Blessed and Baseball?

Today is the commemoration of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. At great risk of scandalizing our readers with this light-hearted speculation, we would like to point out that there has been some question as to whether there is any relationship between the Blessed Marie Rose and the baseball player who shares her last name. Perhaps the timing of post-season baseball division playoffs has something to do with this speculation, but a family resemblance has been suggested between Blessed Marie Rose and Leo Durocher. See below:

Leo Durocher is reputed to have quipped the following: "Baseball is like Church. Many attend, few understand." Since it was Durocher (Leo, that is) who is credited with coining the phrase, "Nice guys finish last," we can take heart in knowing that in the kingdom of heaven the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Perhaps we can safely presume that means that heaven will be filled with "nice guys!" Saint Francis de Sales would agree that being a "nice guy" -- a gentleman -- is an important part of cultivating virtue.

"Sometimes we are too busy trying to be angels that we forget to be good men and women."
St. Francis de Sales

Il Poverello

Today we honor il poverello, St. Francis of Assisi. Images that depict St. Francis talking to birds and other animals are ubiquitous. Beyond this appealing -- yet incomplete -- picture was a man who was an extraordinary visionary, knew great suffering, and who loved deeply the poor, chaste Christ whom him followed. Click here for a biography of il poverello.

There are at least two -- and perhaps more -- sisters in the necrology of our monastery whose first name in religion was "Assisium." As best we can conclude, this was to honor St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of our Holy Father, St. Francis de Sales. Due to our close proximity to the Jesuits, it is not surprising to find a "Sr. Ignatia" here and a "Sr. Loyola" there, as one walks the rows of our cemetery. In fact, we probably have almost as many permutations of Jesuit saint names as we do "de Chantals," "de Sales" and "Margaret Marys" -- but we are privileged to have a couple of our sisters named especially for the "Other St. Francis."

As we honor this man of prayer, peace and great vision, let us ask his intercession for peace and tranquility in our nations, families and parishes.

"Preach always. Use words when necessary."

St. Francis of Assisi

Solemn Profession Pictures

As promised, we have a couple of pictures from our trip to Brooklyn.

The bishop presents candles, newly lit from the Pascal candle, to the Sisters as a reminder of thier baptismal promises and as a sign of the Light of Christ.

Mother Susan Marie receives the vows of Sister Judith Marguerite.

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As we begin this month of October, let us continue to pray for peace in the world through the intercession of Our Lady.

Pearls of Wisdom

Yesterday evening we were treated to a wonderful conference by our faithful chaplain, friend and brother, Father Jim Greenfield, OSFS. Father gave a wonderful beginning-of-year retreat to our faculty and Mother invited him to share some of his insights, as they related to community life. The theme of Father's presentation was that of conversion examined through the lens of "holding on" and "letting go." In his usual manner, Father combined a serious spiritual challenge with his usual good humor and genuine enthusiasm for our shared Salesian tradition.

Father Greenfield is currently the local superior of the Oblate community at De Sales Hall hall and is director of formation for the Wilmington-Philadelphia province the Oblates. Click here to learn more about the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Click here to visit their vocation blog, (updated frequently!!)

Road Trip!

This weekend, four of us took a road trip to our Monastery of Brooklyn where two of their sisters, Sister Judith Marguerite and Sister Damaris Ines, made their solemn profession. Above is a picture of their novitiate group, taken several years ago; we've indicated the two profitandae with some poorly drawn arrows. As soon as they are available, however, we'll post some pictures from the profession. It was too glorious an occasion not to share.

The solemn profession also marked the 151st anniversary of the foundation of our Brooklyn monastery. Bishop Thomas Daily, bishop emeritus of the diocese of Brooklyn, presided and Mother Susan Marie received the vows of the sisters. In attendance were numerous family and friends of the professed as well as friends of the community.

Those of us who traveled are still aglow from the beautiful ceremony and the gracious hospitality we experienced in Brooklyn. Click here for a link to information about our Monastery of Brooklyn.

"This is the way, my dear Sisters. Grace will never be wanting to us if we are faithful in seconding its attractions; thus will God bless us and our labors."

St. Jane de Chantal

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

In 2002, Pope John Paul II declared the commemoration of St. Pio of Pietrelcina to be an obligatory memorial for the Roman Church. Surely St. Pio -- known affectionately to most as "Padre Pio" -- is a saint of our times, having died in 1968 at 81 years of age. But John Paul II might have had a more personal reason for elevating the Feast of this extraordinary saint. As a young bishop, John Paul II sent a very special prayer request to the monk who, at the time, was under scrutiny for his extraordinary gifts. Click here for an article about the relationship between John Paul II and Padre Pio.

