Every year before the liturgical camera zooms in on the manger at Bethlehem, we enjoy a panorama of images of Christ from the Old Testament prophesies which appear in the Divine Office at Vespers. These images are given to us one by one for seven days before Christmas in the Magnificat “O Antiphons”. In English, we know them as: O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Morning Star, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel.

The new “O” revealed each day is like another step in a winding stairway to heaven—the Heaven revealed to us in a tiny baby, asleep in his mother’s arms. Jesus comes down to us in order to draw us up to himself! In the midst of the busyness of the season, these powerful descriptors draw our attention to the Savior—who, in the end, is the true and everlasting joy.

 

 

Not long ago, the sisters and brothers here in Petersham watched a powerful documentary on Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was an incredible overview of the history, spirituality and science of the phenomenon that took place on Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City in 1531. The film revealed the way in which the appearances of Mary to Juan Diego and the tilma which bore her image were catalysts for the conversion of an entire nation!

One of the most impressive aspects of this movie was its thorough investigation of the now famous image of Our Lady. It described the scientific marvel that this picture is, proving that it defies nature and is not of earthly origin. What’s more, the portrayal of Our Lady as an Aztec virgin, with all the symbolism known only to that culture, shows the tenderness of a mother who conforms herself to the likeness of her children, “speaking” a language that only they would understand!

As we thank God for the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we pray for all the Americas who happily claim her as their patroness. Speaking to Juan Diego, she said: “Am I not your Mother? Are you not in the crossing of my arms?” With that, come what may, we can indeed rest peacefully in the crossing of her arms.

The first week of Advent is here! If you didn’t know it was happening, you might even miss it; the signs of the new liturgical year are subtle. A change of hymn here, a purple color there, a modest wreath, and all is done with a quiet simplicity that makes one think, “Is there something going on here?”

The quiet of Advent mirrors the understated beauty of the Incarnation: a little boy born without fanfare, out of sight in a humble country barn. God comes to earth in human form, with only a few shepherds to form the welcoming committee! And yet, these are the divine ways, so different from our own.

In these weeks of preparation before Christmas, the Church invites us to be watchful and alert. In the midst of our own quietude, we can be all the more ready—with spiritual ears perked—to hear the first sound of the angels’ announcing trumpet!

“For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, thy all-powerful word leaped from heaven…” (Wis 18:14).

 

 

Well, it’s the final week of the liturgical year, and before we leap into the Advent and Christmas seasons we have one more stop to make: Judgment Day! Here in the monastery, we sing the medieval hymn, Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), throughout the week. While it may sound a bit frightening, here’s a little anecdote to put it into perspective.

One of our sisters tells a story of her 3rd grade class singing the Dies Irae for a parish funeral Mass back in the 1950’s, and what she remembers most is the way the children sang it: with a fast, snappy beat. Of course, at age eight none of them had any idea what the hymn meant, but they knew the words and tune, singing it with confident voices and cheerful smiles.

“Out of the mouth of children and infants, Lord, you have called forth your praise” (Mt 21:16). These young students had it right: they were living with childlike, carefree joy, even in the face of the Dies Irae. They were blissfully ignorant of the impending doom in store for the enemies of God at the Last Judgment. Perhaps we too can live in the “learned ignorance” of the friends of God who lift up their heads without fear and say, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!”

When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? Turkey? Pumpkin pie? Friends and family? Well, yes, all of the above!

Thanksgiving Day is, to be sure, a high point in American culture. While a handful of other countries have a similar day of giving thanks, it seems that this holiday is one of those hallmarks that makes our nation what it is. Through the wisdom and virtue of Abraham Lincoln, we now have an official day of reflection on the many blessings that God has bestowed on us personally and collectively, which encourages us to develop an “attitude of gratitude.”  When we are grateful, we humbly acknowledge our dependence on our Creator and give him the glory that is his due.

Here at St. Scholastica Priory we celebrate with our Benedictine brothers from St. Mary’s, beginning the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving. This helps us to recall the One who gives us turkeys, pies and family, turning our gaze to him with a grateful heart. Then we can rejoice with every scoop of stuffing and cranberry sauce, “for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:4)”!

 

It’s true that a picture speaks a thousand words. One of our postulants has a great knack for drawing, and here she’s conveyed how the grace of God works in community life!

There’s a torrential downpour going on outside, and the dark clouds seem to be rolling on endlessly. And there are those days when it’s pretty rainy on the inside too! Suffering is a fact of life on earth, and it’s up to us, with God’s grace, to figure out what to make of it.

The immediate, reflex response to suffering is anger, defensiveness, rejection. But as Christians who take the cross as the model to live by, we know there is another, more noble way. Simply put, this way gives a “yes” response instead of a “no”. We can say yes to the difficult things in life because we know there is value in them, that we experience them for a purpose according to God’s will. Patient acceptance is the way of showing love, and love for God in particular; by suffering with Christ we are transformed into true sons and daughters of God!

“By your patient endurance, you will gain life” (Lk 21:19).

 

All Saints Day has always seemed to be a particularly light-filled feast day of the Church. Perhaps because it follows the dark night of Halloween, this solemnity gives us a desire to seek the things of heaven as opposed to the frightening things of Hades! Thoughts of our celestial homeland inevitably leave us feeling happy, hopeful and full of excitement for all that is yet to come.

The best part? We, as members of the body of Christ, are intimately connected to the saints! They are our mothers, brothers and dearest friends who ardently desire our eternal well-being. Pray for us, dear citizens of heaven, that we may one day be among your ranks!

 

Here in our monastery there are thirteen different sisters, all of different ages and backgrounds. Some are from large families, others are only children. Some are from out of state, others from out of country! This creates, of course, a great diversity of interests and ways of doing things.

The beauty of community life is just this: the unity amidst diversity. We all love Christ, love his Church, love the faith and monastic life. These, then, are what bind us together as a family, and enable us to live in the ever-flowing peace of God. We begin to see that the face of Christ is revealed through many facets, as the hundreds of pixels that make up a digital image. So whether we’re sipping coffee, tea or just a little o. j. at breakfast, whether we like hot weather or cold, whether we’re boisterous or soft-spoken, we know that together we glorify the God who made us all!

 

Apples! Grapes! Zucchini! Squash! The harvest season brings forth its fruit, boasting of God’s abundance. Bushels and barrels full of produce are everywhere, making us smile with grateful hearts.

In Scripture, there are many images of the harvest, indicating how central the theme is to human life. God encourages us to be “wheat among weeds” (cf. Mt 13:24-30), “good soil” to produce a good crop (cf. Lk 8:4-21), “good grapes” rather than wild grapes (cf. Is 5:2).

We all know what it is to enjoy good food, and how unpleasant it is to eat sour, rotten or unripe food. God uses analogies that will resonate well with us, so that we may understand how much delight he takes in our own sweetness of virtue. And what’s more—he is the master gardener, who knows precisely what is needed to bring about a good yield. Let us trust in his ways, then, knowing that we will become “like trees planted beside running water which give forth fruit in due season” (Ps 1:3)!