God of all Fruitfulness

There is one who plants, one who waters and still more who weed (and even one who "talks with them!) -- but we all know that it is God who gives the growth. And, indeed, we have much for which to be grateful this year! Amid the busyness of our renovation (update forthcoming) it seems that there has been less time than usual to tend the vegetable garden; despite this, however, we have window-sills full of ripening tomatoes. In fact, we are quickly running out of window-sill room! (Not a bad problem to have.)

In addition to having a bountiful harvest of tomatoes, we have more summer squash than we can dream of eating. Our dispenser, Sister Mary Austin, has managed to disguise it in numerous creative ways. Perhaps the most noteworthy (and very tasty) was the "squash cobbler" we had for dessert last week. It almost tasted like an apple pie!

There is no nifty quotation from our Holy Founders today. It probably comes as no surprise that St. Francis de Sales, in his voluminous writings, does not have anything to say about the tomato. (For, tomatoes did not make their way into French cuisine until the 18th Century.)

One Last Journey

Today marks several noteworthy occasions. It is the 439th anniversary of the birth of Saint Francis de Sales. Also, it would have been the 98th birthday of our Sister Anne Marie who went home to the Lord on 5 July. And this morning, we made our "last journey" with our Sister Vincentia. She is pictured above at a computer in the monastery's former "typing room" (soon to be called the "St. Joe's Workroom" upon our return this winter!)

Many members of Sister's family were able to join us for the Mass of Christian burial. Among the interesting things we learned from them was that Sister Vincentia (baptized "Veronica") was known affectionately as "Aunt Ronnie." She and her sisters, when not working at the shirt factory, were active members of St. Joseph's Church, the first Slovak Catholic Church in the Western Hemisphere. They planted the garden, mowed the lawn and preserved the fruits and vegetables. We all chuckled to learn that their "Aunt Ronnie" enjoyed attending dances at the local Hazle Park.

The monastery is grateful to all our friends and benefactors whose thoughtfulness made today's celebration a beautiful one.

Solemnity of Our Holy Mother

Today is a grand celebration in our house. First and foremost it is the Solemnity of Our Holy Mother, Saint Jane de Chantal, the feast day of our Sister Maureen de Chantal and birthday of our Mother Philomena. In terms which used to describe a major solemnity in our monastery, this triple-celebration might be considered a double and solemn feast to the third degree!

Compared to the voluminous writings of Saint Francis de Sales, there are far fewer writings that survive from Saint Jane de Chantal. Among her conferences and memoirs, however, are many gems worth sharing. One popular theme about which she wrote was what she called "the martyrdom of love." When asked about this mystical martyrdom, our practical and down-to-earth foundress had the following to say:

"God keeps his servants and handmaids in this present life so that they may labor for him. . . .Divine love takes its sword to the hidden recesses of our inmost soul and divides us from ourselves."

Perhaps even more telling is Saint Jane de Chantal's reply when asked how long this martyrdom would last: "From the moment when we commit ourselves unreservedly to God, until our last breath." This speaks to all of us, no matter what work, occupation, vocation or state in life we occupy. When we acquiesce to the Lord's will in our life and we do not hold any part our ourselves back from Him who created us, we, too, live this martyrdom of love. May Our Holy Mother intercede for all of us in yielding ourselves unhesitatingly to the Lord in the daily activities of our lives. May God be praised!

Requiescat in Pace

At 11.32 am yesterday morning, the Lord (and His Blessed Mother) came for our beloved Sister Mary Vincentia. Sister was 83 years old and 51 years professed as a Visitandine. Sister's last years were marked by great physical suffering including a leg amputation, last year, which required a great deal of physical therapy. Sister died peacefully and with no struggle in the company of Mother Philomena and Sister Stanislaus, our infirmarian.

Sister was born in Ohio and grew up in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of 7 children. Sister Vincentia did not have the opportunity to attend high school, as she became a nanny to her older sister's children after completing basic schooling. Later, sister took a job in a shirt factory where she worked for 10 years. During her time at the shirt factory, Sister Vincentia (then "Veronica") acquired a fiance, of whom she was "quite fond." Feeling called to devote her life to the Lord as a religious, however, she ended her engagement and pursued her religious vocation.

Alumnae will remember Sister Vincentia as the school portress. For years she greeted students, family and guests upon their arrival. She was the "face" of Visitation to many a visitor. Sister also served our community very faithfully as sacristan. In her spare moments she liked to crochet. In recent years, she was a pioneer on the internet, becoming one of the first in our community to use email to keep in touch with family and friends. Sister had a childlike sense of wonder and a great appreciation for things novel and clever. She loved to tell riddles and jokes and witty stories. And among Sister's favorite terms of endearment was "dearheart." Surely the Lord looked upon her and welcomed her home as one "dear" to His Most Sacred Heart.

A word to our locals: Sister will be waked from 9-11am on Monday 21 August. The funeral will follow at 11.00am. Both will be held in our Chapel of the Sacred Heart.

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe

Today, we commemorate a saint of our time. St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born in 1894 in the then-Russian-occupied Poland. He became a Conventual Franciscan and was ordained to the priesthood in 1918. After serving as a missionary in Japan, Kolbe returned to Poland during World War II and when his Friary was closed in 1941 he was captured and imprisoned at Auschwitz.

After a prisoner escaped from the camp, ten others were selected to die as a punishment. One of the ten, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry out that he would never see his family again. Prisoner number 16770 stepped forward and asked to take his place. Thus began the martyrdom of Fr. Kolbe. As for Franciszek Gajowniczek, he lived 53 more years and died in 1995 at the age of 95.

A snippet from today's Office of Readings from a letter of St. Maximilian gives us a window into the heart of so generous and so brave a man: "Obedience raises us beyond the limits of our littleness and puts us in harmony with God's will." St. Francis of Assisi is often quoted as saying, "Preach always, use words when you have to." This son of St. Francis died as a faithful and obedient servant (and "preacher") of the Gospel -- he laid down his life for a fellow prisoner.

Prior to his imprisonment, Kolbe established the sodality of the Militia of Mary Immaculate. Click here to learn more about it.

"Charity and obedience are so closely united that they cannot possibly be separated. Love makes us obey promptly."
St. Francis de Sales

Your Cross

Today's Gospel gives urges us to reflect on our own willingness to "take up [our] cross" and follow Christ. St. Francis de Sales has a poignant reflection on this. We shall let his words be today's reflection on this powerful Gospel reading.

God in His divine wisdom has
from all eternity beheld the cross
He bestows on you --
His precious gift
from His Heart.
He contemplated the cross
with his all-knowing eye
before bestowing it on you.
He pondered over it with His divine mind;
He examined it with His all-wise justice;
With his loving mercy
He warmed it through and through;
And with both His hands
He weighed it
to determine it be
one ounce too heavy for you.
He blessed it with His all-holy Name;
With His grace He anointed it;
And with His consolation
He perfumed it through and through;
And then once more
He considered you and your courage.
Finally it comes from heaven as a special message of God
to you,
an alms
of the all-merciful love
of God
for you.

St. Dominic

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Dominic, we shall defer to our Dominican brothers and sisters for words of wisdom about their Holy Father. Do visit the Summit Dominicans' blog and Fr. Powell's blog -- both of which will, no doubt, be honoring their Holy Founder.

Our monastery has a special connection to the Dominicans. Our very first history, A Story of Courage was written in 1894 by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, youngest daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne and wife of George Lathrop. Rose, widowed in 1898, went on to become Mother Mary Alphonsa, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Click here to read more about this Servant of God, whose cause was introduced in 2003.

Many blessings to all the sons and daughters of St. Dominic. May they, by their preaching and by their prayers, draw many souls to Christ and his Church.

