Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Holy Name Monastery

Her “Habit” Was Like No Other

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You couldn’t miss her little red motor scooter as she jotted around the campus of Saint Leo University to and from Holy Name Monastery.  Sister Mildred Gelis, OSB, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, passed into eternal life on July 26, 2019.  Born to Lodo Ann and Jean Gelis on June 28, 1925, Sister grew-up in Slidell, LA.  Predeceased by her three siblings, Sister Mildred is survived by her Benedictine Sisters community and several nieces and nephews, including Michael and Cynthia Lewis.

Sister Mildred attended public school and when Our Lady of Lourdes School opened, the Gelis children were enrolled.  Staffed by the Benedictine Sisters from Holy Name in Florida, Sister, though very young, became convinced she wanted to become a nun.  And so it was that after her high school graduation in June of 1942, she left home to respond to the call from God.  She received her training as a Sister in the Order of St. Benedict at Holy Name in St. Leo, Florida and then attended Mount St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas.  Her undergraduate degree was from Loyola University, New Orleans and a graduate degree in Theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota.

Education was always Sister Mildred’s life’s blood.  She taught in parochial schools in Ocala, Jacksonville Beach, and Sarasota.  But it would be a little rural public school in St. Joseph, Florida that would prove to be the most challenging with first, second, third, and fourth grades combined.  After 31 years of teaching and leadership positions, retirement in 1981 would not last long.  Sister Mildred decided on another career and went back to school to learn printing.  She joined the staff at Saint Leo University and eventually ran their Copy Center with duties that included copy machines, offset press, typesetting, making negatives and plates.  She loved the work, but said, “the pressure of meeting deadlines could get hectic at times.”  Sister was delighted to travel with friends in 1990-1991 in Europe and Japan.

Interviewed in 1997 by the Pasco Times at the age of 72 and still riding her scooter, Sister said, “I’m just very energetic.  I can still outwork people 20 or 30 years of age.  I like getting my hands dirty – as long as I can get them clean again!”

A wiz at machinery of all kinds, it was fun to watch Sister “fix” the motor scooter she rode back and forth to work.  An easy-going soul, Sister Mildred also enjoyed working on cars which was helpful in keeping car maintenance costs at a minimum for the community.  Other service to Holy Name included Scholastic Mistress, sub-prioress, and councilor.  Sister also volunteered for a number of years on the St. Leo town commission.  For sure, though, it was her skills with computers and technology that were outstanding contributions to the Sisters, saving the community untold financial expense.

Vigil Prayer Service will be held Friday, August 2nd at 7:00 pm, Holy Name Monastery (12138 Wichers Road, St. Leo, FL).  Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Holy Name Monastery on Saturday, August 3rd at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, kindly direct donations in Sister Mildred’s memory to Benedictine Sisters of Florida, PO Box 2450, St. Leo, FL 33574;  www.benedictinesistersoffl.org.

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Celebrating the Gift of Friendship

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The two sections in this gospel – the prayer of Jesus and the reminder that when we seek we shall find, and that our knock and will open the door –   each is a comforting promise of God’s personal gift of friendship.  So I’d like to share with you a story of friendship – imaginary but nonetheless one that I trust will touch your heart.

 

TALE of TWO HORSES

[Author unknown – adapted]

If you listen for my bell, I promise I will listen for yours

 

Just down the road from our monastery is a field with two horses in it.  From a distance, each looks like any other horse.  But, if you stop your car, or are working or walking nearby, you will notice something quite amazing.  Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.  His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.  This alone is amazing.

When you are nearby, and you are really listening, you will hear the sound of a bell.  Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.  Attached to her halter is a small bell.  It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk toward where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.  When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.  God watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.  Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.  Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this …  You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.

If you listen for my bell, I promise I will listen for yours.

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
July 28 – Celebrating the Gift of Friendship

 

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I don’t have to do it all…

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In the Gospel we hear: “as Jesus entered a certain village a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home…. Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.”  In tomorrow’s first reading from Genesis we have the story of Sarah slaving in the kitchen and Abraham entertaining their three guests: bowing in greeting, sending them to wash up while he scurries about getting a choice steer and giving Sarah orders on what and how to prepare the meal which he alone hosts for his new buddies.

Both Scripture readings (it seems to me) concern more than the contrast between the activists – Martha behind the scene and Abraham busy arranging the details – and the more reticent ladies, Mary and Sarah.  The incidents illustrate more than hostesses each doing what they do best to make an evening delightful.  There is a bit of all these characters in each of us – one or the other prevails from day to day, and situation to situation.

