Christmas in July

This morning, I put a red chalice veil on over the pall and finished a couple of other sacristy duties before grabbing breakfast and heading to the front desk.  It matched nicely with the lacy tabernacle veil some feet away.

I like it when things match.  Call me silly, but when the visiting priest walks out into the sanctuary with corresponding vestments, it “does my heart good.”

But, alas, this was not to be the case on this occasion.  Father came out in green!

Oh, my…we had Christmas in July!  His green contrasted noticeably with the red!

This has happened before when my guess at the Mass of choice differed from the Mass that was actually chosen.  (When there are optional memorials for a day, I have to make an educated guess” as to what Mass to set up for, marking the missal and putting on altar cloths accordingly.)

It’s only too bad that Sr. Elaine (organist today) didn’t play “Joy to the World” as a postlude or recessional.

I just hope that “every heart” in our congregation still lovingly “prepare[s] Him room” every time we gather, despite distracting discrepancies.

Let the Weak Say ‘I am Strong.’

This morning at Bible Study (which I hold each Tuesday for our residents), I again found myself to be the recipient of a lesson along with the others who gathered.

Our discussion, based on the readings from last Sunday, served to reminder and inspiration for my own spiritual journey.

In reflecting on the psalms we read (117-18), one resident simply yet poignantly pointed out that it was all about thanksgiving.  We expounded on this and pointed out our dependence upon God for everything.

I chose to follow up on this point of thanksgiving with the choice for our closing song.  It was one I learned as a child from tapes my mom used to play.  It is one that I have printed on an overhead transparency.

The words of this beautiful song were also especially pertinent to me as I am feeling my own weakness in my efforts to live as I feel I ought.  (Sometimes, just when we feel like we’re making progress, our weakness hits us again.)

Below are the lyrics and a video.  I hope they touch and inspire you as they do me.

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Just Some Random Questions…

I recently came across a few questions someone was posing online for others to answer.  I thought it might be good to try to respond to them here.  (While I am not an expert, I would like to remind people that I would welcome the opportunity to try to answer any of your own questions about our life.)

The questions posed included: 

• Since sisters either live in or near the church, how do they get the money for food, water, insurance, bills, and other stuff, since they don’t have jobs?
• Do sisters have free time to do other stuff they want, or is their life exclusively focused on the church?
• How much time for sleep do sisters get?
• Are sisters allowed to use technology? I go to a high school focused on computer and arts education, and it’d be tough living without computers to put apart and put back together.
• Do sisters ever get to visit family? Half my family I’ve never met, but for the family I do have, like my mom, dad, older half-brother, and younger brother, I’d hate to never see them again.

My response would be:

Sisters do not necessarily live near the church (and not in it).  We often receive a salary from our workplace, which goes to our community.  The community then provides money to cover our living expenses.

Everybody needs some free time, but we do tend to work fairly long hours.  In our community, the amount of sleep we get is up to the individual.  Some communities are more strict and have a more set horarium (daily schedule).

Sisters are allowed to use technology, but we need to keep a watch that it does not suck too much of our time and energy.  I actually use a computer a lot for my work.
Yes, a sister’s families can visit (in my community) and we do visit them.  Cloistered communities and some others may have more restrictions on this.  Actually, my parents recently stopped by on their way home from a school reunion and joined us for lunch and a visit.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

 

“Please Carry Me”

We just returned late last evening from our annual six-day retreat.  It was a good experience, though by Day Six, as usual, I was getting a little antsy from all the silence and lack of regular work routine.

One great thing about it was that this year’s retreat was that the priest retreat master gave us a scripture passage or two to use for prayer and reflection during the time after the conferences.

The retreat’s theme centered around mercy during this special jubilee year.  The meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words used in scripture referring to God’s mercy was conveyed as well.

