Loving Service: Warm Hearts and Hot Soups

Greetings,

This Fall the sisters of the monastery have been busily serving each other.  Chapter 72 of The Rule of Benedict calls each of the sisters to a loving awareness of the needs of her sisters...

Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting.  This zeal, therefore, the sisters should practice with the most fervent love.  Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10); most patiently endure one another's infirmities, whether of body or of character; vie in paying obedience one to another--no one following what she considers useful for herself, but rather what benefits another--; tender the charity of sisterhood chastely; fear God in love; love their Abbess with sincere and humble charity; prefer nothing whatever to Christ.  And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!

After many years of teaching elementary school, Sister Retiree has been finding many ways to share her good zeal with the community at the monastery.  Sister is well known for her cooking and baking skills.  She has shared dozens of homemade cookies, breads, caramel rolls, and suppers over the years.

"...vie in paying obedience one to another--no one following what she considers useful for herself, but rather what benefits another..."  Recently, she treated our elders to a home made soup lunch!  Her famous from scratch chicken soup was served with dinner rolls fresh from the oven.  For dessert, she arranged a light fruit salad.

Our elder sisters, Saint Joseph's group, and our care center staff enjoyed this "...tender charity of sisterhood..."  The meal was wonderful but the good zeal shared among the sisters was even better.

Saturday the 19th, our sisters from the 'Day Spring' living group (small groups of sisters who gather for prayer and recreation) treated the whole community to a soup supper!  "...Anticipating one another in honor..." the sisters brewed up three wonderful soups:  vegetarian vegetable, beef vegetable, and chicken with dumplings.  They also provided homemade wheat dinner rolls and focaccia breads.  To top off the supper, they shared a variety of brownies, bars, and some fruit fresh from the garden.

It was a wonderful night to visit at table, to enjoy the blessing of our garden produce shared in the soups, and to swap a few recipes of our own!  Thank you sisters of Day Spring for a wonderful night of good zeal being shared by all!

Blessings,