Monastery Mystery Four Revealed

Greetings,

Our sisters dutifully held back while some interesting considerations were given via Facebook and a good guess on our blog.  The mix of metal and wood patterning reminded some of choir stalls and others of decorative church railings.  But these are combined elements of our Reservation Chapel in the Peace Chapel at the monastery. 

We hold our daily Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic prayer in the Peace Chapel while we celebrate feasts and Sundays in the Bishop Martin Marty Chapel.  As we gather for prayer early every morning and return too prayer again every evening, our sisters pause to reverence Christ present among us in the Reservation Chapel.  Throughout the day, sisters have the opportunity to come and sit in the cool quiet to reflect and pray.  If you find the opportunity to visit us, consider taking time in your day to rest in this prayer spot for some silent listening with God.



In the dailiness of our processing in and out of chapel, we can easily forget the work that it took to create the beautiful simplicity of this prayer space.  The Tabernacle and the stands were all designed by our Sr. Mary Kay, who now serves the monastery as procurator.  The icon of our Blessed Mother was written by an artist who at one time was also a sister of our monastery.  Even the stained glass (unseen on the right of this photo) was designed by one of our sister artists at the time the chapel was being constructed. 

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Four

Greetings,

Monastery Mystery Four is a place! There are places in our monastery that are so ingrained in the daily of our life that we don't always recognize the beauty.  This mystery place is seen by the sisters and our retreatants and guests several times a day.  The swirls that highlight this mystery place were designed by one of our own sisters of the monastery.  The clues of location are all in the images!...If you think you have a guess as to where this is in the monastery, just drop us a note in the comments below!

 Blessings!

Celebrations of New Promise!

Greetings,

We celebrated Sr. Julie's Perpetual Profession on Saturday, July 21st!

During her novitiate, Sister had made this clay piece "Hesed".  This Old Testament term of God's loving mercy for each of us; it became the theme of her Perpetual Profession "O God, Your Faithful Love Upholds Me".  She celebrated answering this faithful love with her family, monastic sisters, and lay-folk with whom she serves.

According to Benedictine Tradition, the sister writes out the profession statement in her own hand and reads it before all the sisters in the oratory or chapel of the monastery:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I, Sister Julie baptized in the diocese of Peoria, Illinois

promise to God perpetually stability in this monastery,

fidelity to the monastic way of life,

and obedience according to the Rule of Saint Benedict,

the norms of the Federation of Saint Gertrude

and the living tradition of this monastery. 

I make this monastic profession before God and the saints,

before Sister Penny, prioress, and the sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery.

In witness thereof, I have written this document and

have signed it here at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD

on the 21st day of July in the year 2012.

Sr. Julie and Sr. Penny, prioress, then sign the profession statement on the altar and leave the profession document on the altar throughout the rest of the Eucharistic Celebration.  This is an important connection to the professed sister offering her life in connection with that of Christ and for the Church.



Sr. Mary Jo singing the Suscipe
after signing her transfer
documents on the altar.



Sr. Mary Jo reading her transfer
document before the Federation
President, our Prioress, and our
Formation director.



A week after celebrating the perpetual profession of Sr. Julie; our community gathered again to celebrate the perpetual transfer of Sr. Mary Jo's vow of stability to our monastery.  She commemorated God's continued love and care for her religious call with the theme "You Will Show Me the Path of Life". 





A week after Sr. Mary Jo's celebration, the community gathered to welcome a new seeker of God's love in our Benedictine life.  On Friday, August 3rd, Peggy followed our 1500-year-old-tradition, knocked on the monastery door, and was asked "What do you seek?".  She then answers the prioresses question and steps across the threshold of the monastery doors into her new life as a postulant in our community.  A sign of this new direction is the blessed Benedictine medal that the prioress gives to the postulant.

Blessings,

Monastic Chapter

Greetings,

Keep our community family in your prayers as we gather for our August Monastic Chapter in July.  Three times a year the whole community gathers to discuss the business of the monastery, progress of members (new and old) in their spiritual life, and other issues of importance. 

These few days at the end of July will be quite busy with prayer honoring the anniversary of the dedication of Bishop Martin Marty Chapel, meetings, Eucharistic celebrations for our Diamond Jubilarians, and Vespers commemorating the transfer of a sister to our family. 

Whew!  We will rely on your prayers during these days!

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Three Revealed!

Greetings,

The connection between the two items is the dough from our monastery bakery!
 

The large machine is a mixer for batches of dough that begin with 50 pounds of flour!  The fresh dough from this near century old machine is enough to make 100 loaves of bread with enough left over for buns and sweet rolls too.  The 'jaw' on the front opening is opened and closed by the handled wheel on the far left on the photo.  The black knob determines the mixing speed and even the temperature (which is gauged with a thermometer on the front).  More flour, water, sugar, etc. could be added via the odd globe with a hold cut out on the top of the machine.  How is it still in use after so many years?  It is cared for with respect not only for its use but also for whomever may need it next; it is cleaned, washed, and greased after each use.  This follows the recommendation of the Rule; "Let him (the cellarer) regard all the utensils of the monastery and its whole property as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar.  Let him not think that he may neglect anything" chapter 31.

The other mystery item is a roller for cutting dozens of buns at one time!  We simply make a 'snake' of the dough to whatever size you would like the buns and then we roll the cutter over it quickly cutting at least a dozen buns which are then rolled into shape by hand.  While this particular cutter may be 'new', the predecessor was around for a few decades preforming the same task. 

The outcome of these simple monastery tools, while a mystery to most, offer wonderful results to all the sisters, friends, retreatants, and family who come to our door.  The bakery was one of the first works for many in the monastery during their novitiate and remains one of the favorite.  The sounds, smells, and feel of the dough have a much loved place in our hearts. 

 Blessings,

Saturday Joy

Greetings,

Today the chapel was filled with joy as the words of Sister Julie's Perpetual Monastic Profession rang out...

In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
I, Sister Julie Peak, baptized in the diocese of Peoria, Illinois,
promise to God PERPETUALLY...
We will share more about this joyous day very soon!

Blessings,

Monastery Mystery Three

Greetings,

Today's monastery mystery item is a duo! Two very different items that are needed to work with the same product.  Both items seem to have odd wheels and handles, shapes and sizes, and may have been in the monastery for several decades, but both items are raised up to new heights in their work.  Next week we'll post the answer, but offer any guesses as to these monastery mystery items or their common product in our comments below...hmmm...how could such dusty items be a daily part of our simple life?

Blessings on the guessings!