Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Articles of Interest

Ask Yourself: Am I a mirror or a window?

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I like this Gospel story from Luke – used on Palm Sunday for the Blessing of the Palms.  I find Jesus’ directive intriguing – has an ESP flavor.  The first reading in the Mass for tomorrow, from Isaiah tells me: “Morning after morning God opens my ear that I may hear.”  We know Luke wasn’t there on the first Palm Sunday or at the last supper.  So, this is an incident that he recalled his friends telling him.  His ear was open to hear their story and recognize its significance.

And, it’s a challenging one …  “Go into the village and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her.  …  Untie the animals and bring them here to me.”  What a story of trust: Jesus trusts that the disciples will do exactly what he tells

them.  The disciples trust that what Jesus asks them can be done … for He never asks of us something that can’t be done.  The owners of the donkey and the supper room trust the disciples’ honesty in their request.  What implicit trust these men had in Jesus: you’ll see an ass, a donkey – take it.

In another gospel the story continues: Follow the man with the water jar – most likely a servant – to the house he enters – and ask the owner where the feast is being held or where we can prepare it.  The title “The Teacher” conveyed all the man needed to hear.  When Jesus comes to St. Leo looking for a place to eat a Passover meal with friends, do I open my door to say, “Come In – the place is yours – stay as long as you like?”

It reminds me of an old fable about the colt that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday.  It seems the colt thought that the reception was organized to honor him.  “I am a unique colt,” the excited animal thought.  When he asked his mother the next day if he could walk down the same street alone and be honored again, his mother said, “No, you are nothing without Him who was riding you.”  Five days later, the colt saw a huge crowd of people in the street.  It was Friday, and the soldiers were taking Jesus to Calvary.  The colt could not resist the temptation of another royal reception.  Ignoring the warning of his mother, he ran to the street, but he had to flee for his life as soldiers chased him and people stoned him.  Thus, the colt finally learned the lesson that he was only a poor donkey without Jesus to ride on him.

In the Gospel story, at least this time around, it appears what Jesus wants – Jesus gets!  At least today …  this time – but not for long.  Or, do I have that wrong?  Jesus may not have wanted the suffering (afterall he was human and could experience all our feelings of dread) but he does want what His Father wants – a procession with pomp and circumstance through the city streets, an event that shook the whole city.  The actual “quake” came later.  This is a foreshadowing of the quake that will shake the whole world 5 days later – at Jesus’ crucifixion.  Today, a procession with all the hoopla that surrounds a parade; five days later we witness a procession of ignominy with Jesus dragging a heavy cross.

I am reminded of another Palm Sunday story.  A little boy was sick and wasn’t able to go to church on Palm Sunday.  When his dad came home with a palm branch, the boy asked about it.  “Well, you see,” said his dad, “when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him; so we got palm branches today at church.”  The child grimaced and responded “Wouldn’t you know it!  The one Sunday I can’t go to church, and Jesus shows up!”

Everyday concerns and obligations may fill the first few days of the coming week, but when the sacred Triduum opens on Thursday evening, let’s endeavor to personally and communally contribute to an atmosphere of quiet, solemn reflection …  to set a tone that says something of great religious significance is underway.  Let us be contemplative windows into the story we commemorate – an expression of gratitude, a repayment – or a paying forward, for Jesus’ expression of GREAT love for us!   Recall the story of the donkey.  As we enter Holy Week, let us examine our lives to see whether we carry Jesus and bear witness to him through our living or are we Christian in name only.

Tomorrow when we follow the palm-decorated cross in procession into the chapel…  or maybe later in the day when you weave a cross with your palm branch, ask yourself: “Am I a mirror or a window?  Do I reflect values or reveal them?  Am I opaque or translucent glass?  Is my life stained with the magnificent colors of God’s touches or filled in with more and more chunks of dulled or muted, blackened or smudged – ill-shaped light-resistant challenges to God’s voice?”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading:  Isaiah 50: 4-7  Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel: The Passion According Luke 22:14—23:56
Gospel for Blessing of Palms Luke 19:28-40
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Judgement vs Judgmental

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During World War II, from 1941 – 1944 Oxford University theology professor C.S. Lewis published a series of three pamphlets: “The Case of Christianity,” “Christian Behavior,” and “Beyond Behavior.”  A BBC radio producer had read an earlier book that impressed him by the same C.S. Lewis and invited Lewis to give a series of talks based on the material in the pamphlets. In 1952, the talks were compiled and adapted for publication in the book we know as Mere Christianity. Herein is the quote that (I believe) relates to today’s Gospel story of the meeting between Jesus and a woman accused of adultery. In Lewis’ words:

     “If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity (sexual sin) as the supreme vice, he is   quite wrong. The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and backbiting; the pleasures of power; of hatred. That is why a cold self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course it is better to be neither!”