Feast of the Transfiguration

** Does anyone know why this is "only" a Feast and not a Solemnity?

Please share in comments if you do. Thanks. **

Fire is a powerful image throughout the Bible; it is a very striking symbol for the Peter, James and John who witness the Transfiguration of our Lord. For Peter, in particular, it is a significant symbol that marks his own transformation.

Jesus is transfigured between Moses, whose relationship with Yahweh began with the burning bush, and Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Peter sees the Light of the world shining between two great heroes of the Israelite people and he wants to pitch a tent and stay on the mountaintop. Who could blame him? He recognized something wonderful when he saw it.

Not long after the glorious Transfiguration of the Lord, Peter finds himself in the courtyard of the high priest, warming himself in front of a charcoal fire. Standing before the fire, a powerful image of light, Peter denies his relationship with the Light that has come into the world. Just three chapters later, in John's Gospel, Peter is before another charcoal fire. This time, the Lord has prepared it and is cooking breakfast for the disciples. Following this famous breakfast on the beach, we have that poignant encounter between Jesus and Peter when Peter three times reiterates his love for Jesus.

On the mountaintop, Peter witnessed the glory of the Lord in his Transfiguration, a foreshadowing of the glory in which we are all invited to share. Peter's heart, like all of our hearts, needed to be transformed before he could share in this glory. His heart burned with love for the Lord and it was strengthened and purified by the grace of God after he suffered the agony of denying Jesus -- for Peter three times reclaimed what he three times denied. Let us ask for the grace of hearts which are open to the Lord's transforming work; let us ask Him to make our hearts like his own -- on fire with love.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed."
1 Peter 4:12-13

Prophets and Experts

It is often said that experts are "people from outside." In a way, this is true. Often, we have a difficult time listening to those who are close to us: at home, at work, in our family, among our friends, etc. Jesus experienced this phenomenon in today's Gospel. The patrons of the synagogue were astonished at his wisdom and yet they did not manifest faith in his authority. Their reaction, "Is he not the carpenter's son?" demonstrates the timelessness of the adage about experts (and in Jesus' case prophets, too) being welcome only when they are not indigenous to the group.

Most of us have at least one "prophet" in our circle of friends, family, or co-workers. If we are really honest we may acknowledge that our resident "prophet" usually has some accurate observations to make (even if they are unwelcome). And if we are really honest, we will admit that these "accurate observations" usually provoke feelings of discomfort in us.

Not everybody who makes us uncomfortable is a "prophet." We need to discern the reason why we feel uncomfortable in the presence certain people; sometimes it is simply a matter of having more common ground with some folks than with others. Other times, however, it is the case that a resident "prophet" speaks some uncomfortable truths. Prophets aren't perfect; sometimes their observations are spoken uncharitably or at an inopportune time. It can be hard to be responsive amid challenging circumstances. Irrespective of such circumstances, however, let us beg for the grace to be open to the "resident prophets" in our own lives. The Lord can use many different means to get our attention and speak to our hearts. Let us not miss His message even if it is delivered by someone whom we know well.

"I have no doubt there will be aversions and repugnances in your spirit. . . . there are so many occasions to exercise the true virtue of sweetness; for we must do well and in a holy and loving way what we owe to everyone, although it may be against the grain and without relish."

St. Francis de Sales

Dog Days of Summer

Yes, even the dog has a dog. This is a shot of our noble guard dog, Nicholas, trying to stay cool in these "dog days" of summer. In this picture, he is "protecting" Buddy, his toy dog, whom he treats like a real dog. (We're not sure exactly why he hasn't shredded Buddy, as labs tend to do with toys, but we're grateful and we enjoy watching him nurture the stuffed doggie.)

The temperature is supposed to reach a record 103 degrees today -- even Nick and Buddy will have to take their cuddling inside for most of the day.

No profound spiritual message here -- just a loving reminder to stay cool, hydrated, and out of the sun. St. Francis de Sales said that "We pray best before beauty." True indeed. It is also true that it is difficult to pray when one is hot, sticky, fatigued and dehydrated -- so, if you are experiencing a heat wave, take care of yourself!

St. Ignatius

Our monastery of Georgetown has enjoyed a centuries-long friendship with the Society of Jesus. And so it is with a wink and a smile that we share this little gem:

Although we are unable to authenticate this statement, we have been told that Fr. Walter Burghardt, SJ once commented that St. Francis de Sales is - was - living proof that one could be educated by the Jesuits, have a Jesuit for a spiritual director and still be a good Catholic.

All kidding aside, we can think of no better tribute to our beloved chaplains, brothers, and friends in the Society of Jesus than St. Francis de Sales' own words of praise:

"If Geneva has worked such terrible ravage amongst us, it is because we were idle; while we were asleep the enemy set our house on fire and we should all of us have been lost if the Divine Goodness had not raised up the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, those powerful minds, those great men, possessed of such untiring courage, such intrepid zeal . . . who have re-established the true faith . . . and are filling the world with learned men and are destroying heresy in every direction."

St. Martha the Hospitable

We are privileged to have this extraordinary oil on canvas of Jesus at Bethany hanging on the north wall of our chapel. It was commissioned by our second chaplain (and, more accurately, our second founder), Rev. Joseph Pierre Picot de Cloriviere as a gift from France to adorn our chapel. It was painted by Constance Blanchard (student of Girodot) in 1825 for a sum of 2,000 Francs.

On 8 July 1993 when our school building was consumed by a fire, this painting was rescued from the chapel (which connects the academy to the monastery building) by several of our chaplains who used rope cinctures from the sacristy to lower the massive framed picture. When the chapel was renovated and the picture restored, the cinctures were left in place as a reminder of the extraordinary event.

At risk of undermining the traditional homily for today's memorial about how Mary has chosen "the better part" and poor Martha is too busy, this is a little plug for moderation in our approach to today's Gospel. Please note that John's Gospel tells us that "when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home." And Luke, prior to the very familiar scene where Mary is seated at Jesus' feet, tells us that "Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him." Both Martha and Mary represent essential elements of our vocation as Christians: nurturing a relationship with the Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ -- as Mary did -- and welcoming others as Christ into our homes and our hearts -- as Martha did. And the Lord, as suggested in the painting, is found between the two: at the intersection of prayer and hospitality.

Fidelity and Friendship

We are reminded, over and over again, of how the Lord would like us to cultivate the many different relationships in our lives. We are to honor our parents, rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, love our enemies, etc. Most of us who have had the experience of negotiating these dyanmic exchanges know it can be difficult to be a faithful companion -- in any of the relationships in our lives -- when we feel that we have been betrayed. Our human experience of this challenge gives us some small indication of the boundlessness of Yahweh's unfailing love for Israel.

In today's first reading we are reminded of how the Israelites have betrayed Yahweh, worshipped idols, prophesied by Baal, forsaken the covenant. And despite their infidelity, the Lord continues to call them back to Himself; he continues to be faithful. For most of us, the experience of infidelity renders us (at best) cautious as we mend a relationship marred by this most painful of hurts. Let us ask for the grace to have hearts as generous and as loving as the Lord's eternal heart.

"Blessed are the hearts that can bend, for they shall never break."
St. Francis de Sales

St. James the Greater

There is an adage that says, "If you pray for rain, you'd better bring an umbrella." Be careful what you ask for -- you just might get it!

In today's Gospel, we have the Mother of James and John asking Jesus to give them places of honor in his Kingdom. In his reply, Jesus hints at his suffering and death; he asks the two brothers if they can drink of his chalice and they both respond, "We can!" And tradition tells us that it was St. James who was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom under Herod around the year 42 A.D.

