World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Greetings,

As the Universal Church celebrates a day of prayer for vocations, we invite you to reflect on the first part of Saint Benedict's instructions on "The Manner of Receiving Sisters"...

When anyone is newly come for the reformation of her life,
let her not be granted an easy entrance;
but, as the Apostle says,
"Test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
If the newcomer, therefore, perseveres in her knocking,
and if it is seen after four or five days
that she bears patiently the harsh treatment offered her
and the difficulty of admission,
and that she persists in her petition,
then let entrance be granted her,
and let her stay in the guest house for a few days.

After that let her live in the novitiate,
where the novices study, eat and sleep.
A senior shall be assigned to them who is skilled in winning souls,
to watch over them with the utmost care.
Let her examine whether the novice is truly seeking God,
and whether she is zealous
for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials.
Let the novice be told all the hard and rugged ways
by which the journey to God is made.

If she promises stability and perseverance,
then at the end of two months
let this rule be read through to her,
and let her be addressed thus:
"Here is the law under which you wish to fight.
If you can observe it, enter;
if you cannot, you are free to depart."
If she still stands firm,
let her be taken to the above-mentioned novitiate
and again tested in all patience.
And after the lapse of six months let the Rule be read to her,
that she may know on what she is entering.
And if she still remains firm,
after four months let the same Rule be read to her again.

Then, having deliberated with herself,
if she promises to keep it in its entirety
and to observe everything that is commanded,
let her be received into the community.
But let her understand that,
according to the law of the Rule,
from that day forward she may not leave the monastery
nor withdraw her neck from under the yoke of the Rule
which she was free to refuse or to accept
during that prolonged deliberation.

Rule of Benedict Chapter 58

The Solemnity of Christ the King

“He is the ‘Alpha and Omega’, the ‘Beginning and End’, the ‘Way, Truth, and Life’. Indeed, Christ promises to His faithful friends the gift of salvation, the pledge of everlasting life through His Resurrection.  Therefore, faithfulness to Christ, our King, opens the door to our eternal happiness…

…Bearing witness to the truth in this age can be difficult. But Christ has shown us that ‘kingship’ must always be at the service of the good of mankind. Therefore, with His grace and in hope of His gift of salvation, let us bear witness to the truth, even when it is unpopular or costly to do so. In this way, we become faithful servants of Christ, preparing the way for His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven.” (USCCB #ChristtheKing)

Vocations Awareness Week!

Greetings!

This week the Catholic Church invites us to celebrate the gift and call of vocations within the Church.

Sunday evening, we began our Vocation Awareness Week with a very 'punny' supper with our sisters.  The supper included: 'Priestly' pork chops, 'Diaconate' dumplings, 'Sisterly' sauerkarut, a 'Generous Singles' salad bar, 'Brotherly' bites of ice cream, and even 'Married Life' morsels of cookies.

The evening continued with our monthly Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations.  The sisters invited students from Mount Marty College and local parishioners to join us. Our silent Adoration before the Lord was only broken by Scripture readings and theological reflections every half-hour.

The sisters found new table decorations when we gathered for lunch on Monday.  The Vocations Awareness folk had created table tents with vocation themed conversation topics and ideas for each table of sisters.

Tuesday evening we gathered with our Mount Marty Student prayer partners.  The evening began with prayer that our hearts be open to God's Call.  At the end of our prayer together, the Sisters their hands in blessing over the Student Prayer Partners "May God bless you with open minds, joyful hearts and loving companions as you listen to the Lord in your lives."  Then the students extended their hands in bless and prayed, "May God bless you with peace and joy as you prayerfully listen and live the Benedictine way of life."  After prayer, the evening continued with time for the sisters and their prayer partners to visit, play, and maybe have a treat too.

We will continue you uphold you in prayer as this week of Vocations Awareness continues.

GOD OUR FATHER, 

we thank you for calling men and women
to serve in your Son's kingdom
as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons.   Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. 
May our community of faith
support vocations of sacrificial love
in our youth and young adults.  
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.  ~Amen

In Honor of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Greetings,

Today, the Church honors Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. In celebrating her, we seek to honor and celebrate the faith and courage of the Native American peoples and tribes of North America. Our community has ministered with the native peoples of the Dakotas beginning as early as the 1880's. We continued to serve on various reservations throughout North and South Dakota through 2000. We were honored to share our faith and community life with the peoples of the Dakotas. To learn more about our early ministry, follow this link to Our History as Yankton Benedictines.