Jesus’ response to Martha’s “don’t you even care that I am stuck in the kitchen?” reminds us “only one thing is necessary.”  It causes us to realize that I, as an individual, do not have to do it all.  This is evident in our practice of taking only one role in at a time in the dining room or in a single liturgy – we acknowledge (for instance) that liturgy is a communal act where all present are on the same level: differing in gifts but equal in importance.  Everything needs to get done, there are plenty of roles to share: leaders and readers, cooks and servers, singers and keyboardists, prayer leaders and bell ringers, gift bearers and petitioners, Eucharistic ministers and the celebrant.  At times our ranks may be slim, especially when members are away or illness prohibits or limits our participation, but we strive to engage everyone in the communal roles.

This is the attitude we strive to express also in the distribution of daily chores.  No single person needs to do it all – choices have to be made.  Self-importance can creep in the way if I am not careful to realize the impression I make if I try single-handedly to assume the burden of chores failing to ask for assistance.  There are times, certainly, when we have to double up on duties but we need to be conscious of enabling others to offer service and to give them the respect of recognizing their capabilities.

The Gospel also gives us a glimpse of Jesus as a gracious guest: the object of Mary’s attentions and the recipient of Martha’s service.  Jesus knew his role as servant and the one being served – the contrast between serving and resting gently and securely in the role of being a servant or a guest.

To paraphrase some thoughts from Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline:

    There is a difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant (with emphasis on the word CHOOSING).  When we chose to serve, we are still in charge.  We decide whom we will serve and where we will serve and when we will serve.  And if we are in charge, we will worry a great deal about anyone stepping on us, that is taking charge over us.

     But when we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge.  There is a great freedom in this.  When we choose to be a servant, we surrender the right to decide who and where and when we will serve.  We become available and vulnerable.

We pray, then, for the grace to have a balance in our lives of being servant (a server) and of being open, receptive, gracious when others render us service – thus enabling them to achieve their God-given calling to serve.  We pray that God grant us the grace to be:

  • Humble when helpless
  • Patient when infirmed
  • Gracious when a guest
  • Comfortable when the object of service and attention, affection and praise from others
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Genesis 18:1-10   Colossians 1:24-28   Luke 10:38-42
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Do I Believe This?

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(Homily – adapted – from Pope Francis – delivered in April 2016 – and reflection on Veronica – the 6th Station of the Cross – indicated by italics)

We know the parable of the Good Samaritan is a lesson to teach us that we must love our neighbor, and that there’s no one in the category of non-neighbor, but beyond that, have we also learned the parable’s lesson that God treats us with the compassion of the Samaritan?

In the gestures and the actions of the Good Samaritan we recognize God’s merciful action in the whole history of salvation.  It is the same compassion with which the Lord comes to meet each one of us: He does not ignore us, He knows our sorrows; He knows how much we need help and consolation.  He comes close to us and never abandons us.  Each one of us should ask himself the question and answer in his heart: “Do I believe this?  Do I believe that the Lord has compassion for me, just as I am, a sinner, with so many problems and so many things?’  Think of this and the answer is: ‘Yes!’  But each one must look into his heart to see if he has faith in this compassion of God, of the good God who comes close, who heals us, who caresses us.  And if we refuse Him, He waits: He is patient and is always at our side.”

It is not automatic that one who frequents God’s house and knows His mercy is able to love his neighbor.  It is not automatic!  One can know the whole Bible, one can know all the liturgical rubrics, one can know all the theology, but from knowing, loving is not automatic: loving has another way, intelligence is needed but also something more … “The priest and the Levite saw, but ignored; looked but did not provide.  Yet true worship does not exist if it is not translated into service to one’s neighbor.”

Compassion is the center of the parable, centering on this word that means ‘to share with’.  The Samaritan had compassion that is, his heart, was moved; he was moved within!  See the difference.  The other two ‘saw,’ but their hearts remained closed, cold.  Instead, the Samaritan’s heart was attuned to God’s heart itself.  In fact, “‘compassion’ is an essential characteristic of God’s mercy.  God shares with us – He suffers with us; He feels our sufferings.”