Jesus never says: Don’t judge. That would be a denial of our human nature and a gift from God – and what God makes is all good. What Jesus warns us against is jumping to conclusions and judging others’ motives – being judgmental. (“I know why she/he did that!”) There is a significant difference between making a judgement and being judgmental. People make judgements all the time; it’s part of a balanced personality. It’s how we decide what constitutes a good or inappropriate choice. It’s how we are able to make clear decisions and avoid potentially dangerous ones. It helps us help others who come to us with a problem or a dilemma.

On the other hand, judgmentalism is a defensive stance. It makes us feel superior and protected, safe from being hurt by the other by pointing out his/her faults.

You’ll know you are slipping into judgmental mode if:

  • You assign motives and skip right to conclusions.
  • You struggle to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty.
  • You’re generally pessimistic about life and you believe people are with ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
  • You struggle to see the beauty in others.
  • You are anxious and intolerant when you’re around people who are different from you.
  • You’re suspicious and untrusting; have a strong inner critic who judges you.

Did any of that list make you cringe? Be honest: did you get any uncomfortable feelings … did any symptoms raise your hackles? When you are tired, feeling overworked or overly busy, the tendencies will be worse. We seek to protect ourselves, inflate our ego with false self-worth and disown our own faults. This points back to our own feelings of low self-worth. The more you are rejecting of yourself – the real you – the more you will tend to reject others.

So, what to do? Self-talk can work wonders. When you are feeling upset, depressed, insecure or anxious, pause and focus on your inner talk. Accept the messy parts of yourself – be realistic – accept that you are human. But be wary of thinking: That’s just the way I am – they’ll just have to accept that!  Take care of your health, remove toxic people and situations from your life, do one self-loving thing each day: sit in the sun, read a book, seek out conversation with a friend, shampoo your hair, absorb the sunset … do something that makes you happy. Work on showing compassion rather than judging – look beneath the other’s behavior … where is the inner pain? Is there, perhaps, fear or sadness?

It is a curious twist in the Gospel story that Jesus is the only one who is qualified to stone the woman (He is the one without sin). And, he didn’t do it. According to the law, two witnesses were required for a death sentence. And, all the so-called witnesses had disappeared. Jesus wasn’t the one who had brought the charge against the woman. You’ve read that saying – “Every saint has a past; every sinner has a future?”  So, “case dismissed” – the woman is free to go.

Fifth Sunday in Lent – April 7, 2019

Ezekiel 37:114               Romans 8:8-11               John 8:1-11

Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

 

 

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The Prodigal Son

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This Gospel says that while away the prodigal “came to himself.”   Developmental psychologists say that some young people need to reject their conventional faith (e.g. of their family) in order to come to their own faith.

Put another way, at least some may need to go to “a distant land” in order to “come to themselves.”  Note that the second son who stayed home also had his rebellion from conventional faith as he talks back to his Father, refusing to go to the feast.

Rather than having failed, parents of prodigals or rebels may have succeeded – in giving their young person the confidence to leave home to spread their wings and find their own faith.  You’ve probably heard the saying: “If you love something set it free, if it returns it was meant to be, if it continues to fly let it soar, and have faith that God has something better in store.”  And another one: “Sometimes, you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.”

The gospel suggests that the Prodigal Parent is on the look-out for their wandering child, scanning the horizon, hoping against hope for their return.   Upon sighting their child, the parent’s heart is “filled with compassion” and rushes out to welcome the one for whom they have yearned and prayed.   “Prodigals” of all ages need to know that we are hoping for their return and that they will always be welcome home – with open arms.

Our Gospel shows us the difference between “coming home” and a “home-coming.”  The son approached in fear and trepidation; the parent flung aside any resentment and ill-will.  The child was coming home to he knew-not-what kind of a reception.  The parent threw a spontaneous homecoming party.

The Parent welcomed and embraced the Prodigal before an apology crossed his lips.  What a picture of unconditional love!  Our diocesan motto “Live the Gospel Courageously” includes the theme of welcome to all, Saints and Sinner alike.

It doesn’t matter if prodigals don’t return to our particular expression of faith within God’s family.  We hear the expressions “fallen away Catholic” or “lapsed Catholic.”  We remain hopeful that they will make their way home to God.  The path may not be ours.  We pray that the good values that were instilled and modeled for them over the years – will sustain their journey, whatever road they take.  And, we pray that we remember: true “forgiveness” is present long before the embrace of a homecoming.

