Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in discernment on Sep 28th, 2008
Every day I take my morning cup of coffee and stand by the garden I tend. I admire the creation of color, the foliage, and even how the weeds blossom. I reflect on the places I have been planted in my life. I consider the weeds I continually have to pull to promote growth and [...]
Posted in Benedictine values, monastic life on Sep 24th, 2008
A key Benedictine value is Community Living. We become who we are through our relationships with others. As Benedictine Sisters, we promise stability, which is crucial to community life. It means “to cultivate rootedness and a shared sense of mission.” Benedict said, “Stand firm in your promises.” He also said, “Your way of acting should [...]
Posted in discernment, discernment prayer on Sep 20th, 2008
For over 20 year Be Not Afraid has been a popular song in funeral liturgies and at retreats. It expresses our human longing to be at peace even in the midst of extraordinary tension and uncomfortable experiences. We use a similar Taize chant at the Monastery with the simple phrase, “Peace I leave you, Peace [...]
Posted in Benedictine values, monastic life on Sep 18th, 2008
A key Benedictine value is Awareness of God. We seek God in the ordinary events of everyday life. As St. Benedict says in the Rule, “We believe that the divine presence is everywhere.” This means in our household chores, in our jobs, in conversations with one another.
Posted in discernment on Sep 14th, 2008
The Thomas Merton prayer is a great discernment prayer (posted by Stefanie in a comment to “Creating Space for God” on Sept. 4). It reminds us that today is the day to care about. Today is the day we are worthy of Christ’s love. Today is the day we must trust the Lord to lead [...]
Posted in discernment on Sep 13th, 2008
“When we speak about the path, we should keep in mind that there is only one path, and everyone who is going is on that one path. It may look as if people were going in different directions; but as long as they are going, they are just on the path.” Brother David Standl Rast, [...]