Accumulated Treasures

Books and projects created by Studium scholars

Only days before we went into lockdown, I was asked to move from my lovely one-bedroom apartment in campus housing to a room with a bathroom in the monastery. The plan called for fumigating and cleaning the dorm spaces to accommodate the coronavirus patients, if needed. I was given the “entire weekend” to move 17 years of living and accumulating during that time. Well, of course, the sisters came to my rescue, and indeed I was out with the allotted time.

Because I am a teacher, reader and crafter, I had accumulated many things related to my trades, of course. For example, with my yarn and counted cross-stitch kits, I could almost open up a small shop. I do as much as I can to help stock our gift shop, but since I was also teaching, I was not overloading their stock.

However, as a teacher, I had saved many folders, articles and papers relating to writing and the teaching thereof. My 20+ years teaching at the College of Saint Benedict meant that I had stacks of papers and such. Also, as a teacher I promoted reading, especially leisure reading as a source of lifelong learning and enjoyment. To be a model for my students, I practiced the fine art of reading and telling stories. Of course, in order to do so, I collected books—books that I was reading, books that I had read and books to be read. Lots of books.

Personally, I love mystery, crime and thriller books, besides bestsellers. Therefore, I often felt obliged to let students know what I was currently reading and in return hear about their recent trips into the world of books.

Unfortunately, they wanted to let me know about the stories they had recently seen through computers or other favorite technology. I was happy they were telling stories, but I was trying to promote reading. I am happy to share that some loved books almost as much as I, however. Some even wanted to loan me a good book.

Well, you see that the amount of accumulation in my small apartment was substantial. The sisters were so gracious in helping me move, and now I have the job of sorting, organizing or throwing whatever is in the many boxes and bags we brought to the monastery. So, for me the “lockdown” has become a blessing in disguise.

Mary Jane Berger, OSB

At a Later Date

A calendar in the monastery

On each of the first two Sundays in May, there were over 250 obituaries in the Minneapolis newspaper, and many of them ended with the words that a memorial service or celebration of life would be held “at a later date.” In recent weeks, it has seemed that everything about my life has been postponed to a later date. The Oblate Monday book group will resume only when it is safe to do so. In my home church, I lead several small groups, and they are all on hold. My summer expeditions have been postponed or canceled, and I've been furloughed from my two volunteer jobs. At the time of this writing, it’s still too cold in Minnesota to plant the vegetables and flowers I bought earlier than I ever have. If everything is going to be at a later date, what should I do now? My husband wistfully suggested I could bake chocolate chip cookies.

Part of my pandemic routine is watching/listening to daily online devotions from a church in Olympia, Wash. Stuck in my thoughts about the elusive and uncertain “later date,” I was blessed by the words of the woman providing the devotions. Her theme was hope, and she read passages from Paul’s letters. She had chosen words of encouragement for those who might be downhearted: 1 Corinthians 9:23–24, Hebrews 12:1–3 and 2 Timothy 4:6–8.

I will let those Scripture verses stay with me. They tell me that I am to live faithfully today, looking forward with hope and patience. I can find comfort and joy in New Testament words, the first oriole of the season and warm chocolate chip cookies.

Marge Lundeen, OblSB

The Power of Prayer

Sisters praying in Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Last November, I learned the power of a specific prayer my family has been saying for over 30 years. Here is the prayer: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much, I beg you to please spare the life of the unborn child that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” I am not sure who introduced this prayer into our family. Yet, no matter where we are or who we are with, my family prays it aloud, from the heart, following the meal prayer every day. My response from hearing the news that an abortion had been stopped by a young woman who was pregnant was awe: “It is a miracle.” I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude; in my eyes, it was a miracle that a child was saved through our faithfulness to this prayer. This is my story; we never know the outcome of our prayers unless someone shares their story.

At Saint Benedict’s Monastery, we have received many requests for prayers especially during this pandemic of COVID-19; it has become a daily petition for me for it to end soon. If you would like more information about Saint Benedict’s Monastery, please contact Sister Lisa Rose at lrose@csbsju.edu.

Lisa Rose, OSB

Party on Pentecost

Holy Spirit window at Saint
Scholastica Convent

As a student pastor, I had different assignments each week. On Pentecost, I was to read the prayers of the Faithful. Halfway through, I could sense something was wrong. When I looked out into the congregation, I could see people moving closer together. This was a contemporary church and there were no regular pews but movable ones so the configuration of pew chairs wasn’t always the same.

Then, I saw it.

A mouse.

Skipping. Stopping. Hopping again right toward ME!  