There are many lessons to be learned from the life of St. Pio but perhaps one lesson that stands out is his fidelity to his vocation. Having become the subject of much scrutiny, Padre Pio was forbidden, for many years, to answer his mail. Amid the discomfort of being watched so closely, Padre Pio was unfailingly obedient to his superiors and unwavering in vocation. The grace of God which gifted Padre Pio with extraordinary gifts also provided him with the grace of perseverance amid the discomforts that he suffered. When we experience challenges in our daily life, when we feel that our actions or the work that we do are scrutinized unfairly or unjustly, let us follow the example of St. Pio and ask for the grace of perseverance.

"The Spirit of God makes us consider beginnings only so as to arrive at the end, and makes us rejoice in the flowers of the spring only in expectation of enjoying the fruits of summer and autumn."

St. Francis de Sales

Archivist in Exile

As promised, some time ago, we have a little window into one of our refugee camps. (If you are wondering why we're living in exile, click here for a previous post.) Sister Archivist shows the entry way to "The Passage" which is guarded by an electronic lock (lest some of our new and -- at times -- lost freshman stumble into this "refugee camp"). This dormitory hallway was given its appellation by a guest a number of years ago and we have referred to it as "The Passage" ever since! Among the more challenging aspects of being an archivist in exile is locating items in the temporary storage areas provided. Currently, there are six sisters living in this "camp."

Sister Archivist discovers a "blocked staircase" on the Passage. It is protected by a zip-door reinforced with heavy-duty duct tape. Such discoveries are not altogether uncommon during this time of renovation. For although we are living (temporarily) in the school, we cannot seem to escape construction work. In fact, at times, it even seems to follow us!! Perhaps one of the perks, however, of life on the passage is the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and the opportunity for a quiet space for prayer amid the disruption of being out of the monastery for these 6 months. Despite the inconvenience of the construction, we maintain how fortunate we are to remain together and on campus!

Coming Soon

Later this week we shall have a long-awaited expose on one of our "refugee camps" -- we will spotlight our "Archivist in Exile." Prior to that, however, we'd like to share one of the unexpected "fruits" of our time in exile: Since our "refectory" and our "recreation area" are almost the same room in the "home base camp" -- and since washing supper dishes is much faster while we're in exile, we are able to catch the end of the 6.30 news before 7.00 recreation. This past Friday night ABC news featured an incredible story about their "Person of the week." This young man, Ray Ray McELrathbey, is worth sharing with our readers. Click here for a few other links about this extraordinary story. And while you wait for the page to open, say a prayer of thanksgiving for the grace of God which allowed this young man to overcome his own struggles in order to be such a great "father."

Mater Dolorosa

It is fitting that the day after we celebrate the Triumph of the Cross we honor Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows. She, who stood in the shadow of the cross, is remembered for the pain and sorrow that pierced her Immaculate Heart. This memorial dates back to the 13th century, when the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites devoted themselves to the suffering of Mary at the foot of the cross. This devotion was eventually extended to the entire Church in the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIII, under the name, "The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The seven sorrows which we honor are:

The Prophecy of Simeon

The Flight into Egypt

The "Losing" in the Temple (before the "finding")

The Encounter with Jesus Carrying His Cross

The Crucifixion

The Deposition from the Cross

The Burial of Christ

Perhaps one insight we can glean from this memorial is a ray of hope in the face of suffering -- especially the suffering of watching others suffer. It can be very difficult to feel helpless in the face of a loved one's illness and suffering. We do not have a God who stands aloof and removed from our pain. When we are overcome with grief and pain, let us remember that we have a God who suffers with us. He suffers with us because he became one of us and suffered physical, emotional and spiritual torment in his earthly life. Mary stood at the foot of the cross and experienced the most unnatural grief of watching her child die. Let us entrust our sufferings to Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was wounded with great love for her son.

Of all the sermons of St. Francis de Sales, we have none on Our Lady of Sorrows since its devotion was not extended to the entire Church until after his death. Click here for a good website with music and words for the traditional Stabat Mater.

Face Lift

...or maybe we should call it an HTML-makeover! As of yesterday morning, our monastery website has a new look. There are several people to thank for this much-needed and long-overdue improvement. First and foremost, many thanks to Rick Lugari, author of the award-winning blog, De Civitate Dei, and charter member of the Amateur Catholic B-Team. Rick's skilled hand and creative mind produced neatly-coded templates for us to use during the "makeover process." Rick's generosity of time and talent provided excellent long-distance technical support -- and good humor along the way!

On the 'schoolfront', we must thank our very own IT director, Fred, whose creative approach to problem solving and kindness toward technologically-challenged nuns have distinguished him as a man of great patience. Thanks also to John, our AV coordinator, whose ingenuity and creativity are responsible for the "no plug-in-needed" slide shows on two of the pages. Bravo!

