mount Marty College.  This is one way we strive to share our gift and blessing of education with others.

The sisters also shared our gift and blessing of bounty in preparation for Thanksgiving.  The monastery has continued the tradition of opening our kitchen and assisting the local 'Banquet' in preparing a feast for others.  The ovens were filled with dozens of turkeys that were later pulled apart by Sister Volunteers while others cut bunches (what must have felt like tons) of celery, onion, and breads to make the dressing for the feast.  By the time the Banquet representatives came with their van, our contributions to the city's Banquet were all wrapped up and ready to go.  Several sisters also shared in serving the meal and eating with the guests, but the preparation allows so many more sisters to reach out to bless those they may never know.

We will keep you and your Advent in our prayers and hope that blessings and opportunities to bless will be abundant in your new Church year.

Blessings,

The Entrance of Postulant Peggy

Greetings,



Left: Sr. Maribeth (Vocation Director),
Middle: Postulant Peggy, Right: Sr. Penny (Prioress)



At the beginning of August, one young woman knocked at the front doors of Sacred Heart Monastery.  Prioress Sister Penny opened them to her with one question “Peggy, what do you seek?”  After she shared her response, the Prioress opened the doors and brought Peggy and her family into the monastery as the community sang the response, “What can be sweeter to us than the voice of the Lord inviting us?  Behold in his loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way to life.”

The Prioress and Peggy stood in the midst of the sisters in the front hall as the Postulant director came forward to read from the Rule: “Listen carefully, my daughter, to the teacher’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.  This is advice from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice.  The labor of obedience will bring you back to the One from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience.  This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.”  ~Prologue of the Rule of Benedict (Vs. 1-3)

Following this message from our Father Benedict, the Prioress spoke to the sisters, “Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, will you strive to fully live your call to monastic life in this community, and to support Peggy as she begins her journey with us?”  And the community replied, “We will.”  Finally, the Prioress offered Peggy a simple Benedictine medal, “Receive this medal as a sign of our acceptance of your desire to seek God in this community.”

With this simple ceremony at the front doors of the monastery, Peggy became a Postulant and began her journey into our Benedictine life.  Two months later, she has begun settling into our daily life of the community.  How does someone settle into our family life?  Slowly…  Peggy shared some of her thoughts about these first couple of months.

Our Benedictine family plays together. “I have learned more new games that I can count…in my group. Some include, ‘Snip, Snap, Snort’, ‘Pass the Ace’, ‘Spades’, ‘Hearts’, and ‘Pinochle’. I’m sure there are more, but too many to remember.”  However, we also work to care for our home together and even the Postulant has a household charge or two, “My favorite ‘charge’ would have to be dishes. I am able to do something to the benefit of the whole community. I also really enjoy leading prayer in our living group.”  Postulant Peggy’s room is in the monastery, but along a hallway dedicated to the new members in formation.  The new members are allowed to settle-in to feel comfortable in their bedroom, “I am using an end table my sister, Mary, let me borrow for a while as my prayer table. It works well. I also brought my candles and Scentsy warmer for my room.  Most used item you brought with me? …the most used item I brought with me would be the school supplies I had left from college.  As a part of my Postulancy program, I am taking two Theology courses at the college and one class at the Monastery.  However, the least used item I brought would be my cleaning supplies and tools. I didn’t know all of that would be supplied here to use.”

Central to our Benedictine life is the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharist, and personal prayer.  Soon after entering, even Postulants begin to fall into the liturgical rhythm, “The most surprising change has been the comfort level I have found being here only a couple weeks short of two months. I find myself thinking of the schedule here while I am away.”  She has even begun the Benedictine habit of carrying a favorite bit from the Liturgy of the Hours along with her throughout the day, “My favorite Psalm so far is Psalm 136 when we can reflect on all of God’s gifts to us and respond “God’s love endures forever.”  This continual reflection on scripture also links to some wonderful advice she received from another sister, “I think this is from S. Jane Klimish and has been passed downthrough other sisters as time went on. “The best kind of Lectio is Relaxio.” I find myself falling asleep during my quiet time and personal prayer, that is when I can relax and let go of my worries.”