An image that struck me at some point in the retreat, and which I am carrying with me, is that of the Good Shepherd with the little lamb on His shoulders.  During his conferences, Father referred to the official image for this year of mercy, which draws from this scriptural image but puts a unique spin on it.  (The image shows a person being carried rather than a sheep.)

In my own weakness, this image of the shepherd and small lamb speaks powerfully to me.  During the retreat, I prayerfully came to some resolutions for my personal life, areas in which I need to do better.

However, I realize all too well how weak I am and how easily I can fall back into old habits. This is one major area that this image of the shepherd carrying the little lamb is helpful to me.  My prayer has become through the course of this retreat: “Lord, pleas carry me…I know from experience I can’t do it alone, and I’ll fail.  But, with you carrying me, day by day, I hope to make some progress.”

~ ~ ~

I was blessed to have my sister with us for part of the retreat.  She mentioned that she had seen my poem in the elevator; I had composed it as a postulant during the weekly chore of cleaning the stainless-steel elevator in the Hankinson convent.  It was entitled: “A Message from the elevatory” and it playfully encouraged those riding to remove their smear marks if they left them inside by touching the surface.

I only mention this because my confirmation saint, Therese of Lisieux, shared spiritual thoughts about the elevator.  Her reflections came to mind during the retreat since they tie in with (and confirm) my own on the shepherd carrying the helpless little lamb.

She wrote: “I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched then in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: ‘Whoever is a little one let him come to me.’ The elevator which must raise me to heaven is your arms, O Jesus, and for this I have no need to grow up, but rather I have to remain little and become this more and more.”

Closed Ears…Open Heart

Last night, around 1:00 a.m., I wheeled a large pink suitcase into my bedroom; I was finally home!

How good it was (is) to be back in my homeland…in the United States…in the Midwest…in Grand Forks, North Dakota!  As beautiful as Germany is, and as kind as the people were, it was not home, and German is not my native language.

The nearly three weeks I spent abroad gave my a much-renewed sense of gratitude for our country and for all that is familiar to me.

This time of travelling, of celebrating our Congregation’s rich and lengthy history, has opened my heart in an unexpected way.

Ours is a community with German roots, founded in 1241, in a place I was recently privileged to visit.  However, my German is very limited.  I know some key words and phrases, but not enough to understand a lot of conversation.

Most of the Sisters we visited in conjunction with our 775th anniversary knew at least a little English.  However, the conversations inevitably switched back to their native language, German, leaving me unable to comprehend what was being said, save an occasional couple of words.

We had some of what was said (especially on tours and at official gatherings) translated, but for much of the time, my ears could well have been closed for all I could glean from the collection of foreign sounds.

This mentally straining experience of being immersed in a language incomprehensible to me was actually a fruitful one.  It opened to eyes to what other people go through.  Being in Germany as an English-speaker made me think of what it must be like for the many people who are forced to leave their homeland and immigrate to another county with a language they do not understand.

I knew that I would be returning home, to my own language and to all I hold familiar in a short time.  Many others know, in contrast, that they will never be able to return home.  How very difficult that must be!

This experience, which “open[ed] the eyes of my heart” inspires my to pray for and sympathize with the refugees of our time.  I was also reminded of our Sisters who first came to America early in the last century.  One of my travelling companions pointed out the sacrifices they made and the hardships they endured.

(To see more pictures, you can visit our album.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann, OSF

What’s an Impulse?

This year, we are celebrating the 775^th Anniversary of our community’s existence. On that happy occasion, the Sisters of our international congregation are engaging in special discussions.

The Sisters in our generalate in Germany are providing us with reading materials and discussion questions on the three evangelical counsels. What is so neat about this is that they are specific to our Franciscan congregation, drawing from numerous sources, including our own constitutions. I am so grateful for these materials and for the discussion this occasion is bringing about within our local community.

It is so special, to me, to read and discuss materials written for Dillingen Franciscans by Dillingen Franciscans – they are specifically tailored to us.

