Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in Easter on Apr 23rd, 2011
By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB These past few weeks, we have been burdened and puzzled by the dark and bone-chilling so-called spring days. It is with great eagerness that we have anticipated the vanishing of darkness forever. We have looked forward to hearing the joyful notes of “Christ has conquered!”
Posted in Holy Week on Apr 21st, 2011
The Benedictine monastic community walks with Jesus throughout Holy Week. Beginning with the festive Palm Sunday, we celebrate with Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem. Tonight, Holy Thursday, we will join together – as Jesus and the apostles – in our own Seder meal, with bread, wine and bitter herbs as we remember the Hebrew [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 21st, 2011
By Sr. Phyllis McMurray, OSB Holy Week is full of symbolism and ritual: Palms are blessed with holy water and incense before the procession symbolizing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We use the symbols of bread, wine and bitter herbs during the ritual of the Seder Meal. The washing of feet epitomizes Jesus’ message that we [...]
Posted in Lent on Apr 16th, 2011
Matthew’s Gospel proclaimed for the Eucharist (26:14-27:66) By Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB The spirit of Palm Sunday is usually jubilant. The weather, if we are lucky is warm and balmy. After Mass there is a joyful spirit in the air; people carrying their palm branches greet one another as they walk down the church steps. [...]
Posted in Lent on Apr 14th, 2011
This morning as I looked out my window it occured to me that the view was like a mirror of my Lent. At the beginning of Lent the trees, lake, and all were in darkness. With no view of life it all seemed barren. I felt this barrenness and realized that Jesus spent 40 days [...]
Posted in Lent on Apr 8th, 2011
By Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB Today’s gospel (John 33) tells us so much about the humanness of Jesus. It reminds us that Jesus has very good friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As a good friend, he responds when his friends ask him to come because their brother has died. He weeps when he hears that [...]