A cursory check of the letter of James demonstrates that he earned his name "Boanerges" (sons of thunder) for his firm and effective preaching. Although there is a great deal of legend that surrounds the devotion to this heroic saint, we can learn a powerful lesson from St. James: those who have left behind many things to follow Christ can be used by God as his instruments. In the call of the disciples, St. Peter leaves behind his nets, St. Matthew leaves behind his customs post and St. James, we learn, left behind his father. Each of us is called to leave behind something of his former life when we set out to follow Jesus. For some it is a lifestyle, for others it may be something material, and still others are called to leave behind family and friends. And just as the Lord used St. James to draw many people to himself, so we, too, can be available instruments in the hands of the Lord when we answer the call to follow him.

"We cannot continually have the presence of God; that belongs to the angels. When we do something for God, that is living in his presence."
St. Francis de Sales

The "Rest" of the Summer

Much like the respite promised to the disciples in today's Gospel, the "rest" of the summer can seem thwarted - or elusive. For many the summer is a longed-for time to attack projects and plan time with family and friends: cleaning the garage, emptying the attic, visiting relatives, etc. And somehow, amid the tasks and plans, most of us imagine that the summer will also hold endless moments of leisure and relaxation. After a short time, we can begin to feel like the apostles must have felt when they arrived at the "deserted place" only to find that the crowds were awaiting them.

Sometimes we are called beyond the littleness of our own plans to attend to the circumstances which the Lord permits in our life. Surely Jesus was as tired as the disciples were when he invited them to take a rest; Jesus' reaction, however, to the crowd which filled the "deserted place" was one of compassion and "he began to teach them many things." Sometimes we are called to adjust our plans and our expectations to suit the needs of the present moment. Sometimes we are called to readjust our priorities and our schedule before we even have a chance to begin some of what we set out to accomplish. This takes great trust in the Lord's providential care for us. Jesus practiced this hidden virtue at every turn in his journey on earth.

The next time our plans to find a "deserted place" are frustrated, let us remember the example of Jesus and his disciples. Let us remember that the circumstances in which the Lord permits us to find ourselves contain countless opportunities for us to unite ourselves to His will. Embracing these circumstances is a great mark of virtue. When asked if a sister should miss Mass on a holy day of obligation in order to remain in the infirmary with a sick sister, St. Francis de Sales replied:

"You may and you should lose Mass to stay with her, even though no harm would come to her if she were left alone; for remember, charity and the holy sweet love of our dear Mother Church are above all things."

Gospel Roots

It seems as though "spirituality" has become a very popular term, subject to a myriad of nuances. There are many schools of spirituality in the Catholic Church; some are associated with a particular founder or foundress, others are associated with a certain way of life. What all authentic spiritualities have in common, however, is that they are grounded in the Gospel. Each school of spirituality may have a different origin but all are rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

When we speak about our own "Salesian Spirituality" we refer to the legacy left to those of us who claim St. Francis de Sales as our spiritual father (and there are many of us in the Salesian family!) If one had to ground all the writings of St. Francis de Sales' in one passage of the Gospels, today's reading would represent our "spiritual roots."

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." (Mt 11:26)

St. Francis de Sales had the following to say about the importance of the "little virtue" of gentleness:

"An even temper, gentleness and sweetness are more rare than perfect chastity but no less desirable for that. I command these virtues to you because the flame of good example depends upon them as oil in a lamp; nothing edifies others more than a loving good temper."

Nursery School Update

Faithful readers will remember that we featured our nursery school graduates as they were moving out into the garden in late May. Here we provide a little update on our transplants. Sister Earlene, faithful "waterer" of the tomato patch, is pictured here between two robust Brandywine tomato plants.

In addition to the transplants, we are still monitoring the squirrels' "gift" to us. Thanks to the overabundance of rain of the past few weeks, the squirrels' plant is flourishing. The tiny seedling we pictured in May is growing into a member of the melon/cucumber family. It is still to early to tell what fruit might emerge from the flowers which have begun to bud. We shall wait to see what surprises the Lord (and the squirrels) have in store for us.

"God's providence reaches all things, and reduces all things to His glory."

St. Francis de Sales

A Word of Thanks

It seems that we have shared this gem of St. Francis de Sales in a previous blogpost, back in January. It is such an important aspect of our spirituality, however, that it bears repeating in a fitting moment such as this one:

We must neither ask anything nor refuse anything, but leave ourselves absolutely in the arms of divine Providence, without busying ourselves with any desires, except to will what God wills of us. Our whole perfection lies in the practice of this.

To begin to name the kindnesses of our family, friends and benefactors would be to run the inevitable risk of omitting too many. We are deeply grateful for all those whose generosity, creativity and thoughtfulness made the events of the past week smooth and successful. In a matter of days, hundreds of friends, family and alumnae were contacted, the performing arts center was transformed into a sacred space, programs were printed (folded and stuffed!), a reception was planned and there was an abiding peace amid these many details. Not only did our thoughtful benefactors help to make Sister's wake and funeral run smoothly, but they made sure that we stayed well-fed in the days that followed. We thank our faithful friends, alumnae and benefactors for being instruments in the "arms of divine Providence." You are great and we are grateful!

...And The Humble Shall Be Exalted

Mother Philomena and pall bearers prepare for the entrance procession.

Yesterday morning at 11.00am the Rite of Christian burial was celebrated for our beloved Sister Anne Marie. In attendance were close to 400 of Sister's "closest friends," principal celebrant Rev. Jon O'Brien, sj, 12 concelebrants and her loving family and community.

At the conclusion of a beautiful homily about the raising of Lazarus, Fr. O'Brien shared with us "a mischievous fantasy" he has been entertaining:

Saint Peter approaches Jesus and says, "You'll never believe this, Lord, she called me 'dearie.'" Jesus looks at Saint Peter and replies, "She's been calling me 'dearie' for years!"

As a member of the monastery and vibrant presence in the school community for over 69 years, Sister leaves an inestimable loss. Mr. Daniel Kerns, jr remarked in one of the eulogies, "None of us here has ever known Georgetown Visitation without the presence of Sister Anne Marie." Well said.

The monastery community is deeply grateful for the many people who shared their time and resources with us in order to make Sister's wake and funeral such a profound experience for all present.

Pushing Buttons?

Sister Anne Marie and Mother Philomena enjoy a laugh.

In keeping with Sister Anne Marie's loving embrace of everyone who crossed her path, we share the following excerpt from our local Catholic paper, The Catholic Standard, dated Friday 31 October 1952, which was written about Sister Anne Marie:

"Whether it's Eisenhower or Stevenson, the November 5 spirit should be something like one exemplified by a nun here in Washington, who shall remain nameless but who's gifted with an ample sense of humor.

Seems that ever since school started, this nun's been collecting campaign buttons from the students. Each day she's been sporting a different one, but generally it has been of the 'I like Ike' variety.

The other day, a Stevenson button adorned her habit. An aghast student exclaimed: 'Why Sister, don't tell me you've changed sides!' Sister didn't get it for an instant, then remembered the Stevenson button with an, 'Oh, you mean this.' She assured the student she hadn't changed sides and by way of emphasis, lifted a sort of cape-like effect at the top of her habit. She was wearing dozens of buttons, for both Stevenson and Eisenhower, under the cape.

But right in the middle there was an extra large one which bore this legend:

'I LIKE EVERYBODY.'"

---

From the "Capital Sports" column in The Catholic Standard by Bill Ring, father of Hilde Graham (nee Ring) HS '51, JC '53.

It is a profound understatement to say that our dear Sister Anne Marie "liked everybody." Not only did she love every sister, student, guest and family member whom she encountered, she made sure that each one felt loved.

---
A word to our locals: the Mass of Christian Burial on Monday has been moved from the Chapel of the Sacred Heart to the Nolan Center to accommodate the number of guests anticipated. Those in need of an elevator may enter from the Canney Terrace; all else may enter via the north and south lobbies across from St. Joseph's Hall. Sunday's wake will remain in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart.

