The Nature Symphony
Suitcase and bags in tow, retreatants headed for their cars back to places of work and ministry. The last shouts of “Good-bye! Have a great year!” subsided. The grounds around Lial Retreat Center seemed empty. The next morning birds and animals noticed the unnatural—or should I say natural?—quiet. Walking to the lake, unconsciously not wanting […]
Finding a Prayer for a Saint’s Feast or Other Occasions
Every day of the year is a saint’s commemoration; however, not every saint has a special day with prayers at the Mass. Canonized saints’ days are usually the date of their death, considered their birthday into heaven. Archives and Catholic research may have dozens of saints on the same day. But this article is giving […]
Prayer for our New Provincial Leader
On July 4, 1874, the foundress of our Congregation, Sister Maria Aloysia Wolbring, stepped onto American soil, having been exiled from Germany by Bismarck. What was our foundress feeling? What fluttered her heart? I imagine that her feelings foreshadowed the feelings of Sister Mary Dianne Rumschlag who on July 5 of this year becomes the […]
Take Jesus with You
Once a homilist told the congregation to “take Jesus along with you throughout the day.” Hearing the homily, a carpenter decided to do just that. He drank his coffee along with Jesus, but the cup spilled all over his work. Then he grabbed a bag of nails, which turned upside down, forcing him to stop […]
“Come along in our Company”
After God revealed the God self to Moses as gracious, slow to anger and rich in kindness, Moses worshiped and offered God an invitation: “Do come along in our company.” Reading this, I felt a bit aghast at such a bold request. Would God really want to come along with such stiff-necked people? The audacity […]
Disoriented or Not
A week ago I moved into my new home. Not completely new; I had lived there once before, And the house was among the oldest in the area. But this convent felt new to me. Actually, I felt disoriented. I hadn’t gone far from my other home—only about a mile down the road. We sisters […]
The Happiest Words in the Bible
A few days ago I wrote about the saddest words in the Bible. Today let’s look at the happiest words. Many words could be called “happiest”: the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the greeting between Elizabeth and Mary, the baby talk of Joseph and Mary on Christmas, the exclamations at miracles. Today I […]
Meditating on Feet
Take the Precious Feet message to a higher level: If you have seen the episode from The Chosen in which Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints the feet of Jesus, perhaps you felt with her the anxiety of all eyes upon you. You heard indignant whispers: “What a waste!” “Get her out of […]
Let the Smell fill Your Soul
If you have seen the episode from The Chosen in which Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, perhaps you felt with her the anxiety of all eyes upon you. You heard indignant whispers: “What a waste!” “Get her out of here.” “Doesn’t he know who touches him?” The love is deeper than the aroma. In […]
THE SADDEST WORDS IN THE BIBLE
After a family member’s death, what do you do? Necessary phone calls, obituary, funeral preparations, the day of burial. Then what? Perhaps you walk around the house thinking there’s something to do but nothing feels right; or you stare out the window and feel there’s nothing out there or in side to fill your emptiness. […]