The language, however, does not seem ‘specifically tailored to us’ Americans. The documents were originally written in German and the English translation is quite interesting at times.  Americans do not use all the English words in the same ways as Indians (I believe Indians Sisters translated).  An example which we chuckle at is the “Impulses.”

The documents we are reading together offer questions for discussion at the end of each section. Somehow, they are given the heading of “Impulses.”  Maybe the original German word had a different connotation.

Impulses or no impulses, I am very grateful for these discussions which, in accord with our Constitutions, “serve the honor of God, strengthen the oneness of the community, and promote our apostolic service.”

Thankfully, the frequency of these discussions is guided by our directives and our schedule, rather than by impulse.

From Rump Roast to Head Cheese

We are finally just about finished with our little lamb cake!  Every year at Easter, the kitchen makes pound cake delicacies to mark the paschal celebrations.

The lamb is an Easter symbol, reminding us of Christ as the Lamb who was sacrificed.

The making of lamb cakes at St. Anne’s  started back when our sisters were still working in the kitchen.  At that time, there were so many here that two lambs were needed, a bigger and a smaller one.

The lamb, along with ham and colored eggs, is traditionally blessed here after the Easter vigil.

Now, it takes a while for us to finish the one, and be the time we’re at his head, our poor little lamby is a little bit hard.

We start cutting from the back end, and tease that we’re indulging in ‘rump roast.’  As the days of Eastertide progress, however, we finish the hind quarters and make our way to the head.

We have discovered that my homemade rhubarb sauce goes very well with the lamb, which by this time is a bit dry.  I will jokingly say that I am ‘going to get out the gravy,’ before going to the refrigerator for the container of sauce.

At present, at that is left of our little lamb is the head and neck section.  So, now we joke that we have head cheese.

“Keep My Eyes on Jesus…”

Sometimes, do you find, that life isn’t so easy?

Between difficulties of daily life, spring fever (getting sick of the cold weather and gray skies), and whatever else comes, it can be easy enough to forget the joy of this Easter season we’re in the middle of celebrating.

Recently, when thinking about this, a wonderful realization came to mind.  We can get mopey and down when keeping our eyes on ourselves.

If I can change my focus, my attention, from myself to Jesus, I will be much better off.   Instead of dwelling on myself and my struggles, I need to look to Jesus and “keep my eyes on [Him].”

There is a song about Peter walking on the water which comes to mind.  The refrain is: “If I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can walk on water.”

This is very true; if only I can remember it!

For the Sake of the Name

This week, as we continue reading from the Acts of the Apostles at Mass, we hear again the phrase:  “for the sake of the name.”  These scriptures refer to the disciples rejoicing at being found worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name of Jesus.

This above-quoted phrase struck me as I heard it at Mass this past week.  It called me to reflect: Have I ever suffered dishonor for the sake of His name?  Certainly, I have never faced martyrdom as many early Christians did.  I have, however, experienced other difficulties for the sake of His Name.

Pondering on this beautiful, inspiring phrase called me to think about my present daily life as well.  It calls me to do everything for Jesus.  It serves as a sort of examination of conscience.  I might ask myself: Did I do everything this morning for Jesus, for the sake of His Name?

When  I make my morning offering, I can dedicate all I am to do this day to Him and commit myself to live my whole life ” for the sake of the name.”   It can call me to think twice about doing things unworthy of “the Name.”  For example, I can’t really be short and impatient with a co-worker with His holy Name in mind, can I?  The more I keep Jesus in mind, and His Name on my lips (interiorly), the more likely I think I will be to live my day in a way that pleases Him.

I don’t know what my efforts each day will bring, trials or pleasant results.  However, like the early disciples, I can rejoice in whatever comes of living “for the sake of the name” of Jesus.  For, as St. Peter says, elsewhere in Acts, there is not “any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

I would like to close by exhorting us with the Psalmist (103):
“Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!”

