Lent...a time for growth

Greetings,

Lent is a time for growing in our love for God.  The symbol greeting us outside our Chapel continues to illustrate this call to conversion of heart.  How have you been growing in love this Lent?

A Lenten Tour...

Greetings,

The Lenten season isn't known for its decorations, but here at the monastery Lent finds its way into many places.

Rule of Benedict:  chapter 49
On the Observance of Lent

Although the life of a monk out to have about it at all times the character of a Lenten observance...we therefore urge that during the actual days of Lent the brethren keep their lives most pure and at the same time wash away during these holy days all the negligences of other times...and give ourselves up to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and to abstinence.




The sisters have set a reminder at the entrance to Bishop Marty Chapel, "Grow in the Understanding of the Riches Hidden in Christ!"

Rule of Benedict:  chapter 49
On the Observance of Lent (cont'd)

During these days, therefore, let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service, as by private prayers and by abstinence in food and drink.  Thus everyone of his own will may offer God "with joy of the Holy Spirit" something above the measure required of him.  From his body, that is he may withhold some food, drink, sleep, talking, and jesting; and with the joy of spiritual desire he may look forward to holy Easter.

The monastic dinning room and even the hall leading to its doorway have reminders of Benedict's call to sisters' personal offerings and sacrifices for Lent.



Rule of Benedict: chapter 52
On The Oratory of the Monastery

Let the oratory be what it is called, a place of prayer; and let nothing else be done there or kept there.  When the work of God is ended, let all go out in perfect silence, and let reverence for God be observed, so that any sister who may wish to pray privately will not be hindered by another's misconduct.

Lenten purple in St. Joseph's Chapel for our sisters in the Care Center.  The bulletin board outside the chapel reminds our sisters, old and young, to continue the Lenten work of conversion of heart .

Rule of Benedict: chapter 58
On the Manner of Receiving Sisters

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 at 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.

The sisters in formation shared a variety of symbols that reminded them of Lent for their reflection table and prayer.

A group of professed sisters also set a table for reflection and prayer with simple purple, rough burlap, and the call to the cross.









Rule of Benedict:  chapter 52
On The Oratory of the Monastery (cont'd)

And at other times also, if anyone should want to pray by herself, let her go in simply and pray, not in a loud voice but with tears and fervor of heart.  She who does not say her prayers in this way, therefore, shall not be permitted to remain in the oratory when the Work of God is ended, lest another be hindered, as we have said. 

The hallway to our Peace Chapel is dominated by our Good Friday Cross announcing the message, "By His Holy Cross He has redeemed the world!"  Each day of Lent new groups of the "Heavily Burdened" are added to the Cross calling us to loving prayer for those in need.

Our daily Mass and Liturgy of the Hours are celebrated in the Peace Chapel amid the simple stone and purple banners of Lent.

Rule of Benedict:  chapter 49
On The Observance of Lent (cont'd)


Let each monk, however, suggest to his Abbot what it is that he wants to offer, and let it be done with his blessing and approval.  For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father will be imputed to presumption and vainglory and will merit no reward.  Therefore let everything be done with the Abbot's approval.

Our Lenten resolutions, received and blessed by the Prioress on Ash Wednesday, remain before the altar throughout the Lenten season as a reminder to us and a continuous offering and sacrifice to the Lord.

Blessings,

Honoring our Foundress

Greetings,

We commemorate each of our sisters' death anniversaries with special prayer intentions for that sister.  Today, we remember and honor our foundress Mother Gertrude Leupi.  Her courage lead her to follow Bishop Martin Marty's invitation to service.  Leaving the Swiss Alps of Maria Rickenbach convent for the windswept plains of the Dakota Territory.

The entrance to the garden and mausoleum of Mother Gertrude
 at Marienburg convent in Switzerland.

The tomb of Mother Gertrude.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.  May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.

Mother Gertrude Leupi was born on March 1, 1825.
She professed her Benedictine vows on March 21, 1848 and lived 25 years
at the convent of Maria Rickenbach in the Swiss Alps.
The then served in North America for 12 years
as a foundress and superior of new Benedictine convents.
She then returned to Switzerland,
founded the Marienburg convent and later died March 27 (26), 1904.

Blessings,

Holy Triduum Retreat

Greetings,

Experience the liturgy and silence of Holy Week by attending the Paschal Triduum retreat at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD.  Join us in praying the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrating the rich liturgies of Holy Week.  While pausing for this time of personal prayer with Christ and our community, you will have the option of conferences with a spiritual director to reflect on the rich symbolism of these sacred days.  You will also be invited to join the sisters for meals, to walk our monastic grounds, and to your personal reflection in the Peace Center prayer room or our Chapel.  This silent retreat begins on Holy Thursday, April 17th at 4:00pm and ends on Easter Sunday.

