When you pray the Psalms during Lauds (the morning prayer that we say at 7 am), you lift your voice with the community of Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, Illinois. Continue Reading
Month: February 2009
Embracing God More Fully During Lent
“Blessed are they who love the Lord.” Dt.
At Eucharist this morning the reading was from Old Testament Deuteronomy. In the story, Moses spoke to his people right before they were to enter the Promised Land. As they had struggled with being faithful to God during their many challenges, Moses encouraged them to stay faithful as they began their new life in a new land. He implored them to focus only on faithfulness to their One God who had brought them to this moment in time. Continue Reading
Entering the Season of Lent
A Lenten Reflection from Prioress Phyllis McMurray, OSB
This is the season of Lent and seed catalogs. As we approach the spring of the year, gardeners make choices as they prepare for a thriving garden. During Lent we make choices that prepare us to celebrate more fully the mystery of our Redemption. Continue Reading
A Benedictine Visitation
Last week was quite busy and delayed me in my blogging. After reflecting on what to write, it occurred to me that this would be a good opportunity to share a little about the workings of a Benedictine Monastery! Continue Reading
Looking Forward
Isaiah encourages Israel to not look back but to believe all things are new. Isaiah believes in a God who forgives and looks to the future in us. Israel, as a nation, has offended God many times when they strayed from following what they knew to be God’s Will. Isaiah tells the people to put those ‘iniquities’ behind and look to the new. Continue Reading
Hanging on Jesus' Words…
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus…to listen to Him speak. Luke 11: 38 – 42
This passage was what I found in my daily mediation book on Monday and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. The story of Mary and Martha is often the Gospel used for the Feast of St. Scholastica. I’ve realized it is a powerful model for discernment. Continue Reading
The Feast of St. Scholastica
All Benedictine women celebrate February 10 as the Feast of St. Scholastica. Saints Benedict and Scholastica were twins but, more importantly, they were of One Spirit. They were extraordinarily close and several very colorful stories are recorded by St. Gregory the Great about their relationship. St. Scholastic followed her brother as he left Rome and later established a small community. She established similar communities of women who followed Benedict’s teaching and Rule. Continue Reading
A Clean Heart Create for Me, God
Turn away your face from my sins, blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit Psalm 51
When discerning about religious life it is essential to look at yourself and where you have been in your life. My last blog posed the question of who loved you immensely and in some way introduced you to the intimate love of God as reflected in Psalm 139. Today I look at Psalm 51, another passage I suggest for discerning about your personal history.
Psalm 51 is powerful because it recalls the loving, forgiving and nurturing God. Continue Reading
What love has formed you and nourished your life?
‘I know your resting and your rising…..” PS 139
This week I focused my prayer on one of the passages I offered for discerners in my earlier bog. PS 139 has always been a very favorite of mine. It is a very intimate prayer between Creator God and creation. It is a prayer of being known, cared about and cared for by a loving God. Continue Reading
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