As a Postulant to our Benedictine life, a new member sometimes has the best advice for those considering religious life, “My advice for any woman feeling the call from God to grow closer to Him with the support of a community would be to visit a Monastery, keep regular communication with their vocation director, and to start to form relationships with other sisters. I would also highly encourage anyone to make a personal retreat, to allow yourself some ‘me’ time to reflect and listen to what God is telling you. Also, having a Spiritual Director is someone to help guide you through the possible ‘new’ or ‘unfamiliar’ feelings you may be having and am unsure of how to respond to those feelings.”

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Five Revealed

Greetings,

This week, the monastery mystery tour stopped in a very ordinary, every day location...an elevator!  However, the elevators at Sacred Heart Monastery have one item unique to our lift system; a prayer through the intercession of the Archangel Raphael!

I cannot find the origin of this prayer for safety in elevator travel, but it could have been created by the sisters themselves for the first elevator that was installed in the oldest part of the monastery.  That early elevator was retro-fitted into the 1900 portion of the building at a time when the air 'vents' cut into the top part of the elevator cab let you look directly at the brick passing by!  It would jiggle and shake and was an odd rectangular shape (um coffin shaped for that purpose), but it safely delivered its passengers for many years.

The prayer was added to the 'new' building's elevators when construction was completed in the 1960's.  The prayer has found use in one of the new elevators; more than one sister has been stranded in its confines and relied upon the assistance of the Archangel Raphael and the alarm button by the door!

Calligraphied by hand, this unusual prayer is just one of the many aspects of our every day life that are unique to our call as Benedictine Sisters in Yankton, South Dakota.

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Five

Greetings,

I searched high and low for a odd and interesting view into the everyday parts of our life!  This stop on our mystery item tour is seen often by sisters, families, and friends but not often noticed.  Your clue is the name included in the photo...Archangel Raphael!  More than a few sisters have called upon his name over the years.  Ponder all that his holy name implies, consider what it might be, and guess where this place might be within the monastery! 

 Blessings,

Hildegard of Bingen

Greetings,

Today, Benedictines around the world are celebrating our own Hildegard of Bingen; However, next year the whole Church will be celebrating this Benedictine woman of mysticism and wisdom.  On October 7th, Pope Benedict XVI will be proclaiming Hildegard Saint and Doctor of the Church.  She will have a place in the official calendar and memorial readings dedicated to her feast.  But that is next year, today she continues to be simply commemorated by her Benedictine sisters and brothers.

"Our catechesis today deals with Saint Hildegard of Bingen, the great nun and mystic of the 12th century. One of the outstanding women of the Middle Ages, Hildegard used her spiritual gifts for the renewal of the Church and the spread of authentic Christian living. Hildegard reminds us of the contribution which women are called to make to the life of the Church in our own time. Trusting in her intercession, I cordially invoke upon all of you God's abundant blessings!"
~Pope Benedict XVI, September 1, 2010 and September 8, 2010 audiences.

Blessings,

Celebrating the Exaltation of the Cross

Greetings,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.  A reminder that we honor and rejoice in the cross that brought us our salvation.  At the monastery we join the Church in commemorating this feast, it is a good day to spend some time in Bishop Martin Marty Chapel and our beautiful carved crucifix of Christ surrounded by detailed vines and the symbols of the four Evangelists.  Our responsorial at Lauds expresses well the joy of the Church...

For our sake, Christ bore the sins of many.
Precious the cross, and glorious the sign.
He was pierced for our offences,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Precious the cross, and glorious the sign.
Sweet the wood, sweet the nails,
sweet the burden they bore.
Precious the cross, and glorious the sign.

Have a blessed Feast Day!

"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world." ~Lauds Antiphon.

"The cross is the power of God, the God who saves!