Follow the Paschal Triduum retreat link for more information, contact details, and registration forms.

The Solemnity of the Passing of Saint Benedict

Greetings,

While the universal Church honors Saint Benedict with a memorial to him as abbot in the midst of July, we Benedictines commemorate the anniversary of his death today.  Here at Sacred Heart Monastery we join Benedictines around the world in celebrating the Passing of our Holy Father Benedict with great joy.  How you might ask...

Prayer for the feast began on the eve of the day with a solemn procession of statio into first Vespers.  The solemnity continues today with chanted and sung prayer honoring Saint Benedict at Lauds and the celebration of the Eucharist the next morning.  Even in the midst of repentant Lent, our joy overflows into the hallways and offices.  The greetings of "Happy Feast!" break the morning silence and ripple cheerfully throughout the day.  After a celebratory supper (shrimp on this Lenten Friday), we end the day of solemn joy the way we began, with our voices raised in the song and chanted prayer of Vespers.

St. Gregory the Great recounted the death of Benedict in chapter 37 of his Dialogues:

In the year that was to be his last, the man of God foretold the day of his holy death to a number of his disciples.  In mentioning it to some who were with him in the monastery, he bound them to strict secrecy.  Some others, however, who were stationed elsewhere he only informed of the special sign they would receive at the time of his death.   

The death of Saint Benedict depicted
in the gardens at his monastery
of Monte Cassino in Italy.

Six days before he died, he gave orders for his tomb to be opened. Almost immediately he was seized with a violent fever that rapidly wasted his remaining energy.  Each day his condition grew worse until finally, on the sixth day, he had his disciples carry him into the chapel where he received the Body and Blood of our Lord to gain strength for his approaching end.  Then, supporting his weakened body on the arms of his brethren, he stood with his hands raised to heaven and, as he prayed, breathed his last.   

That day two monks, one of them at the monastery, the other some distance away, received the very same revelation.  They both saw a magnificent road covered with rich carpeting and glittering with thousands of lights.  From his monastery it stretched eastward in a straight line until it reached up into heaven.  and there in the brightness stood a man of majestic appearance, who asked them, "Do you know who passed this way?" "No," they replied. 

"This," he told them, "is the road taken by blessed Benedict, the Lord's beloved, when he went to heaven."  Thus, while the brethren who were with Benedict witnessed his death, those who were absent know about it through the sign he had promised them.  His body was laid to rest in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which he had built to replace the altar of Apollo.

Wondering what else we do in celebration?  Ask your questions...through comments here or our FB site!

Happy Feast!

Our Healthcare Ministry...a Hundred Years Later

Greetings,

Saint Benedict's Rule calls us to offer our best in caring for those in need of medical care; "Before all things and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, so that they will be served as if they were Christ in person; for He Himself said, "I was sick, and you visited Me" and, "What you did for one of these least ones, you did for Me."" (RB 36)

Recently, KELO-Land news shared part of our century-long story of health care in Eastern South Dakota and surrounding areas.  The video highlights our collaborative work with the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our continued goal to provide Catholic Healthcare to those who need our help.

A Century of Service...

Sharing our Sacred Story

Greetings,

NCSW participants from Benedictine communities
and their student participants!

Sr. Bonita, OSB and Mount Marty College student, Rachel Shippy attended the launch event (March 7-9) for National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) at the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN.  NCSW was introduced the second week of March as a part of National Women's History Month to shine a national spotlight on the good works and good will of Catholic sisters.  NCSW recognizes past and present sisters, from the movers and shakers pressing the front lines of social change to the faithful praying in cloistered chapels.  More than 100 sisters and students from throughout the United States attended the weekend event.

Reflecting on this experience, Ms. Shippy said that she was blessed to have spent her weekend with so many amazing women.  "This experience gave me a lot of perspective and even more respect for women religious.  I was able to learn so much about the history of the impact these women have had on our current society.  I loved hearing the sisters' stories and how society's view and opinion of them and their life is definitely not as accurate as it should be."

Rachel and Sr. Bonita at the NCSW conference.

Sr. Bonita shared that "this conference is a watershed event for the Catholic sisters of the United States.  Each of the activities was rich with accurate and stimulating information.  Having so many young women present was exciting and encouraging.  St. Catherine's University is to be commended for their vision.  It was exciting to be a part of the launch activity initiating an annual event recognizing sisters and their stories."

All the conference sister and student participants.