Living Lent at the Monastery
Read these reflections from some of our Sisters. This Lent, we are sharing about our personal Lenten practices, our hope in God’s mercy, or a favorite Lent Scripture passage.
These reflections will be posted periodically throughout Lent.
Never lose hope in God’s mercy.
Hope can be a thin vapor when we need it most.
This winter has been harsh, long, with relentless colds, flu and even pneumonia here at the monastery. Sometimes even with all our monastic observances and ascetical practices our resolve diminishes and zeal wanes. At Vespers last evening I was weary reciting some of those long and vengeful psalms. But what rose in my mind’s eye was the memory of the now restored, renovated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris FRANCE. Hope was restored and I returned to Vespers with an a-ha moment that fire and all manner of destructive forces are no match for what can be done when we put our energy toward the sacred. It’s because of God’s mercy that we no longer have the possibility of losing hope.
Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB
Ash Wednesday - March 5th
March 7th
“Even now, return to me with your whole heart.” (Joel 2:12)
We heard this verse on Ash Wednesday. It is our work for the Lenten season, and the goal of our lifetime. We belong to God who created us and so loves us. St. Augustine says it well: “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” So, of course, God wants our “whole heart” – our love, our will, our desire, our life. And in our heart of hearts, we really do want to give ourselves to God with love.
It is our love for God that impels us to use this Lenten season to identify and turn away from our sinful ways that distance us from God. Now is the time to return to God with our whole heart and continue to grow in love and into the persons God created us to be – living in, through and with God’s love. This will bring us true joy and fulfilment and we will help bring God’s unity, healing and peace to our suffering world.
Let us pray for the help of God’s grace to return to our merciful and compassionate God who so desires our hearts. Now is the time!
Sr. Marie Therese Racine, OSB
March 12th
When I think about a scripture passage that speaks to me of Lent, I immediately think of Psalm 51. It is the most well-known of the penitential psalms and is used in many ways during the season of Lent.
“Have mercy of me, God, according to your steadfast love…blot out my offense.” (Ps 51:3)
The best way for me to prepare for Lent is to recognize my failings. One of the steps of humility, according to the Rule of St. Benedict, is to acknowledge our sins. Once I have come to the awareness of my failings, and God’s great mercy, I can then pray and reflect on behaviors and habits that I can change during Lent.
“Teach me wisdom in my secret heart.” (Ps 51:8)
I call on God during Lent to give me a new awareness, to begin to see as God sees, and to better know God’s will for me. This requires of me a listening spirit and an openness to receive what God needs me to know, even though it may be difficult.
“Create in me a clean heart and renew me in your spirit.” (Ps51:12)
I know that I cannot transform my ways without God’s help. I call upon God to renew me and to purify my heart for love. But I also know that transformation happens slowly, so I also pray for patience to allow God to work in me.
Watch and listen for Psalm 51 as you attend liturgies and prayer services this Lent. Better yet, pull out your bible and spend some time with this psalm. I am certain that God will speak to your heart.
Sr. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, OSB
March 16th
For the record: I don’t like Lent. I also don’t like taking pills, liver (with or without onions) or exercise. The ironic thing is that all the things I don’t like are good for me!
When I reflect on all the blessings I have received (a good family, exemplar sisters, genes that have kept me healthy, wonderful friends and colleagues, love and mercy) the church asks little in return. Forty days of a bit of penance; prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It’s the least I can do.
It is a challenge every year to come up with things to put on my bona opera (the list of good works that is submitted to the prioress for her blessing). Afterall, from what can I fast that would make a difference when so many people of the world are underfed? What prayer would turn things around so nations are compassionate and good to each other rather than going to war and deporting innocent people? And almsgiving; my funds are meager to begin with.
Prayer and forgiveness and acts of charity don’t necessarily change others. Those things change me. If after 40 days, I am better than I was, kinder, more empathetic, compassionate toward those who think differently than me, able to listen to the cries of the poor and do something about it, then Lent is more than worth my time and effort.
It is the least I can do. Maybe, I’ll grow to like it!
Sr. Mary Luke Jones, OSB
March 26th
The Stations of the Cross have always been one of my favorite Lenten devotions. This journey of 14 ways to remember not only Christ’s suffering but those of Mary, the Women of Jerusalem and Simon being pulled into a drama he didn’t want to be a part of. I think I like them because we can all find ourselves in one of the stations. The three falls remind us that we too, fall and have to get up. Being stripped of his clothes is the opportunity to remember all who are suffering injustice. The 14 stations have no success or Disney produced good ending. Sometimes, we have to sit in our sorrow and let it be. How true to life it is when we are in a tragedy or facing a big loss.
The stations give us the opportunity to sit with God in real pain and sorrow.
We adore you oh Christ and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB
March 30th
“Never lose hope in God’s mercy” RB 4:74
This line from the rule of Benedict makes me think of how God gives us fresh starts – over and over again! When I come to God with contrition and desire, I can receive God’s forgiveness and begin again. In fact, it is so important that I trust in God’s mercy and open my heart to receive it, or I will miss the next opportunity to put concrete love into action. When I stumble in life, I need to embrace truth, carry out repair as needed, and be grateful for the unmerited gift of God’s mercy and love. Surrendering to God’s grace allows me to see with new eyes and experience a freedom to flourish and love more fully. May Lent be a time for all of us to receive this gift.
Sr. Anne Louise Frederick, OSB
April 9th
During Lent this year, we hear my favorite parable—The Prodigal Son. There are many commentaries and interpretations of this Scripture passage. My favorite line of the parable is “He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” We don’t know exactly how long the father waited for his son to return, but as soon as he sees his son off in the distance, he runs to him. He doesn’t sit and wait; he takes the initiative and runs to his son. He quickly forgives his son and shows him mercy. I am sure that his son did not expect this loving, forgiving, and merciful response from his father considering what actions he took.
I always see the father as a symbol of God. No matter how far we stray away from God and his love for us, God will run to us. God takes the initiative. He sees any small or large effort to be in relationship with him, runs to us, and pulls us into his loving and merciful embrace. What an embrace that would be. God’s mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance is everlasting. Nothing we can do or will do will ever affect God’s love for us. As the Rule says, “Never lose hope in God’s mercy” (RB 4:74).
Sr. Susan Nicole Reuber, OSB