One and only noble tree, the tree of life and peace." ~Vespers Responsorial

Blessings,

Patriot Day 2012

Greetings,

The prayer of Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Ground Zero is a good meditation for  this commemoration of Patriot Day.

Ground Zero, New York
Sunday, 20 April 2008

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

~Amen

The Nativity of Mary

Greetings,

On this simple September Saturday, we gathered to celebrate the birth of Mary in prayer with the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Here are a few of the antiphons and Psalms from our office...


Our Lady of Reichenbach
from our founding monastery
in Switzerland.


~ We celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary while we worship her Son, Christ the Lord. Antiphon

~My heart overflows with noble words, to the king I address my song; my tongue is ready like the pen of a scribe.
Psalm 45
~My heart finds joy in my God; my strength is exalted in the Most High. My mouth derides my foes, for I rejoice in God's power to save. There is no other Holy One, no other Rock like our God! 1Samuel 2

~Shout for joy, O daughter Zion; sing joyfully O Jerusalem, for your God is in your midst. God will rejoice over you with gladness and renew you in love. Responsorial

We invite you to take some time to reflect on Our Lady and her model of humble love and service to others. 

Blessings,

Fair Weather

Greetings,

Labor Day was celebrated at home in the monastery.  The sisters gathered for prayer, Eucharist, and an evening meal of favorite picnic foods.  Some of the sisters on mission away from home also gathered to celebrate this remembrance of the labor by attending a state fair!

We started our tour through the Nebraska State Fair with exhibit hall filled with the arts and crafts of the state.  It ranged from the very interesting creations including a trio of guitars bedazzled in gold and silver with blue spot-lights to this triptych of quilts with a religious theme.  Each of the quilts had a Bible quote stitched into its intricate fabric work. After some time before the triptych, we came to the conclusion that the last two would do better switched around. We pondered the creativity and beauty of the our resident artists.

In another exhibit hall, there were representatives from many of the state's industries from A to Z, or from Spas to Pork and Beans!  The pork producers had some fun promoting their 'home-grown' product by designing a gigantic pig from cans of pork and beans and fenced it in with green bean cans!  Also on display were the requisite 4-H and FFA projects that ranged from baked goods to monster pumpkins! It was wonderful to see all the work of our youth from Nebraska.

 

 All throughout the fairgrounds, there were fun sights and a multitude of folk!  We wandered up and down the lanes and aisles enjoying the day.  It wasn't long in our meandering that we were recognized...our sisters who serve in the city were becoming well known.  Sr. Clarice found a few parishoners among the fair-goers and Sr. Barbara was greeted by some of the high school students.  Both were amazed at being noticed in the throng of people, but glad to share our day.

 Soon enough the day had passed and it was time to return home to their little convent house we call St. Gertrude's.  The midway lights were shining brightly in the distance, beckoning the all to come and play, but it was time to settle in and pray.  It had been a wonderful day of wonders and laughter, a day to enjoy a little rest and fun, a day to be grateful for our blessings of work, family, and fun.

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Four Revealed

Greetings,

Our sisters dutifully held back while some interesting considerations were given via Facebook and a good guess on our blog.  The mix of metal and wood patterning reminded some of choir stalls and others of decorative church railings.  But these are combined elements of our Reservation Chapel in the Peace Chapel at the monastery. 

We hold our daily Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic prayer in the Peace Chapel while we celebrate feasts and Sundays in the Bishop Martin Marty Chapel.  As we gather for prayer early every morning and return too prayer again every evening, our sisters pause to reverence Christ present among us in the Reservation Chapel.  Throughout the day, sisters have the opportunity to come and sit in the cool quiet to reflect and pray.  If you find the opportunity to visit us, consider taking time in your day to rest in this prayer spot for some silent listening with God.



In the dailiness of our processing in and out of chapel, we can easily forget the work that it took to create the beautiful simplicity of this prayer space.  The Tabernacle and the stands were all designed by our Sr. Mary Kay, who now serves the monastery as procurator.  The icon of our Blessed Mother was written by an artist who at one time was also a sister of our monastery.  Even the stained glass (unseen on the right of this photo) was designed by one of our sister artists at the time the chapel was being constructed. 