He Comes…

I was doing some spring cleaning at our convent today, since I have a break from my receptionist and aide duties.  The time was a wonderful reprieve after the chaos of the residents’ shopping day, a meeting, aide duties, and more yesterday.

Who’d have thought that cleaning house could be called a break?  🙂

Anyway..

In the coarse of my cleaning, I noticed a little poem that I  copied out years ago, probably when I was still in Rugby.  The author is unknown, but it is a beautiful, touching reflection that I would like to share with you.   It still hangs on the door to my bedroom.

I hope it touches your heart as it did mine.

He comes as a companion of the lonely;
a faithful friend who cares and understands.
He comes as a physician to the hurting,
with tenderness and healing in His hands.

He comes as a protector to the helpless,
a shepherd who calls all His lambs by name,
a father who sees every child as special,
whose gentle heart loves each, both well and lame.

He comes, the consolation of the suffering,
the light that breaks through darkness and despair.
He comes and we discover that His presence
is the loving answer to our every prayer.

Isn’t it great that “He comes” to us in our neediness?

Some days we long for a companion, a friend.  At other dimes, it’s a physician, a protector, a shepherd, and a father that we need.  Sometimes, we feel the need of His consolation in suffering and His light against despair.

~ Always, we need His presence…and He comes. ~

.Sr. Christina M. Neumann

What’s Zwetschgendatsche?

We received word today that our Sister Magdalen Schaan died. I am well-acquainted with her from my days as a postulant in Hankinson.  I created the title C.S.T.S. for the help that I provided to Sr. Magdalen: Christina’s Secretarial & Transportational Services.  (I guess spell-check doesn’t like my word ‘transportational,’ but I’ll get over it – Sr. Magdalen didn’t object :).

I helped her with some letter writing and pushed her around in her wheelchair, which gave rise to this title.  Another involvement I had with Sr. Magdalen was interviewing her to get her memories of serving on the different missions recorded.

That’s when I learned about Zwetschgendatsche…

Sr. Magdalen was a baker and a cook.  One of the missions she served at was in Chicago, working for the Carmelite Fathers there.  Actually, that was her first assignment (1939-47). In this interview, she remembered that Chicago was smoky and had high humidity.  She went on to share a memory which brought her to chuckle in recalling it.

Sr. Magdalen shared: “When Sr. Salutaris graduated…got her master’s degree…we had a play for her. And we played everything back what happened to her when she was in Chicago.  It was a lot of fun.  And she enjoyed it…and I asked her what she wanted for her graduation and she said Zwetschgendatsche.  So I made five Zwetschgendatsche and put it on her bed, and she laughed and laughed and laughed.  I thought she’d never stop laughing.”  After Sr. Magdalen had recounted all this, I asked her: “What’s Zwetschgendatsche?”  She told me that “Zwetschgendatsche is something like a kuchen and then you put zwerschge* on top.  And sugar and cinnamon.”   (*zwerschge = plum)

Sr. Magdalen had baked these plum desserts and put them (still in the pans) on the bed of her fellow Sister as a joke.

Now, that’s a Sister after my own heart.  (I have begun my research on harmless April Fools’ tricks for next month.)

Sr. Magdalen and I made a food-related memory of our own during my days of C.S.T.S.  One day, we had breaded chicken and it was a bit tough.  For weeks afterward, we kidded about ‘crunchy chicken’ with each other.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

We Never Know…

Last evening, I was again working as personal care aide here at St. Anne’s Guest Home.  I often take the back stairs and pass hurriedly by some residents’ room on my way to tend to the needs of a few of their floor-mates.

If I know the person is there, I try to call out a friendly greeting to them.  If time allows, I stop and exchange a few words, asking how they are doing.  I think it is important.  It’s not that I’m so special and they should feel privileged to see me, or anything of that sort.  However, it is an opportunity to cheer a person up, or simply show them that someone genuinely cares about them and is interested in them.