The Face that Launched 1,000 Quips

At 1.10pm today the Lord came for our dear Sister Anne Marie. Sister became very ill just a few weeks ago and died very peacefully surrounded by her sisters. Sister was 97 years old and 69 years professed. Until just a few weeks ago she could be found working in the main office of our school at "Sister Anne Marie's Shredding Station," a popular spot for teachers and staff passing through the office.

Sister will be remembered for many things. She was a "Jane" of all trades whose various undertakings included music, art, pottery, and knitting. Sister was the among the first in our community to use a computer and generate greeting cards. More recently, she was known for the sale of her "famous poster" which hit the market 10 years ago in an effort to help raise money to rebuild our chapel. When asked about her poster she'd often wink and say, "Could you make $40,000 off your face?"

It is an understatement to say that sister leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her. Those of us who were privileged to live with her will miss her outstanding example of fidelity in prayer. Sister spent so much time praying in the chapel that one might have mistaken her for a statue. We will miss her witty responses to daily conversations: If we called her name, we often received the following reply "She's not here dearie, can I give her a message when I see her?" Recently, Mother dared to ask, "How are you feeling today, sister?" and with a twinkle in her eye she replied, "If I told you the truth you'd put on your hat and leave town!"

For years Sister Anne Marie would greet our chaplains as they arrived each morning. As she would wait outside the chapel, she would also greet any guests who came for Mass. If it had been a long time since a guest's last visit, sister would use her stage-whisper to remark, "It's nice to see you back in the Church, dearie." She made every visitor and guest feel welcome and loved. Hospitality flowed through her veins and touched all who knew her. We know that she will find her place in the heavenly Visitation among our beloved sisters who have gone before her. Requiescat in pace.

For locals, the wake will be on Sunday night from 5-8pm and the funeral will be on Monday morning at 11.00am. Both will take place in our Chapel of the Sacred Heart.

The Coming of the Fourth

Although the celebration of our independence as a nation is a secular holiday, there are far more religious undertones to it than most are willing to admit -- beginning with our national anthem. As a monastery located just a few blocks from the Francis Scott Key bridge, we thought we'd provide a little quiz about the author of our national anthem. The answers can be found by following the link to a superb article written by Dr. Isaac Asimov in 1991.

• In what year was the anthem written?
• What was Francis Scott Key's occupation?
• Why was he aboard a British ship when he wrote our national anthem?
• What other American was present when the poem was penned?
• How many stanzas are in the original version of the national anthem?

As we celebrate our nation's freedom this week, we remain mindful of our responsibility as a powerful country with an abundance of resources. And we pray that we may always act justly and wisely. Click here to read Dr. Asimov's article.

The Centurion's Sentiment

There has been a great amount of press concerning the proposed changes and adaptations to the Sacramentary, most notably where the responses of the assembly may be different. Today's Gospel gives us a gentle encouragement to be open to these minor (suggested) changes in translation (still pending approval for the proper parts), most of which favor a more accurate translation of the original Latin text.

When the priest elevates the host and says, "This is the Lamb of God, this is He who takes away the sins of the world . . ." our response, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed" is a very lose translation of what appears in the original text. In fact, the original text was intended to echo the sentiments -- if not the exact words -- of the centurion in today's Gospel: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."

To think of inviting the Lord "under our roof" is to entertain a powerful image. The Lord is eager to proceed to the house of the centurion to heal his servant but the centurion speaks a word of reluctance; he begs the Lord only to say a healing word for his servant. And it is his faith in the power of Jesus that permits his servant to be healed. We, too, are called to manifest the same faith in the Lord as we approach him in the Eucharist. We ask for his grace to heal our souls so that we may prepare a worthy place for him in our hearts as we receive him in the Eucharist and carry him with us in all we do.

"If, through Holy Communion, you become gentle, you will be drawing from it, the fruit which is proper to it, and thus you will be advancing." St. Francis de Sales

The Master Cometh!

In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, as the use of the vernacular in the liturgy became the focus of many well-intentioned efforts at aggiornamento -- often at the expense of ressourcement -- the Order of the Visitation in the United States received a great gift: the work and expertise of Abbot Marcel Rooney, osb.

In the mid 1970's, Father Marcel (then novice master for Conception Abbey, later elected as its eighth abbot), was commissioned by our Federation President, the late Mother Anne Madeleine Ernstmann, vhm, to compose music for the English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours. Dedicating a decade to this magnum opus, Rooney composed music for every antiphon of every hour of the office. He captured the haunting tones of Gregorian chant in his modern musical compositions. In addition, he composed 16 psalm tones based upon the eight traditional Gregorian modes for use with the Grail translation of the psalms, currently in use in the United States. During this decade, Conception Abbey welcomed scores our sisters for six summers of music instruction in order to learn to sing the office using Rooney's music. His work gave us an extraordinary gift: an office that is dynamic, melodic, beautiful and "singable." Today, every monastery of the Visitation is united by his music. Nearly thirty years later, one can be visiting a monastery many miles from home and, closing her eyes in choir, be at home in her own monastery.

Periodically he visits our monasteries for a little "brush up" and "up date." This week we are privileged to have Abbot Marcel with us for a few days. Faithful readers can expect a short hiatus in blogposts while the master is here...we shall return in a few days.

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

On Friday 11 June 1611, (Friday in the Octave of Corpus Christi that year) St. Francis de Sales addressed a letter to (St.) Mother de Chantal, Sr. Jeanne Charlotte de Brechard and Sr. Jacqueline Favre. The content of this letter was a description of an inspiration which he received about the coat of arms for the Order of the Visitation. He suggested a heart pierced by two arrows, surrounded by a crown of thorns. This "inspiration" became the design for the seal of every monastery of the Visitation.

Well over 50 years later, St. Margaret Mary, a Visitation nun in our monastery of Paray-le-monial, received revelations of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The date later set for this Solemnity is currently the Second Friday after Trinity Sunday (which ends up being the Friday after Corpus Christi -- we just don't have an Octave of Corpus Christi any more.)

St. Francis de Sales spoke poignantly when he remarked, in that letter concerning our coat of arms, "...our little congregation is a work of the heart of Jesus and Mary. The dying savior gave birth to us through the wound of his Sacred Heart."

"But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him. "

St. Margaret Mary

God's Honor Roll

Today's first reading from Sirach is a snippet from the "honor roll" -- of sorts -- that we find in the book of Sirach (Ecclesiastius). Jesus ben Sirach chronicles our fathers in faith, beginning with Enoch and Noah in chapter 44. If you haven't ever read the entire "Hymn to our Ancestors," it is a beautiful section of the Old Testament worth reading and praying.

The portions we hear today, praising the extraordinary gifts of Elijah and Elisha, make both men sound almost super-human. Of Elisha it is said, "Nothing was beyond his power." Truly indeed, both men were powerful instruments of the Lord and very worthy of our praise. The key, however, is that both men showed great dependence upon Lord's power. Neither one sought his own glory or honor. Both relied on the the Lord and his power at work in them -- and what wonders God worked through their willingness!

Let us take our cues from these great heroes of our faith and allow the Lord to work through us in the ordinary moments of our daily lives.

"I would inculcate in your deepest hearts this disposition to obey and to submit yourselves lovingly to all events and permissions of Holy Providence."

St. Jane de Chantal

Home Base!

No, this is not a joke, honest. This sign is actually exists. Due to our current state of renovation (updated pictures forthcoming), we spend a great deal of time "commuting" between "refugee camps" and, as a consequence, our security staff has posted the above caution for drivers entering campus.

As promised, quite a few posts ago, this is a report from one of our three "refugee camps." Lalor House is serving as "home base" during our period of exile. Eight sisters live at Lalor House but all 18 of us pray, eat and recreate here. The picture below is our modest chapel which, believe it or not, fits all 18 of us, the celebrant and a guest or two (without a shoe horn!)