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Four

Greetings,

Monastery Mystery Four is a place! There are places in our monastery that are so ingrained in the daily of our life that we don't always recognize the beauty.  This mystery place is seen by the sisters and our retreatants and guests several times a day.  The swirls that highlight this mystery place were designed by one of our own sisters of the monastery.  The clues of location are all in the images!...If you think you have a guess as to where this is in the monastery, just drop us a note in the comments below!

 Blessings!

Celebrations of New Promise!

Greetings,

We celebrated Sr. Julie's Perpetual Profession on Saturday, July 21st!

During her novitiate, Sister had made this clay piece "Hesed".  This Old Testament term of God's loving mercy for each of us; it became the theme of her Perpetual Profession "O God, Your Faithful Love Upholds Me".  She celebrated answering this faithful love with her family, monastic sisters, and lay-folk with whom she serves.

According to Benedictine Tradition, the sister writes out the profession statement in her own hand and reads it before all the sisters in the oratory or chapel of the monastery:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I, Sister Julie baptized in the diocese of Peoria, Illinois

promise to God perpetually stability in this monastery,

fidelity to the monastic way of life,

and obedience according to the Rule of Saint Benedict,

the norms of the Federation of Saint Gertrude

and the living tradition of this monastery. 

I make this monastic profession before God and the saints,

before Sister Penny, prioress, and the sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery.

In witness thereof, I have written this document and

have signed it here at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD

on the 21st day of July in the year 2012.

Sr. Julie and Sr. Penny, prioress, then sign the profession statement on the altar and leave the profession document on the altar throughout the rest of the Eucharistic Celebration.  This is an important connection to the professed sister offering her life in connection with that of Christ and for the Church.



Sr. Mary Jo singing the Suscipe
after signing her transfer
documents on the altar.



Sr. Mary Jo reading her transfer
document before the Federation
President, our Prioress, and our
Formation director.



A week after celebrating the perpetual profession of Sr. Julie; our community gathered again to celebrate the perpetual transfer of Sr. Mary Jo's vow of stability to our monastery.  She commemorated God's continued love and care for her religious call with the theme "You Will Show Me the Path of Life". 





A week after Sr. Mary Jo's celebration, the community gathered to welcome a new seeker of God's love in our Benedictine life.  On Friday, August 3rd, Peggy followed our 1500-year-old-tradition, knocked on the monastery door, and was asked "What do you seek?".  She then answers the prioresses question and steps across the threshold of the monastery doors into her new life as a postulant in our community.  A sign of this new direction is the blessed Benedictine medal that the prioress gives to the postulant.

Blessings,

Monastic Chapter

Greetings,

Keep our community family in your prayers as we gather for our August Monastic Chapter in July.  Three times a year the whole community gathers to discuss the business of the monastery, progress of members (new and old) in their spiritual life, and other issues of importance. 

These few days at the end of July will be quite busy with prayer honoring the anniversary of the dedication of Bishop Martin Marty Chapel, meetings, Eucharistic celebrations for our Diamond Jubilarians, and Vespers commemorating the transfer of a sister to our family. 

Whew!  We will rely on your prayers during these days!

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Three Revealed!

Greetings,

The connection between the two items is the dough from our monastery bakery!
 

The large machine is a mixer for batches of dough that begin with 50 pounds of flour!  The fresh dough from this near century old machine is enough to make 100 loaves of bread with enough left over for buns and sweet rolls too.  The 'jaw' on the front opening is opened and closed by the handled wheel on the far left on the photo.  The black knob determines the mixing speed and even the temperature (which is gauged with a thermometer on the front).  More flour, water, sugar, etc. could be added via the odd globe with a hold cut out on the top of the machine.  How is it still in use after so many years?  It is cared for with respect not only for its use but also for whomever may need it next; it is cleaned, washed, and greased after each use.  This follows the recommendation of the Rule; "Let him (the cellarer) regard all the utensils of the monastery and its whole property as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar.  Let him not think that he may neglect anything" chapter 31.