Finally, on the 'homefront' a word of thanks to Sister Mary Proofreader who read all the texts for the pages, corrected typos and untangled poor grammar. Thanks also to our sisters who were good sports about being photographed...again and again and again.

Click here to visit the new page.

Our Very Own

From time to time our Monastery bestows the cross of affiliation on individuals who have distinguished themselves by their loyalty and devotion to our community. On Friday, 8 September, during Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother Philomena (pictured above) conferred the cross -- a smaller version of our Order's pectoral cross -- on David M. Gardiner. Locals will recognize David as our faithful master of ceremonies for special Masses and Feasts in our chapel. David's affiliation with us, however, dates back several decades.

David is one of the few men who can claim to be an alumnus of the Visitation. David attended the Baltimore Academy of the Visitation from 1967-1975 and continued his education at Loyola High School in Baltimore. When the Academy closed, David visited his beloved former-principal, the late Sister Christine (erstwhile Sister Marie de Chantal) who came to our community along with Sister Isabel de Sales and Sister Marie Louise (who was on a temporary "loan" to Baltimore from our monastery).

In 1993 our school burned and our chapel was badly damaged by the water used to extinguish the fire. At the first Triduum in the renovated chapel in 1996, Mother Philomena invited David to serve as master of ceremonies. Thus began David's more recent and very faithful (and faith-filled) service to our community.

Saint Francis de Sales reminds us that "We pray best before beauty." David understands this deeply. Over the years we have been the beneficiaries of David's humble generosity. Easter lilies and other floral deliveries simply arrive in time for seasonal decorating. Homemade desserts materalize on Saint Patrick's Day. New (and exquisite) vestments for our chaplains appear in the sacristy -- with a fresh supply of incense. David has adorned our chapel and choir with his generosity countless times. He senses a need for something and it appears (sometimes even before we know we need it!) David's friendship and loyalty, his good humor and kindness make him a gentleman after Saint Francis de Sales' own heart.

It is worthy of note that David is not the first member of his family to have received the cross of affiliation from our monastery. His maternal grandmother (nee Dwaayar) was a cousin of James Cardinal Gibbons who received the cross in 1914. The cross of affiliation entitles David, upon his death, to all the spiritual benefits of a member of our Order. We are sure that Sister Christine is saving him a seat in the choir of the heavenly Visitation -- for it was she who told him, as a fourth grader, that he had the Visitation in his blood.

Yes Upon Yes

As we celebrate this Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Gospel reveals a subtle message about Mary's "Yes" to the Lord at the Annunciation. Matthew's account of the genealogy of Joseph, the husband of Mary, lists several mothers among the generations of fathers who are named. We learn that Ruth, wife of Boaz, was the great-grandmother of King David, patriarch of the royal line in which Jesus' birth was foretold. Of what significance is a great-grandmother in an exhaustive list of the generations from which Joseph was descended? Of great significance, in fact.

Ruth, we learn, was a Moabite and the widow of an Ephrathite from Judah. Perhaps she is most well known for her fidelity to her mother-in-law, Naomi: "Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." This fidelity brought her to Bethlehem where she won the favor of Boaz, who permitted her to glean his fields for food. When asked why she deserved his kindness, he replied that he heard of her fidelity to her mother-in-law and her willingness to leave her native land and take refuge in Yahweh. Ruth eventually married Boaz and from their lineage came David.

Ruth said, "Yes" to the Lord being her God when she promised to follow Naomi. Her "Yes" took her to a foreign land, led her into another marriage -- one which proved very significant for the future of Israel and the coming of the Messiah! For Mary, her "Yes" was very similar; it took her places she could not have anticipated and brought her sorrow she could not imagine. Ruth's "Yes" gave us the great king of Israel, a man after God's own heart; Mary's "Yes" gave us the King of Kings, the Savior of the world - from the very heart of the God himself.

As we celebrate the birth of Mary, let us reflect on our own "yeses" to God. Most of us are not asked for a "Yes" as extraordinary as Ruth's and Mary's -- but each day we are asked to say "Yes" to the little challenges which God permits us to experience. Let us ask for the grace to respond as Ruth and Mary did, trusting that our "Yes" can be a source of grace for others in ways we may never know.

"A privilege which Mary had above all creatures is that no one else ever gave himself so perfectly or so absolutely to the Divine Majesty as she did. She was more perfectly obedient to the word of God than any other creature."

St. Francis de Sales

High-quality Labor!