(Francis reminds us 🙂  the Samaritan’s concrete, personal actions teach us that compassion is not a vague feeling – it means to take care of the other even to paying in person.)  It means to commit oneself, taking all the necessary steps to ‘come close’ to the other, to the point of identifying oneself with him: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The story of Veronica that we recall in the 6th Station of the Cross points to the power of witness in an act of compassion.  What does Veronica do?  Not much – she steps from the crowd, wipes a man’s face.  What does Veronica mean to our spirit?  Close to everything.

The image on the veil stands forever as reminder of the unmitigated horror of which injustice is capable.  The image of the veil stands forever as a mute witness to the crime of all times – and the destruction of goodness at the center of us, in us, around us forever.

As Pope Francis says: “The parable of the Good Samaritan is a gift to all of us, and also a commitment.  Jesus repeats to each one of us what He said to the Doctor of the Law: ‘Go and do likewise’. …  Jesus bent over us, made Himself our servant, and thus He saved us, so that we too are able to love as He loved us.”

Veronica’s act of compassion puts us to shame.  Her unblinking action puts us all, and each, on notice: for the sake of what life lesson would you step out from the crowd and draw attention to yourselves?  To what kind of care would you bend your life so that the world will never forget?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Discipleship

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A key theme of this and last Sunday’s Gospel is discipleship—its challenges, its difficulties, and its rewards.  Sharing in the mission of Jesus is difficult, but everyone is called to do it, not just some professionals trained for ministry.  Even for us today, the harvest is plentiful.  We should pray to the master of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.

In this particular Gospel passage, Luke quotes Jesus promoting some of our special Benedictine values.  Sometimes amessage is so important that it must be told over and over again, repeated so that people will really hear it, so that they will allow the message to take root inside them and bear fruit through what they do.  Jesus reminds His newly appointed missionaries: “Do not be afraid.”

 

Jesus repeats this message time and again.  It is a message those around him need to hear.  It is a message all of us need to hear.  Do not be afraid! This knocks the cobwebs from the dark corners of our lives.

Do not be afraid, Jesus tells the disciples late one night when he walks across the lake and climbs into their boat.  Take heart!  You don’t have to struggle against this storm any more.

Do not be afraid, he tells the anxious, worried father whose child lies deathly sick.  Only believe, and your daughter will get well; she’ll be restored to you.

 

Do not be afraid, he tells disciples sitting in a circle round him.  Not now, not ever!  Your Father knows every last hair on your head, and he delights to give you the kingdom.

Jesus repeats this message –– because it’s important, and because we find it hard to accept.  He’s aware that fear comes easy to us, as easy as breathing.

Today Jesus repeats this message.  Do not be afraid!  He repeats it as he sends out seventy–two of his disciples to prepare the way in every place he will visit.

These seventy-two –– we are not given their names.  They are not prominent, like John or Peter or Andrew.  They are quiet, unassertive, ordinary folks.  These seventy-two –– we do know their number.  A number that stands for wholeness and completion.  These seventy-two represent all and each of us.

I suspect not all 72 of the appointees would have success stories to report.  Some might have turned out like the one about these two missionaries who were going door to door.  They knocked on the door of one woman who was not happy to see them.  She told them in no uncertain terms that she did not want to hear their message and slammed the door in their faces.  To her surprise, however, the door did not close and, in fact, almost magically bounced back open.  She tried again, really putting her back into it and slammed the door again with the same amazing results-the door bounced back open.  Convinced that one of the missionaries was sticking their foot in the door, she reared back to give it a third slam.  She felt this would really teach them a lesson.  But before she could act, one of them stopped her and politely said, “Ma’am, before you do that again, you really should move your cat.”

Have you tried to slam the door on God’s invitation?  What is the “cat” that keeps the door open?  Look after that cat – you’ve been abusing it – it needs your tender care.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
Isaiah 66:10-4                        Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
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Our issue in life is not whether we shall be burdened. The question is with what we shall be burdened – to what will we be yoked?

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This week we will celebrate the birthday of our country (4th of July).  Sometimes during the U. S. Independence Day celebrations we hear quoted all or part of the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me.”  One of the Gospel choices for the 4th of July (the same as for the feast of the Sacred Heart) is taken from Matthew, Chapter 11.  Jesus offers rest to those “who labor and are burdened.”  Listen again to the words of invitation: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me.”  Let us pray that these are not just words – may they truly reflect the attitude of our peoples, our government.

I find it interesting that every state in the union has some reference to God, Lord, Christ or a “supreme being.”  For instance, here in Florida’ the constitution opens with the words:  We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty…”  Nine state constitutions specifically deny unbelievers the right to hold office and/or to serve on a jury.  We pray this week that God will guide our country, beginning with us, to be a more inclusive, compassionate people.