The picture below is a shot of Lalor House from 35th Street. The front door opens to 35th Street but the back entrances open up onto campus which makes getting to the school -- and the other two "refugee camps" -- very convenient. We promise future posts about the satellite refugee camps -- and maybe even a first-hand account from an exile!

This post would not be complete without a photo of a very special exile who lives at Lalor House: Nicholas the dog, whom some readers may remember from a previous post. Nick lives in a pen outside Lalor House and he announces every visitor who approaches. We hardly need a doorbell with a watch dog as alert as he. In fact, it used to be the bell ringing the Angelus which told the sisters that Father has arrived for Mass. Now, the dog announces it before sister has a chance to ring the bell. If only we could teach him to bark in syncopation with the Angelus!

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

In today’s first reading, Moses reminds us of a dimension of liturgy which is not always evident during Mass. He ratifies the covenant by sprinkling some of the blood on the altar and on the people. This is very much a foreshadowing of the sacred blood which, when sprinkled on the altar of the cross, won our redemption.

In recent decades, we have spoken often about the Eucharist as a meal; we refer to the altar as a “table.” Indeed, we do commemorate the Last Supper, but we also commemorate the sacrifice of the cross. When we consider the Mass as a sacrifice, we present to our hearts an invitation to unite our sufferings, our sacrifices with the most holy sacrifice on the altar.

Let’s be honest: the various elements of liturgy can introduce many opportunities for differences to arise among the most well-meaning of participants. Be they differences in taste or disagreements about style, attending or planning a liturgy amid such challenges can be difficult. It can be hard to pray under such circumstances.

Any number of situations can cause us unrest when we come to worship the Lord. We may come to Mass from a situation which was stressful and we are distracted; perhaps we come to Mass and find ourselves uncomfortable because of elements of preference beyond our control; it might be the case that we are responsible for some service during the Mass such as reading or singing; we may find ourselves sitting at Mass worrying about whether or not we turned off the stove. Any of these situations can cause our hearts to be distracted and minds to wander. Every one of these situations, however, is an opportunity to place our hearts on the altar. When, at Mass, we find ourselves in a situation where our souls are not at rest – for any reason – perhaps we could call to mind the sacrificial dimension of the Mass. When we are suffering, hurt, frustrated, or distracted, we have something to offer the Lord. Instead of gritting our teeth and allowing smoke to escape from our ears, perhaps we could unite our little sacrifice, the cause of our unrest, to the Lord's sacrifice. "Here it is, Lord. It may be small compared to your sacrifice, but it's all I have to offer right now." And may He look with favor on our offering.

"In the Eucharist, our Lord abases Himself, if we may so express it, and changes Himself into food, so that He may penetrate our souls and unite Himself most intimately to the heart and to the body of His faithful."

St. Francis de Sales

Tough Love

It has been said of the late (and great) John Paul II that he challenged today's youth -- and all of us -- to pursue moral heroism. Instead of "lowering the bar," so to speak, on tough moral issues, he encouraged Catholics and men and women of faith to pursue virtues which are not esteemed in popular culture. In doing this, he was following closely in the footsteps of Christ who speaks bold words to us in today's Gospel.

For most of us, it is difficult to reconcile ourselves to another when we have been at fault. Yet, despite the discomfort, there is something natural and inherently good about being able to say, "I'm sorry I hurt you, that was never my intention." At times we need to say, "It was selfish of me to say that because I knew it would hurt you; I'm sorry." And even still, despite the shame we might feel, there is something natural about asking forgiveness when we have been at fault. Jesus calls us to something even greater in today's Gospel.

We are to pursue the brother - or sister - who has something against us. But why? Who has the problem? Throwing up our hands (or our hearts) and saying, "That's his problem if he doesn't like me" is exactly what Jesus does not want us to do. It is a lot easier to apologize to someone we like than it is to approach someone who does not like us.

Surely we can all think of a colleague, coworker, family member, etc., with whom we enjoy a "polite distance" because we sense that we are the object of an unspoken discomfort or dislike. This is not a reason for alarm; it is a reason for rejoicing. For when we have such a situation, we have an opportunity to love as Jesus has invited us to love. And this is the "tough love" to which the Lord calls us.

"We must consider our neighbor in God who wishes us to love and cherish him. . . . For having asked for the love of God, we must always ask for love of neighbor, and particularly of those for whom our will experiences no inclination."

St. Francis de Sales

A Salty Claim

Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. Unfortunately, in the post-industrial revolution age of all things electric we have little experience of why this is so significant. We read labels, try to eat foods that boast of having "no preservatives," and refrigerate what is left over. In Jesus' day, salt was the only hope people had for preserving food. So, salt was a very essential and very valuable compound. (You've probably heard this before, but don't stop reading; this post is going to make an outrageous claim.)

At great risk of meddling in the work of professional linguists and etymologists, it seems reasonable to draw a few conclusions. Salt, in Latin, is sal, salis. It was a highly sought-after commodity in the ancient world. Roman soldiers were paid a salary so they could purchase salt for themselves. Although the adjective salvus (safe, well, alive, etc.) usually takes credit for being the root of our word, "salvation," it seems possible to argue that having salt made one well and healthy. Perhaps the root of the Roman notions of health (salus, salutis) and being alive (salvus) was linked to the precious seasoning we know as salt.

If the work of the Church on earth is truly the salvation of souls, then we should take as our marching orders Jesus' claim that we are the salt of the earth. Let us be "consumed" with all that is salubrious for the spiritual good of our neighbors. And let us be willing and gracious instruments who bear witness to the Lord's gift of salvation.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

One cannot do justice to the mystery of the Trinity in a blog post. One can only approach this mystery by living well the relationships and personal encounters that are provided by the Lord. (What follows are a few simple thoughts.)

In today's first reading, Moses reflects upon the unique relationship between Yahweh and Israel; he asks, ". . . ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before?" No. Nothing in the history of the world -- prior to the Incarnation -- can compare with the creation of man and God's delight in chosen people.

The first creation story in Genesis gives us a window into the mystery of the Trinity: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image'" (Gen 1:26a). God did not say, "Let me make man in my image." The Holy Trinity was present at creation and it is in the image of the Trinity that man was created. "Man" was created male and female. From the dawn of time, God has desired that his creatures, those created in his likeness, imitate him -- the mystery of the Trinity -- in their earthly life. As essential as it is to cultivate a deep relationship with the Trinity, it is never apart from or at the expense of our relationships with one another. For man was not created alone; he was created in the image of the Trinity.

As we reflect upon this grand mystery of the Trinity, let us examine the relationships in our daily lives. Let us consider how we participate in the mystery of the Trinity in our relationships -- those that delight us as well as those that challenge us. For when we are in relationship to one another, we approach this mystery and we have a small taste of the heavenly banquet.

"Our felicity will not stop at this (namely, at conversation with the angels and saints, with Mary and the incarnate Redeemer). It will pass further, for we will see face to face and very clearly the Divine Majesty, the essence God, and the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity."

St. Francis de Sales

Thinking and Acting Globally

Early yesterday morning, 12 of our students and two adults, Dr. Patrick Kelley (parent) and Sra. Giovanna Bello (Spanish teacher) gathered in the Chapel for a short prayer service with our sisters. Each person in the group was partnered with a sister prayer-partner who will “journey with them” in prayer as the group departs for a two-week trip to Peru. The students will spend some time in Machu Picchu and Cusco and then they will head to Ayacucho where they will spend most of their time working in an orphanage run by the Sisters of St. Ann, who care for 175 orphans up to age 18. In addition, they will be doing some repair work and cosmetic improvements at a local Jesuit school. We commend our students for their efforts and we look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return.

We have shared this quotation before, but it is very fitting for this occasion. When our early sisters in France set out for a new foundation, St. Francis de Sales had these words for the occasion:

“Those who go, stay. Those who stay, go.”

