Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in Lent on Mar 23rd, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:1 -49 As a child, Palm Sunday was different and special, and not only because Easter was only a week away and our fasts from candy would end soon! In our family, after church, we always spent some of the afternoon braiding palms and putting [...]
Posted in Lent on Mar 14th, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB lst reading Is 43:P16-21; 2nd reading Phil 3:8-14; Gospel John 8:1-11 All 3 readings for today’s Eucharist are filled with reminders of God’s goodness and love for us. In the first reading we hear, “See, I am doing something new … Now it springs forth, do you not perceive? I [...]
Posted in Lent on Mar 8th, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB Josh 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Cor 517-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Rejoicing, joy, gratitude, forgiveness and new life are the themes for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday. In the entrance antiphon we are greeted with, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful all who were in mourning.” Throughout [...]
Posted in Lent on Mar 2nd, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB First Reading: Ex. 3:1-8, 13-15; 2nd Reading: I Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Gospel: Lk 13:1-9 Remember the story of the Burning Bush in Exodus? We read it on the 3rd Sunday of Lent, and wonder what it has to do with us. Let’s consider first the story. Moses had been asked [...]
Posted in Lent on Feb 24th, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB There is hope in all the readings for today’s Eucharist (Gen 15:512, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Gospel Lk 9:28-36). The basis of our hope extends beyond our vision, even beyond our life here. To live here we are obliged to see the hereafter! In the first reading, the “flaming torch” expresses [...]
Posted in Lent on Feb 16th, 2013
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB The first 3 words of the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Lent are “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1-13). Let’s begin our reflection with the reminder that we, too, are full of the Holy Spirit. During Lent, we are invited to travel with Jesus in the desert [...]