Last night, as I went past a particular resident’s room, I was in a hurry.  I didn’t have lots of time to stop and visit.  I did, however, make the effort to give a friendly greeting, hopefully, showing that I cared…

I have found myself hurrying past a room with a quick ‘hello’ and then stopping, turning around, and giving them a few extra seconds.  It sometimes strikes me: “Nothing you have to do is that important that it can’t wait 30 seconds.  Go back there and show them they’re important.”

~ ~ ~

This morning, at about 3:45 a.m., I woke up to the sound of the phone ringing at our convent.  Sr. Rebecca got around to answering it before I did.  She carried on a bit of a conversation with the caller.  When they had hung up, I learned that one of our residents had just died, the one whose room I had passed on my evening rounds just hours before.

Although I hadn’t had much time to visit, at least I had made the effort to greet him.

We never know what will be our last opportunity to do good to another person, or even what effect a kind word or gesture can have.  I guess this is a lesson to me never to neglect any opportunity to serve Christ in another person.  We’re not guaranteed another chance.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

Thankfully acknowledging that “His Providence Guides Us Still”

As we approach Thanksgiving, I thought this would be an appropriate time to share a poem, written by our Sister Patricia Forrest, which chronicles our Congregation’s history with a real ‘attitude of gratitude.’

This poem was written in 1978.  The verse that serves as a refrain, “His Providence guides us still,” is actually stenciled at our facility in Hankinson in Providence Auditorium, whose names draws its inspiration from Sr. Patricia’s composition which I will share below.  

“…but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood”

Sr. Christina M. Neumann, OSF                        Certain Gospel passages I just love for their ability to draw me in. I can put myself in the scene and imagine myself doing what the individuals involved did. These passages inspire me to do, on a spiritual level, what the individual in the story did physically.

Today’s account of the poor widow is such a story.  When meditating on the daily scriptures this morning, the words: “but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood”” struck me.  These are the words our Lord spoke to his disciples about the widow who contributed but two small coins to the temple collection.

It made me think of my life as a religious sister.  At my profession of vows, I said, in a sense, “I give you all that I have, my whole livelihood, my whole self.”  This morning, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, I felt an invitation to renew this in my daily life.

Our giving of self is not just a one-time thing; it is to be every day, in a thousand different situations.  It reminded me of the words of my Confirmation Saint, the Little Flower St. Therese.  She once wrote: “I do not want to be a saint by halves.”

These sentiments resound in my heart as well.  In everything I do, whether answering the phone, helping residents, or writing a blog post, I want to love Jesus with a whole heart, “contributing all” that I am and have.

Holy Spirit, please help me to remember and to be faithful to this resolution.  Amen.

National Vocation Awareness Week…to make You known and loved

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

When I was still in grade school and attended Mass at St. Joe’s in West St. Paul, MN, we started using the “Archdiocesan Prayer for Vocations” at Mass.

This week’s National Vocation Awareness Week reminded me of this custom.  The prayer goes as follows:

O God, we earnestly ask You to bless this archdiocese with many priests, Brothers, and Sisters who will love You with their whole strength and gladly spend their entire lives to serve your Church and to make You known and loved.  Bless our families, bless our children. Choose from our homes those needed for your work.  Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us, pray for our priests, Religious, and deacons. Obtain for us many more.

It is interesting for me to look back on this.  I can remember standing in church, next to my dad, and reading the words to this prayer.  At the time, they did not really resonate with me; I just prayed along because that was the thing to do.

At the time, I certainly did not anticipate that my life would take the direction which it now has.  I wonder what I would have said had someone told me back then: “You’ll be one of them!”

Today, I’d like to adapt part of this prayer.  May I be a Sister “who will love You with [my] whole strength and gladly spend [my] entire life to serve your Church and  to make You known and loved.”