Summer sang its swan song yesterday as Labor Day marked the last day of vacation before today's opening day of school. Living in exile, it is hard to have a Labor Day barbecue without a barbecue, but our Sister Mary Austin and her trusty helpers managed to produce a fine "indoor picnic" for dinner on our last day of summer break. Among the happy "cleaner-uppers" was our canon-lawyer-in-residence, Sister Rose, SSJ. Sister was enjoying a break from classes at the University and joined us for our "indoor picnic." She was assisted by expert "dry-cleaners" Sister Mary de Sales and Sister Jacqueline. (Not many folks can boast about having a canon lawyer wash their dishes!)

Newly-polished floors signal the beginning of school and the arrival of our students. As we begin another school year, today, we are grateful for the many hands that helped to get the school prepared for opening day: buildings cleaned, welcome signs hung, building repairs completed, parking passes issued, schedules printed, homeroom folders prepared, supply closets stocked, etc., and rumor has it that there is even a new coffee machine in the faculty room. Thanks to all who pitched in!

A little thought as we commence the school year:

"Let us have a thoroughly pure intention of willing the honor of God and His glory in all things; let us do the little we can for that end . . . and let us leave to God the care of all the rest."

St. Francis de Sales

The Wise Virgins

It's easy to get lost in some of the details of today's Gospel. The wise virgins, for example, are not exactly exemplars of charity when they send the unwise out to purchase oil. Most readers and "pray-ers" who spend time with this passage will, no doubt, recognize that the Lord's focus is on the preparedness of the wise virgins -- and not their posture toward sharing. The parable itself, when considered in light of those that surround it in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew's Gospel, indicates that the encounter with the Lord, the bridegroom, is symbolic for the day of judgment. Indeed, the parables of kingdom do point toward the day of judgment. This parable, however, also speaks to our daily life -- those many days between now and judgment day.

The wise virgins were ready for the bridegroom when he arrived. They heard the shout, they trimmed their lamps and went with him into the wedding banquet. This is an invitation for all of us to be ready to greet Christ when he comes into our daily life -- not only on the day of our judgment. We are called to be alert and attentive to his presence everyday. Sometimes it is easy to recognize the situations in which we need to be attentive to the Lord's coming: at Mass, at prayer, etc. Other times it is not so easy to hear the shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom." In our daily comings and goings, we encounter Christ in those whom we meet. Often it is difficult to see him in a co-worker or colleague with whom we find it difficult to keep company; sometimes it is difficult to see Christ in members of our own family or among our friends. Still, the "shout" is there and we are called to "trim our lamps" and greet Christ in those around us. And when we recognize Christ in those around us, we have a foretaste of heaven, a foretaste of that banquet to which we shall someday, we pray, be invited.

"We must consider our neighbor in God who wishes us to love and cherish him."
St. Francis de Sales

Surprise!

As promised: a little renovation update. Two weeks ago, we were treated to a tour of the renovation work by our project manager, Kelley Flynn. There are walls in some places and beams in other places that allow us to picture the outline of rooms and begin to imagine what it will look like when things are finished.

Among the highlights of the tour was this outline of a window pictured above to the left. It was discovered behind the wall at the end of the sisters' dormitory passage (known as "Blessed Lady's Passage). It seems that it was once an outside wall of the belltower, before the dormitory wing was built. Our architects are working on how to incorporate it into the "new" wall that will be there. What a delightful surprise!

At right, Mother Philomena studies the wall of a soon-to-be bedroom. It is very exciting to watch the progress from tour to tour.

Fidelity and Frustration

During this year of the Sunday Gospels from Mark, we continue our little excursion in the Gospel of John with today's poignant reading. It is easy to paint a picture of Jesus and the 12 apostles and omit some of the agonizing details that, no doubt, were part of Jesus' experience. In today's reading when Jesus is abandoned by many of his followers, we have a window into some of the suffering that Jesus experienced when followers decide to leave him.

There are many significant themes in today's Gospel; perhaps one we might consider is that Jesus' heart knew the pain of rejection and sadness. One could almost hear the frustration in his tone as he asked the twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Surely we can all relate to the pain and frustration of being abandoned, of having someone we love "murmur" behind our back or choose not to associate with us any longer, etc. And perhaps it is worth noting that Jesus' response to rejection, to murmuring (or some translations of today's Gospel even have "complaining") and to ridicule is one of gentleness. Aware of the murmuring, Jesus began to explain that he offers "spirit and life" to all who have been called by the Father. How often is our response to murmuring one of gentleness? How often have we responded gently when we felt abandoned by someone whom we love? Easier said than done. This, however, is the challenge of being one of those who "stays" -- one of those who did murmur and complain about His teachings. The cost of remaining with the Lord is the exacting experience of allowing him to mold us - gently - into a disciple after his own Sacred Heart.

...be faithful to abide with Him and leave Him not,

except to see and do what He commands.
St. Jane de Chantal

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.