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,