Reflection: The Vigil of St. Benedict, 2022
Recently I was reading a number of various sources that we might use as readings for our Life Formation program in the coming year. One of them was entitled: A Blessed Life, written by Will Derkse. It struck me as such an appropriate statement, not only about the Benedictine life in general, of which he writes, but about our own lives. How blessed we each are to be here!!
Every one of us came here for one reason – not because it was Nauvoo or Rock Island in particular, not because we liked the specifically chosen property or the lovely building, not only because it was a community of women following the Rule of Benedict, but because we wished to seek God as a Benedictine monastic woman. Depending on our relationship with, or knowledge of this particular community of Sisters before our entrance, we may or may not have had any firm idea what this life would be like, to which we had felt a call. Whether we came here 7 months ago, or 7 years ago, or 76 years ago, like Sister Andrea, we all came because of God’s love for us.
No two of us have experienced this life exactly the same – we’ve spent these years on different missions, with different Sisters, often doing different ministries – whether in Nauvoo, Rock Island or so many other places where we have lived. But for all of us – it has been a “Blessed Life” – not perfect, not without trying times, amid tears and smiles, hardships and outright joy!
But truly a Blessed Life! Earlier this year we were asked by the Federation to name our Hopes, Concerns, Challenges and Joys and things for which we give Gratitude. Every one of these is a blessing:
The Hopes keep us vibrant.
The Challenges spark creativity within us.
The Concerns force us to think and work harder at resolution.
The Joys and things for which we are grateful are never-ending,
because every minute of every day brings both – even if sometimes we don’t recognize them until we look back at the day.
Tonight my reflection will end with a prayer:
Psalm 136 – revisited
O give thanks and praise to God our creator and life-giver:
Who created the sun – source of life and solar energy,
Who fills the earth with lakes, gardens, and woods of beauty,
Who enables us to share our gifts with others.
O give thanks and praise to God who blessed our founders with courage and hope:
Who fills our lives with loving sisters and companions,
Who guides us in our Benedictine tradition no matter where we live,
Who grows within our hearts a love for prayer, Liturgy of the Hours and witness to faith, peace and justice.
O give thanks and praise to God who enables and supports our living:
Who encourages us even when the road is narrow or unstable,
Who sparks our creativity to find new ways to move forward,
Who keeps our hopes alive for Benedictine life in forms we have yet to see.
O give thanks and praise to God for the vision of a future full of hope:
Who promises ways of collaboration yet unknown to us
Who opens doors of a church that will accept the gifts only women can bring.
Who teaches us to accept changes with open hands and hearts
Who will hold us as we continue to seek God together in religious life.
O give thanks for this call to love, for community, prayer, and monastic life – however it may exist in the future, and in our own home.
O give thanks for our founding house of St. Scholastica, Chicago,
For the 5 valiant women who first established this community of
St. Mary Monastery,
And this evening especially for St Benedict and St. Scholastica and the call each of us has received to follow in their footsteps.
+Amen.