 

Sign of Peace…Gift of Peace

This morning at Mass, I was touched as I watched others exchange a sign of peace before Communion.  I had time to watch other members of the congregation interact since I was not sitting very too near anyone.  (I do not believe in running all over during Mass to shake hands with people.)

I was struck with the beauty of our little community here at St. Anne’s where residents and visitors exchanged sincere goodwill to each other during this holy moment.  It was heartwarming.

Peace, I think, is meant to touch many moments of our day.  Our Franciscan rule, in fact, exhorts us: “As they announce peace with their lips, let them be careful to have it even more within their own hearts.”  The Rule also supplies us with a little greeting, which I wish was more utilized: “The Lord give you peace.”

In reflecting on this, might I ask: Do we truly find the peace in our hearts which we are meant to experience as a gift from God?  Or do anxieties, comings and goings, steal this treasure which Jesus gave before His Ascension.

How can we find these moments of peace?  Taking time for prayer may be one answer.  Sometimes, these moments just come, unexpectedly.  This morning’s experience of seeing peoples’ interaction at Mass. and being touched by it, is an example of how this gift of peace can come to us when we’re not even looking for it.

We have so many things to be grateful for; let’s not forget to say ‘thank you’ to Jesus for His gift of peace, given when we least expect it.

Cross prayers…reflecting on a beautiful custom

St. Anne’s Convent Chapel

Having come of age after the promulgation of the computer and during the expansion of the internet, I am prone to do my research online.  So, when I decided to write an article on the Cross Prayers, I went online to see what I could discover about the history of this beloved custom of ours.  Unfortunately, this “information highway” was sadly silent about this topic.

Our Provincial Directives (supplemental guidelines for Dillingen Franciscans in the United States) provide a little information: They encourage that “after Confession and before retiring in the evening, the Sisters say the Cross Prayer, which consists of one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father.”

The reason, it would seem to me, that these are called “cross prayers” is that, while praying them, we extend our arms as Christ did on the cross.  Praying in this posture can serve as a reminder to us of all our Lord did for us.  To me, it serves as a call to respond in love to the love He has shown me. When praying them shortly before bed, I can be reminded to say “Thank you” to Jesus for all He did for me on the Cross and for all His blessings throughout the day.  When praying Cross Prayers after confession, I can express my gratitude for the immense graces of that sacrament won by His cross.

On Friday, a day when we especially reflect on Christ’s suffering, I thought it appropriate to reflect on this beautiful custom.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

Whatever the case, don’t lick the microphone!!!

This afternoon, I ended up calling bingo for our residents in the activity room here at St. Anne’s Guest Home.  I like to throw in a little humor and liven things up a little on the few occasions that I help out as a bingo caller.

I wear a straw hat and go by the name of “Edith” rather than “Sister Christina.”  This comes from the fact that the “church ladies” (from St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s) often call bingo on Tuesdays during the school year.  During the summer months, our activities staff and another volunteer hold bingo instead.  When I call, I’m a pretend “church lady.”  I wear a flowered straw hat and tell jokes in personification of the role.

I also like to have fun making puns with the numbers.  For example, I’ll call “B-4…Before, you shout ‘bingo’ be sure you have all the numbers.”

Besides this, and along with an occasional stray bingo ball, things were also ‘livened up’ today in a rather unsavory manner.  You see, we make it easier for our residents (some of whom are hearing-impaired) by amplifying our voice with a microphone during bingo.  This afternoon, I was speaking into the mic. and accidentally licked it – YUCK!!!

Thinking about this, as I prepared to write, reminded me of St. James’ warning about the tongue (ch. 3).  He had strong words to his readers about its use.  The tongue is, indeed, a powerful organ, for good or ill.

As I was slightly disgusted by the feel of my tongue touching the microphone at bingo today, all the more so should I be careful not to let any disgusting or harmful words pass by it.  I don’t want to say anything demeaning to the dignity of any person.