Laughter erupted from the congregation. I realized it was not the mouse, but me perched high on a chair next to the pulpit with my robe hiked as I high as it would go. Thankfully, I was wearing slacks.

One of the ushers scooped up the mouse and took it to the opened church doors (it was hot and all the doors were open). Jim (the pastor) rescued me from the heights, but the laughter in church continued. Jim said to me, “Get back on the horse.” At first I didn’t know what he meant. Oh…yeah, finish reading the prayers. I couldn’t. The laughter broke out more and more and it was contagious and I started laughing.

Jim, thank heaven for a pastor like Jim. He knew there was no going forward. He went to the mic and said, as he choked with laughter…this is Pentecost…The Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something. We’re going to have a birthday party. Charlie…go to the Italian Bakery…Mike, help him. Get enough pastry for everyone.” Laughter was still alive.

Jim could see my distress and said to me, “You’re never going to forget how the Holy Spirit came this morning!”

The pastries arrived. The aroma of fresh coffee was present.

We all stopped. There was wind outside. The Holy Spirit was on her way to another party.

Pat Pickett, OblSB

A New Pentecost

The cross in Sacred Heart Chapel,
taken by oblate Kathleen Kjolhaug

It's PENTECOST...and there is nothing more dramatic than the Scriptures in describing what happened to the apostles and Mary as they gathered in the Upper Room, wondering what they could do and be, in the absence of Jesus. He had ascended to his Father; however, Jesus had said He would not leave them orphans. What did that mean? Let us put ourselves in that room and listen to what the Acts of the Holy Spirit were on that first Pentecost:

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning, there was a sound like a strong wind—gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks. And they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. [Acts 2]

Would that experience not put the "fear of the Lord" into the heart of the holiest of persons? Scripture says, "They were cut to the quick and those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles: 'Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?'"

Peter knew what they/we had to do, so he gave us a homily:

Change your lives. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you...Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.

And how did their lives change? How might we best receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

Even the words, the imagery, the sounds, the responses and the movements expressed in Acts 2 fill my heart with desire for a new Pentecost in my life! We know there are a zillion reasons why we need the Holy Spirit to continue coming into our lives and world. Let us take a moment—even NOW—to think of but THREE such reasons...and then let us pray together:

Come, Spirit of God,
Come, Spirit of love,
Spirit of peace, of faith, of strength, of holy joy.
Come, secret joy, into the tears of our world. 
Amen and amen. (Karl Rahner)

Renée Domeier, OSB

My Testament, My Creed

Photo: Pexels.com

This creed was written by Sister Margaret Mandernach in 1984. It is a summation of what she believes is the basis of her life.

I believe: God as source of my life. I came from Him (Her) and will go back to Him.

I believe: God sent Jesus to me as a friend, a lover, a guide to show me the way.

I believe: The Gift Jesus left behind is His Spirit who will draw forth from within my potential, my creativity, my uniqueness if I allow myself to be open to it.

I believe: All creation, persons, experiences have been touched by God's goodness, making the secular-sacred and the sacred-secular-heaven in earth, earth in heaven.

I believe: Persons are the greatest gifts, each having their own set of potential, own gifts.

I believe: In love—an appropriate response to the goodness and love given to me.

I believe: In service—an appropriate response to building up this beautiful earth.

I believe: In joy, laughter, peace.

I believe: The pain, suffering, struggle are all a part of the becoming process.

I believe: In death as a final becoming of who I am meant to be.

Margaret Mandernach, OSB

Paradise

Reflection on the lake, taken by Sister Nancy Bauer

“Sit in your room as in paradise.” – St. Romuald, 10th century.

Many of us have been quarantined for over two months. I have found it a grace-filled opportunity. I relish extended periods of silence. Gone is any sense of hurry. Time is now and there is time for leisurely reading where I can do deep reading without hurry. Time for prayer of quiet. Time to do slow things, like baking bread, writing letters to people I may have neglected. Time to express love and caring. A slow walk outside where there is no rush. Listen to the birds, feel the breeze and the warmth of the sun. I can simply be and see the wonder of spring. Time to simply realize that I am enclosed in the love of God. Time to realize that I am loved. I miss our children and our grands. I miss the almost daily visits to the monastery. Instead of what I don’t have, I can focus on God’s generosity in giving me life and God’s companionship. The 23rd Psalm speaks to this time. Even though I go through the valley of the shadow of death, God, like a good shepherd, leads me. I know that when this time of enclosure has ended the world will be different. I too will have changed, and I shall know that to live is to be enfolded in the wonder of God’s love. So we live now as in paradise. It would be a shame to miss it.

Charles Preble, OblSB