A Prayer on Independence Day

Memorial Day

Greetings,
You are welcome to join us honoring and interceding for the active members, veterans, and deceased members of our nations Armed Forces: morning prayer begins at 8:30 AM, followed by the Celebration of the Eucharist.

The Fourteenth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

THE FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPULCHER

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to its burial, while His holy Mother went with them and arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb and all departed.

R: We thank you, Jesus, for the infinite power of Your death and resurrection which brought salvation and healing to the world. We thank You for all whom You have called to follow You in the past 2000 years, men and women formally dedicating their lives to the building up of Your Church. We pray for all seminarians and novices in formation. Let all young men and women today reflect on the lives of the saints, and let them come to meet and know priests, religious, and lay ministers in our times who continue to respond to Christ’s call, “Come, follow me.”

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Virgin of all virgins blest / Listen to my fond request / Let me share your grief divine

.

PRAYER TO JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED

My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before You, asking You most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon Your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the Prophet David spoke long ago concerning Yourself: ``They pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones.''

The Thirteenth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

THE THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how, after Our Lord had died, He was taken down from the cross by two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, and placed in the arms of His afflicted Mother. She received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him close to her bosom.

R: Jesus, touch the minds, hearts and spirits of those You call to serve the people of God. Fill them with the assurance of our Blessed Mother’s love and care for them, especially as they grow to embrace their vocations. Enable them to respond to Your call to bring Your redeeming presence to a world grieving, fearful and hungry for Your Truth through prayer and service.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

By the cross with you to stay / There with you to weep and pray / Is all I ask of you to give.

The Twelfth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

THE TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES UPON THE CROSS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, is finally overwhelmed with suffering and, abandoning Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head and dies.

R: Jesus, give to all who are considering their vocation a deep love of the Eucharist, the Most Holy Sacrament of Your passion, death and resurrection. Let them find in the Mass a daily renewal of Your invitation to live their lives through You, with You, and in You, giving glory and honor to God our Father.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Let me mingle tears with thee / Mourning Him who mourned for me / All the days that I may live.

The Eleventh Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

 

 

THE ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider Jesus, thrown down upon the cross, He stretched out His arms and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. They nailed His hands and feet, and then, raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish.

R: Jesus, instill in youth today a deep desire to make a difference in the world no matter what the cost. Let the courageous example of modern martyrs inspire them to meet all challenges with faith, hope and love. Fill them with Your presence and the grace to respond to the call to “go out to all the world.”

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Let me share with you His pain / Who for all our sins was slain / Who for me in torments died.

The Tenth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

THE TENTH STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how Jesus was violently stripped of His clothes by His executioners. The inner garments adhered to his lacerated flesh and the soldiers tore them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Have pity for your Savior so cruelly treated.

R: Jesus, grant that all those being called to the priesthood and consecrated life will clothe themselves with sincere compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness and patience, forgiveness and thankfulness…and over all these virtues, let them put on love. May they understand that their vocation discernment is their deepest response to Your love.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Holy Mother, pierce me through / in my heart each wound renew / of my Savior crucified.

The Ninth Station of the Cross and Palms of Praise

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

THE NINTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how Jesus Christ fell for the third time. He was extremely weak and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive; they tried to hasten His steps though He hardly had strength to move.

R: Jesus, help those You call to know that all vocations are grace-filled; that priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, consecrated men and women, married and single are all favored by God. Instill in them the understanding that nothing can separate them from the love of God who is actively present in good times and in bad.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Make me feel as You have felt / Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Also...

We began Holy Week with the celebration and palm branches of praise and Jesus Christ's entrance into the city of Jerusalem.  Welcoming sisters, family, and guests into the Chapter room, we began with the readings and blessing of palms before processing joyfully into chapel all together.  Holy Father Francis' also began Holy Week with praise and joy.  His homily reminded us all that we are called to live in joy, that Jesus' passion should lead us to joy, and announced to the youth that he would join them in joy at World Youth Day.



The Eighth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

 

 

THE EIGHTH STATION: JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how the women wept with compassion seeing Jesus so distressed and dripping with blood as He walked along. Jesus said to them, ``Weep not so much for Me, but rather for Your children.''

R: Jesus, remove any prejudices or biases from all whom You call to walk with You as priests or in the consecrated life. Let those who follow You see that all God’s people are created equal, male and female, regardless of race or culture, and that our heavenly Father has no favorites. Let their words and example speak of Christ’s justice, peace and joy.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

O sweet Mother! Fount of Love / Touch my spirit from above / Make my heart with yours accord.