The waiting father, the renegade son and the “look at how good I have been” son … all knew peace at the end of the day.  The father seems to have completely forgotten his agitation, worry and concern as peace overwhelms him at the return of his younger son.  That wayward son must have been so very relieved at the response of his father that peaceful gratitude must have washed over him.  I suspect that the older brother forgot to sweep at his own front door – yes?   What peace must have invaded his attitude as his father – and younger brother – assured this embarrassed, humbled fellow of their never-ending love.

We believe Benedict when he says that seeking peace is the way to heaven – heaven in the after-life and a little bit of heaven here on earth.  In the Prologue to Benedict’s Rule we find the admonition: “If you wish to have true and eternal life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit; turn from evil and do good; seek PEACE and pursue it.”  Another translation says, “seek peace and go after it.”  That conjures up quite an image…  dashing out of the chapel, into the dining room, down the halls, out the door, into the neighborhoods, climbing God’s holy mountain pursuing PEACE – never abandoning charity nor giving a false peace, peacefully performing whatever duties are entrusted to us, ensuring we have made peace before sundown.

Let us renew our commitment to make PEACE more than a concept that we talk about … let us make a daily pledge to be people of peace, to be a peaceful people.   Make each day an echo of what Paul tells us in the second reading: “the old things have passed away; behold new things have come….  We have been reconciled through Christ and (this is the punch line) WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MINISTRY OF RECONCILATION.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

4th Sunday in Lent (March 31, 2019)
Joshua 5:9a; 10-12      2 Corinthians 5:17-21     Luke 15:1-3; 11-32

 

 

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Reflection for Vigil Service of S. Helen Lange, O.S.B.

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Reflection for Vigil Service of S. Helen Lange, O.S.B.

September 28, 1913 – March 18, 2019

“If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together … there is something you must always remember:  You are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think…..  but the most important thing is, even if we’re apart …  I’ll always be with you.  Know who said that?  Well, Disney took artist’s license, twisted the words a bit and put them in the mouth Christopher Robin.  In the original Chris asks Pooh, exactly what S. Helen might ask us: “… when I’m – you know – when I’m not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?  Promise me you won’t forget about me, ever.  Not even when I’m a hundred….  he put out a hand and tried again, whatever happens, you will understand, won’t you.”

I extend the sympathy of our monastic community to all of you – Sister Helen’s family, her many care-givers: Heritage Park staff and volunteers, monastery health care staff and a of her “few closest friends” …  quite an understatement – Sister knew no strangers – everyone was a friend.  In her later years she would cruise the halls at Heritage Park (the Assisted Living Facility where she resided) … greeting each person and waiting until they returned a greeting.

Sister was always one to enjoy a party AND she preferred to get things done yesterday rather than tomorrow.  In our Catholic tradition this past week we celebrated two special feast days: Saint Joseph (foster father of Jesus) on Tuesday and Thursday was the commemoration of the death of our beloved founder, Saint Benedict.  Both saints are honored as patrons of a peaceful death.  As was typical, Helen pre-empted both saints’ days and got to heaven on the coattails of St. Patrick while Pandora provided Celtic music from my cell phone …  softly playing near her head.

Today we honor and celebrate the life of Sister Helen who lived 105 years on this earth.  She told someone recently, “Don’t say: I’m almost 106 years, it’s only 105 and a half years.”  We can only imagine all the changes she lived through: world wars, depression years, how many presidents?  And, Brother Stan noted this fact: I believe that Sister was one of the last in both the monastery and the abbey to have known all of the Abbots. She entered Holy Name a year before Abbot Charles died.  

In her lifetime, Sister took pleasure in the advances in technology like the radio, a tape player for her “Books for the Blind” and a CD player for her music; b/w and color TV and then amazing computers.  She knew party-line telephones when the operator ask: “Number, please” – then the mystery of dial up phones and amazing of all, cell phones and email (which she never used but enjoyed hearing messages from family and friends.)  And, now, we have social media that got the news of her death out almost before she could knock on heaven’s door.

History books can cover the years of Sister Helen’s life time.  And a review of church history will capture changes in the church.  Now, we “on the inside” know what was REALLY happening in the religious communities.  Those 5 girls from Texas – and there were 3 others who entered in 1930 – arrived with their footlockers filled with nun’s black shoes, white night gowns, undershirts and black stockings.  Their families had provided what dowry they could, shared bed linens and towels from the family supply.  And, in some cases it was the eldest girl in the family (like Helen) that they had graciously offered to God.