The other mystery item is a roller for cutting dozens of buns at one time!  We simply make a 'snake' of the dough to whatever size you would like the buns and then we roll the cutter over it quickly cutting at least a dozen buns which are then rolled into shape by hand.  While this particular cutter may be 'new', the predecessor was around for a few decades preforming the same task. 

The outcome of these simple monastery tools, while a mystery to most, offer wonderful results to all the sisters, friends, retreatants, and family who come to our door.  The bakery was one of the first works for many in the monastery during their novitiate and remains one of the favorite.  The sounds, smells, and feel of the dough have a much loved place in our hearts. 

 Blessings,

Saturday Joy

Greetings,

Today the chapel was filled with joy as the words of Sister Julie's Perpetual Monastic Profession rang out...

In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
I, Sister Julie Peak, baptized in the diocese of Peoria, Illinois,
promise to God PERPETUALLY...
We will share more about this joyous day very soon!

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Three

Greetings,

Today's monastery mystery item is a duo! Two very different items that are needed to work with the same product.  Both items seem to have odd wheels and handles, shapes and sizes, and may have been in the monastery for several decades, but both items are raised up to new heights in their work.  Next week we'll post the answer, but offer any guesses as to these monastery mystery items or their common product in our comments below...hmmm...how could such dusty items be a daily part of our simple life?

Blessings on the guessings!

Sister Volunteers!

Greetings,

The sisters are preparing for the fall "Holiday Fair" with many of their best crafts and talents.  Sisters have been crocheting, sewing, cooking jellies, arranging stained glass, and beading rosaries as well as necklaces (whew!).  But there is one work we all share together, we make dried noodles.  This has been a community effort since our first endeavor back in 2010.  The sisters signed up in shifts to help all yesterday... they kneaded, cut, and separated the noodles all around the monastery refectory.  After they have dried a few days, another group of sisters will go about breaking them apart and arranging them in bags for the "Holiday Fair" this fall.

However, noodling nuns aren't the only volunteers this week!  The gardening sisters have been picking their way through the field of sweet corn.  A group of sisters gathered this afternoon to begin shucking and cleaning the corn for our first 'sweet' meal.  The sounds of the sisters voices, laughter, and corn husks echoed out and around the work room. There is a joy in sharing some simple work together.  Unfortunately, the yield of sweet corn has been small due to the drought in our area, and we aren't anticipating the chance to prepare and freeze our usual pounds for many meals throughout the winter.

Blessings,

Feast of Saint Benedict!

A window dedicated to Saint Benedict in our
main Chapel at the Monastery.

Greetings and Happy Feast!

"Come let us join with the angels and saints in offering thanks and praise to the Lord on this solemnity of our Father Benedict."
~Vespers Antiphon

Today, we joined with our Sisters, employees and friends in celebrating the Feast of Saint Benedict.  All throughout the house we could hear well-wishes of "Happy Feast!" As a part of our celebration we welcomed our employees to lunch and supper with us in the dinning room.  The homemade pizza from the kitchen was made more festive with the lively laughter of mechanics next to Sister Professor who was next to a nurses assistant who chatted with an Elder Sister who was next to an administrative assistant and so on.  It was a wonderful opportunity to share this festive day with those who are a part of our everyday lives.

"We listen to the words we hear God speak, a promise of life and light we seek: In love run ways we cannot clearly see until our hearts expand and set us free."
~Lauds Responsory

"Let us rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord for a feast in honor of Benedict, at whose triumph the angels rejoice and give praise to the Son of God."
~Lauds Antiphon

"Let us love one another with fervent love, endure one another's infirmities; patiently serve and obey one another, and prefer nothing whatever to Christ."
~Vespers Antiphon
Blessings,