O Salutaris

This morning before and after Mass, we were privileged to take part in the beautiful hymns for Reposition and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

This beautiful rite, including Benediction and The Divine Praises, often brings back memories for me of attending First Friday devotions back home during my college years.

I especially love singing and playing the Tantum Ergo.  (As one who considers her nameday to be the feast of Corpus Christi, such Eucharistic devotions have an particularly special place in my heart.)

Along with precious memories from my late teens, this traditional hymnody also reminds me of my days in housekeeping at our provincial house in Hankinson.  One of my weekly duties was cleaning in the Music Room of our Sister Salutaris.  I still remember the old-fashioned tiling, and other furnishings.  Whenever I cleaned there, I could not help but think of this Latin hymn used at Exposition.

Past ponderings aside, I am so grateful to have Christ’s presence with us each day, in our convent and in our workplace.  I am so spoiled and would hate to think of life without this priceless gift.

 

Cool Brains!

Recently, I’ve been “brainstorming” and starting to work on a letter to go out from St. Anne’s.  I have become heavily involved in this annual project over my time here.

However, when I write or design something important, I like to gather feedback and “constructive criticism” from a few outside sources before finalizing it;  I don’t just do it on my own without much input.

I had sought some feedback on the above-mentioned letter, and now, at supper, was discussing it with the other Sisters at table…all this over a plate of ‘folded eggs” (my name for commercially-made omelets) and coleslaw.

Between the three of us, we came up with a resolution to the criticism the piece had received that suited us well.  It should resolve the complaint while not compromising our message.

I was quite happy!

Earlier in the day, in reference to this project, I had mentioned that a few brains work together better than just one.  Now, after this principle was verified by our successful suppertime discussion, I even resorted to my childhood word choice and referred to our cerebral collaboration as “cool.”

To this, Sr. Elaine (born before this late 20th century phrase), responded “Cool brains!”

All humor aside, this kind of united effort is one of the wonderful aspects of community life.

“Just Don’t Lose Your Sole!”

Last night, I went into my closet, brought there by the falling snow flakes outside (in early October, no less).

I had received a pair of heavy-duty shoes, donated some months back, and had stowed them away for just such an occasion as the coming morning would prove to be.

There was sure to be plenty of snow on the pavement between the convent and my workplace, and I would be heading out before anyone would have gotten around to shoveling.

When morning came, I got up, dressed, and remembered to put the ‘new’ shoes on before going outside.

I traipsed through the snow, grateful for hearty foot apparel, and arrived at St. Anne’s, where I headed immediately to chapel for prayer before starting a busy work day.

I remembered, though, that I needed to head back to the office to grab the money pouch to collect the vigil light money; I do this every week so as to deposit the money people contribute when lighting little candles in chapel.

I headed back to chapel and got the money out before we began our morning prayer in common.

Afterwords, I hurriedly went about my sacristy preparations; we were planning to have Mass at 9 a.m.  After this, as I was leaving chapel, I noticed blackish debris in the aisle.  I thought someone had tracked in some leaves or mud.

My shoes felt a little sticky, and so I suspected that I, myself, might actually be the culprit.  I soon realized that my wonderful ‘new’ shoes were actually shedding chunks of rubber wherever I went.

There were clumps up and down the aisle, clumps out in the hallway, clumps, clumps, and more clumps; if only I had noticed my shedding problem earlier!  I was grateful, though, that I had not made it any further in my morning activities.

Sr. Elaine and Sr. Rebecca helped me sweep up the blackish remnants, and Sr. Elaine, thoughtfully, went home to retrieve another pair of shoes for me.   I was stocking-footed!

I was happy to have my ‘old ones’ back; at least they did not shed rubber.

Sr. Elaine kindly told me, after all was said and done, “It’s okay, just don’t lose your sole.”

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Hymning a Hum

On special Franciscan feasts (like today’s), we use a little reddish supplement to Christian Prayer for our Liturgy of the Hours.  However, the hymns in this book are not accompanied by musical notation.  Sometimes, this poses a challenge for us.

At the end of supper last night, prior to Evening Prayer I (vespers the evening before), the person who was to lead Office inquired as to the melody for the hymn.  After pairing up the words with a couple possible melodies, humming them aloud, we decided to use the melody of “Creator of the Stars of Night” as we began our celebration of St. Francis.

In the course of discussing this, my tongue got twisted up; I accidentally referred to “hymning the hum” instead of what I meant to say: “humming the hymn.”

Oh well, it was worth a good laugh, anyway.

With the busy craziness which has been surrounding me of late (working a night shift and continued hours on the men’s floor), I’m lucky if that’s the extent of my mishaps.

Thankfully, the dessert I made (pumpkin spice cake) for St. Francis’ Day / Sr. Rebecca’s birthday, didn’t turn out to be an “upside-down cake.”