Lenten Springtime

Greetings,

The work of Lent continues in the quiet of the monastery.  The sisters gather in silence before our morning prayer of Lauds and celebration of the Eucharist.  Following the guidance of Benedict throughout our observance, we continue the day in work and service to each other and the Church.  We are called to bring our Lenten awareness to our paperwork and classrooms, to our cleaning and cooking, and even to our laughter and leisure together. 

We continue to share our simple abstinence and fasting during these days of Lent.  Our Wednesday soups and meat free Fridays are easy but powerful reminders to continue to pray.  The sisters serving away from the monastery also share in our fasting and abstaining; however, they might not have the addition offering of giving up Wednesday's fresh pies from the monastery bakery.

This year's Lent has included blizzard and sleet, thunderstorms, and brilliant sunshine, but Lent is a reminder of springtime, a time to prepare for new life in our hearts and souls.  This year it includes new life for the Church in the election of the Pope.  After Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on February 28th, we began to pray for the Cardinals in their preparation for the Conclave.  Please join us in this prayer as they begin the work of the Spirit on this Tuesday, March 12th.

O God, Shepherd of us all,
we pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit
upon the Cardinals who will meet in conclave
to elect the next Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the hearts of our Cardinals
be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
beyond any human judgment,
freeing them to elect the candidate
who will guide the Church at this time in history.

In your mercy grant your Church a shepherd
who will walk in your ways
and whose watchful care
will bring us your blessing.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen