Inspired by Scholastica

  Easter Hope With all the hate, devastation, and violence in our world, it is hard to really comprehend the joy of Easter fully. We want to experience the glory and hope of the resurrection, but it sometimes seems hard to really see around us. Certainly we can identify with the apostles’ fear and despair after the devastating crucifixion on Good Friday. Not only were their hopes and dreams crushed, but they feared for their lives. Locked in the upper room, they wondered what the future would hold. When the women came back from Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, they were not sure what that meant at first. We at least have the assurance of the resurrection. We believe that Christ rose on the third day and that he continues to be with us. Jesus has overcome his excruciating death on the cross and lives again. We feel his presence in the Eucharist, in the wonders of the natural world, in the faces of each person we meet, especially the poor and persecuted. Jesus assured his follow...

  The Triduum Days   The Triduum of Holy Week is always such a solemn time in our monastery.   Our Holy Thursday ritual begins with a special supper in the dining room with the 11 oldest sisters and the youngest seated in places of honor while the prioress and monastic council members serve them. After dinner, we have the Mass of the Last Supper with the washing of the feet. Just as Jesus washed the feet of the apostles, we have sisters washing the feet of anyone in the congregation who wish to have their feet washed. On Good Friday, we have a solemn procession with sisters dressed in black who will enact the Passion narrative according to the gospel of St. John. Several sisters also carry in a large wooden cross for the adoration of the cross to remember Jesus’ death. This is followed by prayers for the various peoples of the world, such as our Jewish brothers and sisters, the Muslim community, people of other faiths and even non-believers. The service ends with a si...

  Pope Francis’ Vision Pope Francis has a radical vision of the Catholic Church and how it needs to change, not in its core values but in its practices. So in 2021, he called for a Synod on Synodality to include the world-wide Church. The first year, dioceses were called to gather their pastors and congregations to discuss what issues they thought were important in the Church at this time in history. In October 2023, representatives from all over the world met in Rome to further illuminate these issues and concerns. Bishops, priests, religious sisters, lay men and women gathered in small groups at round tables to listen and share their ideas on how to clarify and implement the changes that they discerned as necessary. This was the first time people of different cultures, states in life, and languages were treated as equals and were asked to share their insights and hopes for the Church. What an undertaking! Many thought it was an impossible task. Never before had lay people, ...

  Andrei Navalny: Courage of a martyr The courage of Andrei Navalny is the courage of a martyr. His death in a prison cell in Siberia is considered very suspicious. His followers blame Putin for his death and call him a “murderer.” Navalny could have escaped death by not returning to Russia after his recovery from a poisonous drink he was given while in Russia several years ago, but he was unswerving in his resolve to help the people of Russia. Navalny in recent days had called for mass protests against Russia's war in Ukraine. The Russian government has gone to extraordinary lengths to stifle opposition to the war and censor accurate reports about the real situation on the ground. "Words have power; Putin is afraid of the truth," Navalny said following his last sentencing. "Fighting against censorship and bringing the truth to the people of Russia has remained our priority. “ Navalny’s crusade for freedom in Russia will live on. He once told his followers: “...

      When will we see the light? This has been a hard couple weeks. First there was the tragic shooting after the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City. Then there was the news that Alexei Navalny, the brave leader of the opposition in Russia, had died in prison. Later I read that the military aid to Ukraine did not pass the Senate. And recently I heard that the food and medical supplies being sent to the starving Palestinians in Gaza were not allowed to go through by Israeli forces. It was almost impossible to find one piece of good news. I know I need to stop watching the news and reading the newspapers. I should focus more on Lent and the Scriptures. The gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent was the account of the Transfiguration. This was the time Jesus’ body became dazzlingly white and the apostles who were with him heard the words from above: “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.” Peter, James, and John were overcome with joy at this tremendous revelation. Yet not ...