Here’s the deal: if you will accept His “easy yoke,” your burden will light.  You did notice that Jesus says: “Take my yoke upon you.”  It is a voluntary acceptance.  By declaring that his “yoke is easy” Jesus means that whatever God offers us is custom-made to fit our needs and our abilities exactly.  God just does not give us burdens without supplying the graces, the strength and courage to shoulder the task.  You know the story of the individual who asked God for a different cross.  So, Jesus took her to the storehouse of crosses where she examined every cross more than once.  When she finally chose one Jesus said, “My dear, that is the very cross I already gave you.”  Our cross will not fit on anyone else’s shoulders or heart.  It is mine alone and if I refuse it, who can take it on their shoulders?  What won’t get done?  Will it lie abandoned for all eternity?

The second part of Jesus’ claim is: “My burden is light.”  He means if we voluntarily put our God-given yoke on our shoulders and walk in a direction set by the Divine Master, the yoke won’t chaff our flesh.  The direction we are being led just happens to be the one that the master knows will lead us to green pasture, refreshment, peace and true joy.  Jerome Kodell describes happiness as a “gift from people and events outside ourselves.”  Joy is a gift of the Spirit and is generated from within when we walk heart to heart with our God.  When oxen trudge ahead, they can’t envision the pasture at the end of the trail.  All they see is a long, dusty road beneath their hoofs.  But, that does not stop them.  They plod on to a destination known only to the overseer.  The yoke, the burden that we voluntarily take up in love is received from the hands of our loving God, placed on us in love and is meant to be carried in love.  Love makes even the heaviest burden light.  We only need to quiet down for a few moments in the green pasture of prayer and adoration to attune our ears once again to the voice of the Master.

Light burden = easy yoke.  Or is it vice versa?   You may reply that it sure doesn’t feel that way most of the time.  This could be for one of two reasons.  One: because we are not allowing the Lord to help us carry the weight.  Remember Jesus let Simon help him with his cross.  Or it may seem heavy because we are not keeping God’s pace.  We could be dragging our heels or racing ahead.  Either way, we are chafing and straining.  A yoke is fashioned for a pair — for a team working together. So we are not yoked alone to pull the plow by our own unaided power.  We are yoked together with Christ to work with Him using His strength.  St. Benedict challenges us in chapter 72 of his Rule to lovingly carry each other’s burdens: “anticipate one another; patiently endure one another’s burdens, practice the most fervent love, tender charity chastely.”

The yoke chaffs when either member of the team tries to get ahead or one or the other of the pair doesn’t carry their share of the load or sits down on the job.  It’s like when community members tug and pull against each other or when common practices are carelessly disregarded.  When conflicts are resolved, the yoke once again rests evenly and thus easily on the shoulders of both who share the burden.  You know it, you can sense it when community members walk side by side with a common aim in view.  Each one lovingly regulates her step to keep pace with her sister.

Another reason the yoke may feel burdensome causing us to feel weary is that what we are carrying may simply not be the Lord’s yoke, but one of our own choosing or one we have usurped form another.  We feel tired, worn out.  Take time to discern why.

There are many sources of tiredness, weariness, and fatigue.  Physical fatigue may be the most benign.  There is the fatigue that comes from stress, fatigue that comes from worry, fatigue that comes not only from worrying about the future, but also worrying about the past and fatigue that comes from trying to be perfect, to be something we are not.  

Life’s greatest burden is not having too much to do, nor having too much to care about because some of the happiest folk are the busiest and those who care the most.  Rather, the greatest burden we have is our constant engagement with the trivial and the unimportant, with the temporary and the passing and with ultimately what we have no control over or could have predicted.  Pray often, and sincerely: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” (A.A. Simplicity Prayer)

The issue we contend with is not whether we shall be burdened, but with what we shall be burdened.  The question is not “Shall we be yoked,” but “To what and with whom shall we be yoked”?  What we need, according to this wonderful gospel paradox, is a different yoke – the yoke of Christ.  Jesus is interested in lifting off our backs the burdens that drain us and suck the life out of us, so that we can be free to accept the burden he has prepared just for us – the yoke that is guaranteed to give us new life, new energy, new joy.  We are called, not only to find inner peace, refreshment and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God’s peace.  The solution is easy – as a popular saying goes: “Let go!  Let God!”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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