In the convent, Sister was one of those who “went with the flow” of changes in religious life …  sometimes shaking her head over the “nonsense” but other times taking the lead in implementing changes.  One evening in Ocala, the pastor invited the Sisters to the local Jai Alai fronton.  Sister jumped at the invitation and hurriedly went to change clothes.  Well, sort of.  She’d worn a skirt that day but wanted to change to slacks for the outing.  However, she forgot to take off her slip which now was on display from under her shirt hanging to her knees over her slacks.  Cute picture!

I recall a time when we were teaching together in North Miami when she convinced me – and S. Rosaria, her cousin of happy memory – to be the first ones to go to school without our veils – hair showing, permed curls … and to our surprise, none of the kids seemed to even notice.

At Heritage, Sister enjoyed walking out front, along the driveway.  The rest of us shuddered because Sister was losing her eyesight and could so easily have slipped off the edge of the walkway.  But, she loved the color of the hibiscus bush in full bloom (which it is now) near the front door.  And she’d patiently count the school buses passing by – evoking memories of “the good ole days” of teaching and producing operettas like “Cowboy on the Moon.”  The “cowboy” had to get up on the roof of the church so he could glide on pulleys over the audience (from, of course, the moon).

She also kept track of the improvements on the apartment complex across the street … although she would remark often that she was blind and could see only shadows.  Then, she might ask, “What is that man on the roof doing?”

When Sister would sit on her walker, she could feel the breezes on her face. …reminding her always of the wide open fields of Texas…  of horseback rides to school, years of plenty and years of want, wet sheets handing in the doorways to try to cool the stifling summer air.  And, Sister loved good music …and zippy parodies.  I would venture a guess that the sentiments of this borrowed prayer will give voice to her wish:

Let it be beautiful when I sing my last song.  Let it be day.  I would stand upon my two feet, singing.  I would look upward with my eyes, singing.  I would have the winds envelope my body.  I would have the sun shine upon my body.  Let it be beautiful when You would slay me, O Shining One, Let it be day when I sing my last song!   (Evelyn Easton I Send a Voice)

At her birthday gatherings – remember the one when the fire brigade came to put on the 100 candles?  At such times – and most any time she could grab an audience – they were treated to her rendition …  ON KEY …  of “Home on the Range.”  (Let’s honor her by singing what became her “last favorite song” – ALL sing “O give me a home, where the buffalo roam …” etc.)

Jesus tells us “I go to prepare a place for you …in my Father’s house there are many mansions.”  Until Helen was cautioned (and deigned to pay attention to the warning) against wandering beyond where staff could observe her strolls outside, Sister would sometimes ask me to go around the building outside to the north end of the facility.  She had become fixed on the belief that she and her father had helped to construct that building.  I asked how they got there – she said she did the driving.   She would look for the cornerstone that she and her dad (according to her) had built into the exterior wall just outside her bedroom.  I wonder was she maybe unconsciously looking for that mansion Jesus had promised that His father had prepared for her and that she moved peacefully into on the morning of March 18….  sight restored, no more back pain and walker flung aside.

On many Sundays, (thanks to her trusty volunteer driver), Sister Helen joined us here at the monastery for Mass and dinner.  In the down time waiting for dinner she would sit on the dining room porch (when we weren’t chasing her down in the parking lot as she ventured alone to see what that huge tank in the front yard was).  Or she’d walk the halls checking for familiar wall hangings and to see if there were any changes.  One such framed hanging is a “17th Century Nun’s Prayer” (we’d brought from our previous home across the street.)  She appreciated someone reading it aloud as she prayed:

Lord, You know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old.  Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.  Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.  Make me thoughtful but not moody: helpful but not bossy.  With my past store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know O Lord, I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.  Seal my lips on my aches and pains.  They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by…    Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint – some of them are so hard to live with!  Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in in unexpected people.  AMEN

 You may know that S Helen had some hoarding tendencies, particularly when it came to greeting cards from those she loved.  One such was an excerpt from THE SILVER COMPASS by Holly Kennedy.  It was written by a nursing home resident.  So, I will close with this message, believing it is what S Helen would want you to hear:

You are invited to my funeral.  Please come.  Wear your best clothes, bring your friends, and send me off with a flair.  And as you say good-bye, keep these things in mind: I wasn’t wealthy but my life was rich.  I wasn’t brilliant, but I never got tired of my own company.  Most important, I lived my life believing happiness is something a person has to decide on ahead of time.  It doesn’t arrive at your door and knock.  You need to unwrap each day like a gift and find your own tiny piece of happiness, sometimes in the middle of pain and sadness.  So eyeball each other and share stories about me, good and bad.  …  Cry if you need to, but at the end, leave happy.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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