And that is exactly how we feel about our travelers. We go with them in prayer and we know that they remain here – in our hearts!

Commencement!

At 11.00am, yesterday morning, 133 soon-to-be graduates processed two-by-two down the red carpet as the familiar notes of Elgar were performed by a brass ensemble. Our school's largest graduating class in its 207 year history was addressed by Ms. Gretchen Kane, president of the Ursuline Academy in New Orleans.

Ms. Kane shared some of her experiences from the past year as the oldest girls' school in the country, ravaged by a hurricane, prepared to open its doors on 3 January 2006 -- just 4 months after the city of New Orleans was buried in water. Ursuline Academy, during the months of rebuilding and restoring, was committed to returning tuition dollars and continuing its payroll -- not because they could afford to, but because, in justice, they couldn't afford not to! In her speech, Ms. Kane referred to C.S. Lewis' characters in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She recalled how the raccoon family allowed their young to play in the mane of Aslan, the lion. When asked if it was safe to play in the lion's mane, the father replied, "It is not safe, but it is good." And so it is for those who choose Christ's way of love and gentleness in a world that does not value Christian virtues. It is not safe but it is good. In this vein, her parting words of wisdom to the class of 2006 were the very words she used in her own high school yearbook, "March to the beat of your own drum or don't march at all!"

Also in attendance at graduation was Ursuline Academy's recent graduate, Courtney Pratt, who spent the first semester of her senior year with us here at Georgetown Visitation. She received the signature "crescent pin," which our graduates receive with their diplomas, as well as a standing ovation from Visitation's class of 2006.

Beautiful weather. Beautiful young women. We and they have much for which to be grateful.

Veni Creator Spiritus!

At first Vespers of the Solemnity of Pentecost, it is our community's custom to draw for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Each sister draws a small card, shaped like a flame, and on the back of the card is written a gift and a fruit of the Spirit. This year's celebration of the Vigil of Pentecost was a little different than usual since it was a little more "cozy" now that we are in our make-shift chapel (pictures coming soon) ... the chapel of the exiles. It was also different from last year for another reason.

This is a true story (and could be sub-titled, "Life in the monastery is never boring part III") :

Pentecost 2005. We were gathered in choir for Office of Readings on the eve of Pentecost. In the middle of the second reading from St. Irenaeus -- just prior to the responsory which reads "...they had all gathered together in one place. Out of the heavens there came the sound of a great wind, which filled the whole house, alleluia" -- lightening struck the roof of the Monastery. There was a sound which filled the whole house; it was the fire alarm, triggered by the lightening. And yes, we were all gathered in one room. No one began speaking in tongues. There was a moment of calm, while everyone looked around to be sure she was not imagining the sound, before the choir emptied and we each proceeded to our "fire-alarm" responsibilities: some to the school, some to the infirmary, most to the assembly room. The fire department dutifully and promptly arrived and checked out the fourth floor roof-access ladder which we suspected was the manner by which the lightening was conducted into the building.

This year, we are most grateful that the Holy Spirit has decided to make his arrival in a quieter manner. And we leave our faithful readers with St. Francis de Sales' words to St. Jane de Chantal from Pentecost 1620:

"As long as we are in the world we can only love by doing good -- since our love must be active -- we have need of counsel in order to discern what we must practice and do for this love which urges us. And in order that we may know how we are to do good, what particular good we must prefer . . . the Holy Spirit gives us his gift of counsel."

Baby Ducks!

A couple of weeks ago we mentioned the pair of ducks who have arrived on our lawn. Shortly thereafter, they disappeared for awhile, only to reappear with their new family!

At right, Mrs. Duck instructs the little ones to beware of nuns who toss pieces of bread at them.

Below, the ducklings wait by the P Street wall while Mrs. Duck takes a moment to scold the sisters for getting to close to her precious little ones. (We got the message, loudly and clearly!)

Although he was not out for a walk with the little critters, we caught a picture of the proud father. We promise not to bore our readers with too many duck photos, but these were too cute not to share.

Solemnity of the Visitation

This is the place of our delight. Truly.

We are a monastery of the Visitation but we are also a house full of visitations. The biblical image of Mary and Elizabeth is alive in our walls and halls and Chapel and refectory and school.

We have some sisters who are younger and newer to religious life. They are Mary: their "yes" to God is newer and more recent. Their journey with the Lord, growing inside of them, is only just beginning. They are trusting, faithful -- at times afraid -- but courageous in all their "yeses." They set off (often in haste) to help others, as Mary set off to be with her cousin, Elizabeth.

We have other sisters who represent Mary's cousin, Elizabeth. They are not new brides. They have long been married to Him whom Mary carries. They have lived fully their "Mary years" and, like Elizabeth, they too are fruitful in their golden years for they, too, trust that nothing is impossible with God.

Elizabeth, for Mary, is living proof that God's promises will be fulfilled. And so it is true in our Visitation. The Elizabeths bear witness for our younger and newer members that the Lord is trustworthy. Their joy, their fulfillment, their enthusiasm for their vocations -- lo, these many years after that first "yes" -- speak volumes to the "Marys" among us.

Countless times each day, in our home, a Mary "sets off in haste" to help an Elizabeth. And Elizabeth receives Mary graciously and with joy. This mystery is lived in our daily encounters with our sisters. And truly, this is the place of our delight.

Memorial Day

"You will suffer in the world. But take courage! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Jesus' reminder found in today's Gospel speaks a word of encouragement to those who have lost life, limb or loved one in the name of liberty. Those men and women who have laid down their lives on the altar of our freedom have walked a noble path behind the Lord's example. We honor those whose sacrifices have purchased our nation's freedom and defended the safety of countless other countries and peoples.

Few hymnals print all six verses of the Julia Howe's (pictured below) Battle Hymn of the Republic. The fifth verse bears repeating. Current arrangers and publishers have changed Howe's original words. It is here reprinted in its original.

• In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea.
• With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
• As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free;
• While God is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
• Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

As we commemorate Memorial Day, we remember all those who have purchased our freedom and defended our safety. May we be mindful and grateful for their service.

"In all things holy liberty and freedom must reign, that we may have no other law or constraint than that of love . . . "

St. Francis de Sales

The Ascension(s) of the Lord!

Somehow, here in the United States we have managed to extend the limitless powers of Jesus well beyond his "normal" divine powers. Due to each diocese's prerogative to choose whether or not to keep "Ascension Thursday" on a Thursday (traditionally Thursday of the sixth week of Easter) we have Jesus ascending to the Father twice in one week -- sometimes even in the same state (New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut). If that isn't grounds for some theological clarification -- perhaps even a little Vatican Counsel -- it would be hard to say what is!

All kidding aside, here in the metropolitan Archdiocese of Washington, DC we celebrate Ascension Thursday in place of the Seventh Sunday of Easter. And as we wait in hope for the coming of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of part of Jesus' farewell discourse in the Gospel of John. In both yesterday's and today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of joy. A joy that "no one can take away." This is, perhaps, the hallmark of a healthy Christian life. Despite circumstances which may be difficult, the great mystery of our salvation, begun with the Incarnation and crowned with the Ascension, is the source of our hope and joy.

Whatever day you celebrate(d) the Ascension of the Lord, may it bring a profound sense of joy and an abiding peace in the Lord's good providence.

St. Bede the Venerable

Shown here on his deathbed, dictating the last of his scholarly work to a young monk, St. Bede the Venerable is one of the lesser known doctors of the Church.

St. Bede is often mistaken for a Benedictine. A careful reading of his work "The History of the Monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow," however, reveals that St. Benedict Biscop, although trained by the Benedictines in Lerins, when he founded the Monasteries, constructed a rule for monastic life based upon several monastic rules which were in existence at the time.