 

The Seventh Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

THE SEVENTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how the second fall of Jesus under His cross renews the pain in all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.

R: Jesus, teach those You call to the priesthood and consecrated life to accept their own and others’ limitations, relying on God’s merciful grace. Help them in these times of darkness to reach out especially to those whom the world calls “fallen”—persons who are addicted, imprisoned, poor, aged, of ill health.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

For the sins of His own nation / Saw Him hang in desolation / Till His spirit forth He sent.

The Sixth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB: 

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

 

These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artisan Sisters of the Monastery.
And Sister Blogger's favorite Station...

THE SIXTH STATION: VERONICA OFFERS HER VEIL TO JESUS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider the compassion of the holy woman, Veronica. Seeing Jesus in such distress, His face bathed in sweat and blood, she presented Him with her veil. Jesus wiped His face, and left upon the cloth the image of His sacred countenance.

R: Jesus, call forth numerous men and women to see Your face on all whom they meet. Help Your servants to truly understand that whatever good is done to the least of Your brothers and sisters is done to You.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled / She beheld her tender Child / All with bloody scourges rent.

The Fifth Station of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB:

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.



These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artisan Sisters of the Monastery.

THE FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how weak and weary Jesus was. At each step He was at the point of expiring. Fearing that He would die on the way when they wished Him to die the infamous death of the cross, they forced Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross after Our Lord.

R: Jesus, send forth your grace upon those you call to church leadership. Help them to accept and affirm others’ gifts in the building of community, in proclaiming the message and in reaching out in service.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Can the human heart refrain / From partaking in her pain / In that Mother's pain untold?

The Third & Fourth Stations of the Cross

 The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB:

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artisan Sisters of the Monastery.

THE THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider the first fall of Jesus. Loss of blood from the scourging and crowing with thorns had so weakened Him that He could hardly walk; and yet He had to carry that great load upon His shoulders. As the soldiers struck Him cruelly, He fell several times under the heavy cross.

R: Jesus, let those You call know that they do not have to be perfect. Let them be open to Your transforming grace that can accomplish more than anyone could imagine. Give to those who respond to Your call to the priesthood and consecrated life, a deep trust that You will complete what You have begun in them.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Christ above in torment hangs / She beneath beholds the pangs / of her dying, glorious Son



These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artisan Sisters of the Monastery.



THE FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how the Son met His Mother on His way to Calvary. Jesus and Mary gazed at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly

R: Jesus, instill in young men and women the desire to come to know Your Mother and find in their prayerful reflection of the scriptures, a woman of faith, hope and love whose vocation is an example for all. Help parents to promote and support vocations among their children, families and church communities.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Is there one who would not weep / 'whelmed in miseries so deep / Christ's dear Mother to behold.

The First & Second Stations of the Cross

The prayer of the Stations of the Cross for Vocations from the USCCB:

ALL: Gracious God, Each of us is called to discipleship with Your Son Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to share the good News of God’s saving love. Hear our prayer as we ponder the redemptive vocation of Jesus who continues to call men and women to walk in His way, renewing His Church and caring for His people. We give You thanks for the mystery of every vocation and we pray for all who have answered Your call. Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love, drawing many young men and women to dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the love of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.



These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artist Sisters of the Monastery.

THE FIRST STATION: PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS TO DIE

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross.

R: Jesus, we ask that You call young men and women today to publicly accept Your invitation to follow You in spite of what others may think or say. Give to them a passion for reaching out through Your love to the needs of Your brothers and sisters.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…)

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing / All His bitter anguish bearing 
Now at length the sword has passed



These outdoor, tile-mosaic Stations of the Cross were designed
by our own Artist Sisters of the Monastery.

THE SECOND STATION: JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

V: Consider Jesus as He walked this road with the cross on His shoulders, thinking of us, and offering to His Father in our behalf, the death He was about to suffer.

R: Jesus, help those You call to see in the cross the symbol of union with You. Give to them the zeal and talent to minister to those who are burdened with pain, sorrow, confusion and alienation. Let them see that in the cross is life.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

O, how sad and sore depressed / Was that Mother highly blessed
of the sole Begotten One

A Prayer for Pope Francis

A Prayer for Pope Francis

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Francis,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;

Grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
 who lives and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.