The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Happy Feast Day!

A watercolor of the Sacred Heart by our Sister Kathleen.  Sister was an active artist within our community.  She shared her gifts of painting and calligraphy with not only her Benedictine family but also the greater community. 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."  Lauds Antiphon

 This mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is displayed in our Chapter room at the monastery.  It is a powerful (and quite large) reminder for us during not only our official Chapter meetings but also the celebrations of jubilee and profession receptions that are held there.  Our Sister Leonarda designed the mosaic and then each sister of the monastery placed a piece or two into the mosaic...it was the work of the whole community at that time.

"Where charity and love abide, God is ever there.  The love of Christ has gathered us, the many into one."  Vespers Antiphon

 The oldest Sacred Heart of Jesus statue is found outdoors on the south side of our front lawn of the monastery.  The statue was here from our very beginnings and has survived several moves throughout the years.  His most recent challenge was a young college volunteer accidentally breaking off the left hand while scraping away old paint.  The hand was repaired and she later entered the monastery!  However, sisters have long memories and occasionally the story continues to be told ; )

"Come to me, all you who thirst: come, and life shall be yours.  Seek, and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened." Vespers Responsorial

 This detail of stained glass is from a window above an entrance to the original monastery.  After the renovation, the window was preserved and is now in the front entrance of the new monastery.  The motto is still our life's work.

"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 Responsorial

Above the entrance of our original convent building, a carved lintel piece was set above the main doorway..."Convent of the Sacred Heart".  We saved the lintel during our renovations and it still stands near the entrance of the monastery's new entrance.  Notice the carved detailing in the middle matches the stained glass detail above.

"And Jesus said: "Learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart."" Magnificat Antiphon

At the conclusion of Vespers, the sisters share in an Act of Dedication to the Sacred Heart.

God of all creation, and God of our hearts, on this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we remember the love with which you first loved us. We remember the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ who brings us to birth and feeds us with the blood and water flowing from his side, pierced on the cross.

Inspired by the Spirit of love, we desire to give our hearts to you, and to make the heart of Jesus our own. Through his most Sacred Heart, we consecrate to your our monastery, the life and work of each sister of this community, and our beloved sick. We ask you to receive this offering, which we make through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, one with you forever and ever. Amen.

Blessings,