Although many details about his life remain shrouded by the veil of history, in St. Bede, we find a timeless recipe for sanctity: doing ordinary things with extraordinary fidelity and love. St. Bede spent his entire adult life (and much of his childhood, as a student -- an oblate) in his beloved monastery. Although he was an eminent scholar and was charged with teaching Latin to the newer monks, he never held an office in the monastery. He worked; he prayed; he preached; he taught. St. Bede's holiness is found in the extraordinary diligence -- love -- with which he carried out his daily tasks.

"Great deeds may not always come our way, but at all times we can do little deeds with perfection, that is, with great love."

St. Francis de Sales

Squirrel Farmers

This is a true story. Last August we noticed a vine growing several yards from the vegetable garden. It appeared to be something in the melon, cucumber or squash family and it covered a small area of shallow dirt comprised mostly of cedar mulch. Each of the sisters who work outside in the garden thought that another sister had planted the vine and carefully avoided uprooting it. Eventually, the truth came out: none of us planted the mysterious vine. The only logical conclusion: the squirrels.

The compost heap is just a short walk from the location of the "mystery vine" and squirrels can often be seen rummaging through the compost pile for a snack. It seems likely that, upon finding some delectable seeds, one clever squirrel buried them in the shallow patch of dirt and mulch. At the end of the summer we enjoyed two sweet, juicy musk melons -- all thanks to the squirrels.

Just last week, this sprout was spotted in the same location. It is too soon to determine what type of fruit or vegetable it is, but it looks as thought the squirrels might have just planted us another tasty treat!

Who Has Chosen Whom?

"It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you..."
John 15:16

It is very easy to believe that our faith is to be credited to us -- as though we could choose to believe in the Incarnation, in the Eucharist, etc. Most of us become aware -- or remind ourselves often -- that faith itself is a gift from God. The desires to know God, to learn about God, to pray to God are all initiated by him. Even when we feel drawn to pray at a particular moment, we must remember that it is only a response to something that God has done first in our hearts. He is always one step ahead of us.

And today we are reminded that even the fundamental "yes" to follow the Lord -- to choose him as the center of our lives -- is also a mere response on our part. For it is he who has first called us, drawn us, led us to himself. This is a welcome reminder when we begin to feel inadequate or underqualified for some work that comes our way. We remember, in these moments, that the Lord does not call us because we are eminently qualified for some work he has in mind for us; rather, he provides the graces necessary, for those whom he calls, to carry out his work.

Today's Gospel is indeed good news: we are chosen. He has chosen us and called us and he will provide the graces necessary for us to be fruitful. Let us rejoice and be glad: we have been called and chosen. Let us resist the temptation to feel unprepared or discouraged when the Lord asks something of us.

"We must look at what God wants and when we know it, we must try to do it joyfully or, at least, courageously."

St. Francis de Sales

New Neighbors

Mr. and Mrs. Duck have moved onto our lawn. They are pictured here crossing the path between Lalor House and the School (as they flee from the Sr. Mary Snapshot).

Life in the Monastery is never boring part III: We usually have a pair of ducks (or, as some of our sisters prefer to say, "a pair of duck") who arrive on campus every spring. This year they have decided to take up residence on the front lawn of Lalor house, which functions as "home base" during our exile.

They seem happy to share their space with the black squirrel family who live in the willow oak and the various other birds who like to bathe in the puddle near where the ducks have begun to settle. Mr. & Mrs. Duck are rather private about their family life but Mother Philomena, biology teacher emerita, suspects that Mrs. Duck may be "heavy with young!" Stay tuned for duck family updates. We may have a whole fleet of new neighbors before long!

St. Francis de Sales didn't have much to say about ducks (bees, yes; ducks, no). He did, however, have a great deal to say about our neighbors and how we treat them. A few thoughts in that vein:

"We should not be like the Paphlagonian partridge which has two hearts, towards ourselves, gentle and loving but toward our neighbor one that is hard and severe. . . . Put yourself in your neighbor's place and him in yours, and then you will judge fairly."

Welcome Bishop Wuerl!

The archdiocese of Washington welcomes Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh as its sixth archbishop. Yesterday morning, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced his acceptance of the retirement of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. There have been numerous articles and links on different news services. Cardinal McCarrick had some very gracious words about his successor during a press conference early yesterday. Kudos to Mr. Palmo for the first whisperings of this on 27 April. As usual, his coverage was thorough and articulate.

After a full day of press coverage, there is little left to be said about this exciting moment in our archdiocese that has not already been said. One quotation of Bishop Wuerl, however, bears highlighting. The New York Times reported that, when asked how he would handle the controversial and high-profile issue of pro-abortion politicians, his reply was, "I think the first job of a bishop is to teach." Right on. Welcome to Washington, your Excellency, we're ready to learn!

'Tis the Season

Tis the season...to plant and to sow, to weed and to reap. Today's commemoration of St. Isidore is a little-known and seldom celebrated outside of rural communities. St. Isidore, patron saint of farmers, was an eleventh century farmer known for his piety and devotion. His wife, Mary de la Cabeza is also revered as a saint.

Having spent his whole life working as a hired hand on a farm outside of Madrid, St. Isidore teaches us the timeless lesson that St. Francis de Sales would articulate and reiterate four centuries later: in all occupations holiness can be found, achieved and shared. Fidelity to the Lord, his wife and his daily work proved to be the path to holiness for this humble farmer.

"It is not merely an error, but a heresy to suppose that a devout life is necessarily banished from the soldier's camp, merchant's shop, the prince's court or the domestic hearth."

St. Francis de Sales

Nursery School Graduation

No caps. No gowns. No Pomp and Circumstance. This "nursery school graduation" is for 21 tomato plants that will be transplanted to the garden this morning. Sister Anne E poses with the graduating class at left. All the transplants were born in the 4th Floor Fennessy "refugee camp." (If you are wondering why nuns are living in a refugee camp, click here to read a previous post about our renovation.)

All reports from the 4th Floor "refugee camp" confirm that this is a welcome day since the "grow light" which has been in the hall since mid-March is so bright sisters are able to read a book in the "dark" after turning in for the night.

All kidding aside, a garden provides ample opportunity to reflect upon the mystery of creation. Perhaps one of the highlights of something like a "nursery school graduation" is the thrill of looking at a plant and remembering when it was only a seed: dry, lifeless and tiny. It is a small window into the mystery of God himself to be able to look at a healthy plant and say, "I knew you when you were only a seed." Surely God must look at us and say the same thing.

"Be still and bloom where you are planted."

St. Francis de Sales

On Friendship and Charity

With all the press about the alleged "Gospel of Judas" being uncovered and translated, it is hard not to turn our thoughts to this infamous traitor and wonder what Jesus was thinking when he invited Judas to be among his chosen band of disciples. Today's Gospel seems to add even more mystique to this puzzling dynamic. For Jesus says plainly, "I know the kind of men I chose."

Jesus knew Judas well. He knew his weaknesses and his strengths. Despite his shortcomings the Lord loved him and the Lord chose him. This sets the bar pretty high for those of us who strive to live the Gospel message in our daily lives.

It is easy to observe the behavior of another person and to draw conclusions. We can tell a great deal about a person by the way he presents himself, dresses, speaks, etc. Sometimes we may begin to judge a person's character -- for better or for worse -- based upon some of these observable indicators. When we observe something negative or when we experience something hurtful, sometimes it is very difficult not to draw uncharitable conclusions. And this is precisely where Jesus' friendship with Judas poses a challenge for all of us. Jesus loved Judas despite his weaknesses. We must try to look beyond the weaknesses of our neighbors and see the person who is very worthy of our love and attention.