There’s a neat little quip I learned during my school years, growing up, which may be a helpful ‘tongue-guard.’  Before speaking about someone, we can ask ourselves: “Is it true?  Is it nice?  Is it necessary?  At least two out of these three questions should receive an affirmative answer before we proceed to say something.

Hit the ground running!

What an interesting day!

When it rains, it pours might be a little bit more appropriate title today.

Sr. Rebecca and I went down with Msgr. Vetter to the priests’ ordination in Fargo this morning.  It was a privilege to be able to attend.  I was grateful to those here who filled in a little to make it possible for me to go (e.g., Kathy doing sacristy work, Betty doing ‘reading hour’ for our residents, and Sr. Elaine giving our receptionist her morning breaks)

But, when I returned, I was informed that we had received two big bags of rhubarb.  I am the main person in charge of recruiting and coordinating residents for cutting up the donations of rhubarb (and other produce that come in).

I was scheduled to be at work at the reception desk in less than an hour and tomorrow is Sunday (not a good day for ‘rhubarb parties’).  So, I figured, “I might as well do it now because who knows when I’ll get another good chance.”

It got close to 3:30 (when my shift was to begin), and Sr. Rebecca offered to fill in at the desk so I could finish.  Just as we were finishing up, I sliced my finger and it began to bleed.  The rhubarb was nice and red already so I didn’t need any extra color. Oh well, I cleaned it out good, got a band aide and returned to the activity room where we hold our produce-processing endeavors.

I was very grateful that another resident (besides those who had already graciously helped cut) came down around then and lamented the fact that she hadn’t been here earlier to help.  I let her know that she was not too late and assigned her to wiping the tables and cleaning the floor, which she gladly did.  I was not looking forward to having to do this with my finger as it was.  (I don’t enjoy soggy band aides or water in open wounds.)

As if this was not enough adventure for one day, we were under a tornado watch and part of our county was actually in a tornado warning.  We had to stay tuned to weather reports on TV for a while.  Thankfully, the worst of it passed us by.

We did get some rain, though; on behalf our residents’ little garden and of the farmers, I am grateful for that.

Pope Francis’ words to Religious in Rome spoke to my heart as well

On Sundays, I often like to check out the latest words from Pope Francis for spiritual reading.  This week, our Holy Father offered some particularly inspiring words for men and women religious in his address to them in Rome on Saturday.  I studied Spanish, which is similar to Italian, but still I am not capable enough to rely on my knowledge of the Romance languages and don’t have a personal interpreter so I sometimes resort to my friend “Google Translate.”  Although it’s not perfect, I’m able to get the gist of what the pope is saying and find it to be a benefical for spiritual reading sometimes.

This week, I was so touched by the beauty of the pope’s words for consecrated persons that I wished to share some highlights.  The full text (Italian) can be found at:  http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/speeches/2015/may/documents/papa-francesco_20150516_religiosi-roma.html

I encourage you to check this out; I cannot do justice to it.  If you know Italian, you’re ahead of me, and won’t need to rely upon a computerized translation, which can be dangerous.

Pope Francis spoke about the balance, or even tension, between “concealment” and silence and visibility in the world.  We need both solitude and involvement.  The pope said that we “live” in tension between this attitude of seeking the Lord and hiding in the Lord, and this call to give a sign.

We need to be concerned for and involved with people, living love.  This can even be just the service of a smile.

He also spoke of the corruption that can come in if we “lose our memory” of our vocation, of our first encounter with God and of the founding charism of our community.  We must not lose our zeal for intercessory prayer for our people; the Pope mentioned the example of Moses so long ago, who interceded for the sinful Israelites.   (Ex 32.9-14).

The pope drew from the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, who showed love even to a Sister who was not loving to her.  He stressed that we are never to speak badly of our fellow sisters.  We are an image of the Church, bride and mother.  The Pope said a true mother does not speak badly of her children.

These are just some of the beautiful insights the Pope offered.  It touched my heart and I hope it inspires you as well.