Wake Reflection - Sr. Margaret Murphy
It is the custom in the monastery that each sister fill out a paper requesting her desires at the time of her death, particularly things related to the funeral liturgies. These might include: who might be able to serve as ministers at the Liturgies, what readings or music the sister requests for Mass and Wake,
S. Margaret suggested only two readings for the Mass of Christian Burial. I selected the ones for the Wake (Phil 1:3-11 and Matthew 11:25-30) because they seemed so appropriate for S. Margaret: Like St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, she truly gave thanks every day for her remembrance of each person she ever met, especially her family members! He also wrote: “It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart.” She held each of you- friends and family in her heart, always!!
The Gospel seemed fitting for Margaret, because she knew so well that God reveals to the childlike the most important things about life that maybe we adults can’t always comprehend. Adults sometimes “over think it”. Children simply take things as they see them, and go with it: they know who is nice and who is not – that’s not difficult; they know when someone loves them by the way they listen to them, or by the way they smile at them, or encourage them when they are feeling sad or frustrated. S. Margaret listened, smiled joyously, and was a great encourager!
Jesus has now called her with the words “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” Now she can do what St. Paul said with joy: pray always for all of us. We know she is doing that!
Margaret Therese Murphy was the sixth of seven children born to Miles and Rose McNally Murphy in Carthage, IL on January 24, 1936. Her siblings were Sister Rosemary, Kathleen O’Donnell, Myles, Mary Anne McHugh, Patricia Gaughan and Thomas. They were raised on a farm, along with a few other family members who came to live with them. As a child, Margaret delighted in all that living on a farm meant: being outside with nature, and some animals, surrounded by goodness and beauty. She especially loved being at home with her Mother and helping her do things like bake cakes and tend the garden.
S. Margaret attended a one-room school-house known as Young America school in Carthage, IL and spoke highly of it. Like her sisters and her mother, she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, IL. Following high school, she entered the Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Mary Monastery in Septempber 1954. She was received as a Novice in August 1955, and given the name Sister Mary Hugh. She professed vows on August 25, 1956. In the early 1970’s she returned to her Baptismal name, Margaret. In 2006 S. Margaret celebrated her golden Jubilee as a Sister of St. Benedict and her 60th Jubilee in 2016.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA and her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Illinois. Later she earned a certificate in Theology from St. Norbert’s College, WI and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO. One of her most memorable experiences as a teacher was to travel to England in the summer of 1973 to visit grade schools there, and learn from their methods, which she later used in her own classroom.
Most of her years in ministry consisted of teaching the primary grades 1-3. Children were her passion. She believed that each child had a gift to share with the others, as they helped one another learn. She remembered many incidents from her years of teaching and loved to share those stories. Often they evoked much emotion from her and still, many years later, moved her to tears. I hope that she was able to know the tremendous influence her love and care had on them.
S. Margaret taught at schools in Nauvoo, Monmouth, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Moline, and Bloomington, all in IL. From 1993-95 she served as Director of Childcare at Neighborhood House after school program in Peoria. She conducted workshops in education for teachers and served as the Master teacher for college students in practice teaching. In 1985 she represented us at the Benedictines for Peace assembly as part of a 15-mile chain which wrapped a ribbon around the Lincoln Memorial, the Pentagon and the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Outside of teaching in schools, at various times, S. Margaret taught English to Spanish speaking adults, served on the Rock Island Co. Emergency and Information Referral Agency, was a CCD Religious Education Coordinator, and served on the Diocesan Sister’s Conference. Most recently she served in Community Ministry here in Rock Island, and offered Spiritual Direction and Lectio Divina prayer at Benet House Retreat Center.
As a child Margaret began a lifelong pursuit of writing her thoughts in poetic form. The topic wasn’t essential – the thoughts were. We all know of her love for nature, so many of her poems referenced the beauty, the power, the absolute gift that nature was for all of us who walk this earth. Working artfully, she crafted many a beautiful Christmas or birthday card, or a seasonal picture put outside every door in our health care area.
One of her favorite poets was Mary Oliver. Oliver wrote: “All our lives…the red bird sings, and the oriole, and the wren…and the wind whistles in the pine. But our own voices, the particular voices of those who are dear or important to us – or both, vanish ultimately at the end of the season of life.”
You and I have a “kept record” of each person’s voice – for we have story. The stories of Margaret as a young woman, as a teacher, an aunt, a friend, a mentor, and last but not least – a poet and artist.
A few years ago S. Margaret began participating in poetry workshops offered through Benet House. She wrote new poems and refined older ones. This past year, with assistance from her current instructor and others, she was able to get her poems organized and prepared for publication. About 3 weeks ago she handed the project over to me. I sought the assistance of one of her instructors. Last week I asked S Margaret if she wished to include a Dedication in it. Unfortunately, that day she was up and conversing but very tired. I told her not to worry, it could wait. Her response was “Don’t wait too long!”
S. Margaret’s desire to publish a book was for one reason only: She desired to leave a gift for her family, who had given her so very much, both her biological family and her Benedictine family. I assured her the book would be completed. It is underway. There is still much more to do before we can bring it to final printed form. But I assure you, it will happen: a written record of her voice.
Margaret wrote poems about ordinary things – trees, the wind, the smells of Fall. She also wrote about people – her home and family, and about her God for whom she longed so much. Her poetry shares her inner spirit, her love, her relationship of oneness with God.
She wrote:
Let me fall like a leaf, Letting go completely,
Falling, whirling, drifting, Into the great abyss of your
Life filled love, love filled life,
Lost in You forever!
We trust that Margaret is now in the arms of her God – held in God’s love forever.
---Sister Susan Hutchens, OSB