Easier said than done. This virtuous attitude sounds appealing until the shortcomings of our neighbor try our patience, irritate us, lean on our nerves, etc. We cannot simply decide to "feel love" toward someone whose presence disturbs our peace. We can, however, decide to ask God for such a desire. The grace of God will allow us to love a person despite what our private judgment might conclude. And that, truly, is a gift -- to our neighbor and to us!

"I beg you never to speak ill of your neighbor . . . blame the vice and spare, as much as possible, the person to whom the vice belongs. When we look upon the actions of our neighbor, let us look upon them in the light that is gentlest."

St. Francis de Sales

Demolition Details

As promised, we will not abuse the patience of our readers with innumerable photos of every stage of our rebuilding -- just a small number of pictures for a peek into the work-in-progress.

Prior to the beginning of demolition, our project manager labeled all parts of the structure to be "demo" or "save." The orange graffiti added an interesting highlight to the muted colors of our walls. Some of the walls, as they come down, reveal extraordinary hand-crafted workmanship including some hand-fashioned nails.

As walls come down and the familiar space begins to look different, we are reminded of some truths which apply to our own interior lives as well as the interior of our building. In order to rebuild or refashion something, sometimes we have to remove old structures. Sometimes these old structures are beautiful, inherently good and, at times, still very useful. Still, they must come down if rebuilding is in order. The same can be true in our relationships -- with the Lord and with other people. Sometimes "useful" and "good" ways of interacting, relating and communicating need to give way to something new. It can be hard to let go of a comfortable way of praying or a familiar way of interacting with someone. At times, however, the Lord calls us to something new. He wants to expand our hearts, our minds, and our knowledge of him. When this happens, we must try to remember that the Lord is the architect (and the project manager!)

Up-coming construction updates will include reports (and photos) from the "refugee camps" where the "nuns-in-exile" are living. Stay tuned!

"What a delightful and profitable law this is to do nothing except for God and to leave to Him the whole care of ourselves! I do not say only as regards temporal things ... but I refer to spiritual things and the advancement of our souls."St. Francis de Sales

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

There is a great deal of talk about a "vocation" crisis in the Church. While the observation may be accurate, the statement reveals a great error in semantics. A "vocation" crisis would imply that God has stopped calling men and women to serve him in religious life and the priesthood. Somehow that seems inconceivable. It seems more accurate to say that we are having a "responding" crisis.

Many gifted thinkers, theologians, and sociologists have speculated as to why this might be the case. Convincing arguments abound. One observation -- especially among those of us who work with young people -- is that popular culture presents a subtle message to today's youth: "Keep your options open. Don't commit to anything too soon. If you keep your options open, you will have a life without suffering or sacrifice." This is a lie. A deadly lie.

There is no "life choice," that does not involve a sacrifice. Getting married means choosing to spend the rest of one's life with a particular person, precluding the freedom to date other people. Making a choice means, de facto, that other options are removed. Going to graduate school in one field, means closing the door to studying other disciplines. Responding to the call to be a religious or a priest means foregoing the possibility of marriage, the gift of children and the choice of one's professional career. All life choices involve sacrifice. Life choices in accord with God's will also involve great joy. Any parent will agree that while raising children demands great sacrifice and includes a share of suffering it is also (and foremost) a great joy. Religious who have spent many years in a given community can share stories of great sacrifice but they so often they have a glow about them which reveals a deep joy.

Our freedom as human beings does not come because we do not "commit" to anything and by so doing, "keep our options open." Our freedom is exercised in the very act of making a commitment. And so, on this day when we pray for vocations, let us pray for a great response to the call of the Lord. Let us pray that men and women who have heard the Lord's call will have the grace to respond generously and courageously.

Into the Lion's Den

In today's first reading, when the Lord asked Ananias to approach the newly-converted Saul, Ananias had good reason to be hesitant. Saul had come to Damascus for the express purpose of persecuting Christians. Crossing paths with the soon-to-be St. Paul might have earned Ananias a one-way ticket to Jerusalem, in chains. When Ananias expressed his hesitation, the Lord pressed him to approach Saul: "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before the Gentiles. . . "

St. Paul's journey as a disciple began, and hinged upon, Ananias' trust in the Lord. Ananias trusted that the Lord would use this chosen instrument of his for good things. And He did! Ananias had no quantitative evidence that the Lord had touched Saul's heart; he had only the Lord's word that Saul would do great things for the dissemination of the Good News.

Sometimes we are asked to display a similar trust in the Lord's presence to those around us. We will never know, on this side of eternity, how many people's journeys to Christ began with a kind word which we said, a simple gesture of courtesy or a good example which we gave. When we sense, in ourselves, a hesitation to approach someone with whom we have been encouraged or instructed to interact, let us remember the Lord's words to Ananias, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen." Sometimes we do not have a good reason, as did Ananias, to avoid someone. Sometimes it is only an instinct inside us which causes us to feel a hesitation or an aversion to certain people. We cannot let this affect our fidelity to the Lord's will if he desires us to interact with certain people whom he has placed in our life. They are instruments whom he intends to use; sometimes, however, he counts on us to help them begin their journey. May we, by our obedience to the circumstances around us, be his courageous instruments.

"In order to obey well, we must not apply the obedience to us, but we must apply ourselves to the obedience."

St. Jane de Chantal

The Circus is Coming to Town!

This post could be subtitled "Life in the monastery is never dull, installment II."

The circus is not only "in town" but they are parked, for a few days, in our parking lot! Not the whole circus but a very significant part of the circus: the circus nuns. (We're not kidding!). Three members of The Little Sisters of Jesus (one of whom is an alumna of ours) travel with the Carson and Barnes Circus. While they travel with the circus they minister to the members of the circus in a host of different ways -- both physical and spiritual. They catechize the children, counsel adults, mend costumes, collect tickets and help care for the animals. To read more about their beautiful ministry, click here.

We have been been blest by the presence of the Little Sisters of Jesus who have joined us for Mass and Office these past few days. Their apostolate is certainly a beautiful testimony to the Gospel call to leave everything and follow the Lord. As they prepare to move along, we share St. Francis de Sales' sentiments which often punctuated a farewell when sisters said good-bye to begin a new foundation: "Those who go, stay; those who stay, go." We have enjoyed having our "circus sisters" with us and we send our love and prayers with them on their way.

To read more about Bl. Charles de Foucauld, the founder of the Little Sisters of Jesus, click here. To read more about Carson and Barnes Circus, visit their webpage or their blog.

Month of Mary

As we begin the month of May, we pause for a moment to recognize the presence of the Blessed Mother in our lives, our liturgy and the Church today. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI shared a beautiful comment in his Regina Coeli blessing on the third Sunday of Easter: (Translation provided by Rocco Palmo – gratefully borrowed here.)

“The Madonna was for [the early disciples] mother and teacher, a role she continues to develop for the Christians of every age. Each year in Eastertide, we relive most intensely this experience and maybe for this reason the popular tradition has consecrated to Mary the month of May, which normally falls between Easter and Pentecost. This month, which we begin [today], is useful for us to rediscover the maternal function which she develops in our lives, that we may always be docile disciples and courageous witnesses of the risen Lord.”

As we strive to do the Lord’s will in our daily lives – the little day to day decisions as well as the more significant ones – let us fix our eyes on Mary who was so faithful a disciple; from the moment she said, “Yes” to the Angel’s message, her life was never the same. Mary allowed her love for God and His incarnate Son to be the defining boundary for all her actions. Mary’s love for the Lord showed itself in her profound union with the Lord’s will for her throughout her life – in the few details we learn in the Gospels and the many details that remain obscured on this side of eternity. May she intercede for us and teach us to unite our hearts as lovingly as she did to the will of her Son.

“The fruit of love is obedience . . . Oh, my God! How happy we would be, if we were recognized by the exact practice of the solid virtues of our vocation, as the Son of God, in this world, made Himself known by the works of His mission!” St. Jane de Chantal