Preparing for the King

Greetings,

I had a wonderful day of decorating and celebration. All over the Monastery, sisters are preparing for the King the O Antiphon sings of tonight.

Srs. Kathy, Barbara, and I set to work decking the hall that leads to our refrectory. We pinned hundreds of satin covered Christmas tree balls to the ceiling! The red, blue, green, white, and gold balls now dance above whenever we walk down the hallway. Sisters stopped by our rolling scaffolding to encourage, admire, or offer advice as they made their way to various errands around the house.

After lunch a more serious preparation was undertaken, We began to decorate our Bishop Marty Chapel for Christmas. We celebrate Mass and Liturgy of the Hours in our Peace Chapel (lower chapel) until Christmas Eve Vespers. So...we have the next few days to prepare our Chapel, and we'll need it. Today, I joined the sisters (and our Benedictine Priest) in arranging trees and the Fontanini Creche set in our gathering space. It turned out simple and beautiful. Those in the Chapel assembled trees to frame our main altar, took down the Advent banners, and the wreath. Later, I helped with hanging the gold and white Christmas banners. Tomorrow the poinsettias arrive to offset our beautiful gold and white with red and pink...around the trees, in front of the altar, by the ambo, and where ever else they might brighten.

Jordan (my small group) is gathering for our Christmas supper tonight. We have a leisurely evening of food, visiting, and prayer. I assisted by making pretzels for an appetizer...but there will be so much at the meal...everyone signs up to make their best. But in a way, this 'family' supper is also in preparation for the King.

O King of Nations, you for whom all lands are longing,
You are the holy cornerstone who bind together all God's people,

O come, come and save human-kind, whom you formed from the dust of earth.

Blessings,

"O"nly a Few More Days of Advent

Greetings,

Today we celebrate Christ our Dawn, but today was also the day I forgot to set my morning alarm clock and missing Lauds. I didn't awake with the dawn at all; however, there was much to do once I found my morning cup of coffee. I had been asked to set up the Christmas tree in our care center in the Monastery. Sr. Barbara helped fluff and arrange all the branches and set the lights (all three strands) on the tree. Then our lights went dead...and she had to get to her next assignment. Luckily, Sr. Virginia found an extra set and one of our care center staff helped me relight the tree! I encouraged our elderly sisters to help choose which decorations to add to the tree to set some on the branches, it was a good morning. The afternoon was supposed to be spent pinning satin balls to the ceiling but it was post-poned until tomorrow.

O Rising Sun, the splendor of eternal light
and brilliant sun of justice,
come and with your holy light,
shine on us who sit in darkness and in death's shadow!


Sunday, Fr. Benedictine (yeah home from Jesuit land!) had a wonderful homily about Mary and Elizabeth. They supported and nurtured the Divine in each other, and we are called to bring Christ to the world and nurture the Christ in each other as well. It was a quiet day in the Monastery. Just nice to be home...evening prayer begins with the chapel silent and in the dark except for the lights on the Crucifix. Then one sister carries in a lit taper to light our Advent wreath. As she steps down from the wreath, the lights come up and we begin our Vespers. I've missed these quiet endings to the day.


O Key of David, and scepter of the House of Israel,
who open the door and no one closes,
who close the door and no one opens,
O come, rescue us from our dark prison, where we sit in death's shadow!


Saturday, I putzed about the house after cleaning the chapel entrance. Somehow, I was tapped to do a bit of dusting, vacuuming, and mopping after being home 24 hours. Then, I wrapped a few Christmas gifts for the nieces and nephews, and their moms, and spent time just visiting with sisters as they trickled home for Christmas.

O Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign of the people,
before whom kings shall be silent,
to whom all nations shall pray,
O come, come Lord to free us, and delay no longer!

Blessings,

"O" So Glad to be Home

Greetings...two "O" days in one...

Friday we celebrate "O Adonai" and Advent is slowly giving way to Christmas around the Monastery. The sisters' living groups within the house have begun to decorate their group rooms with trees, tinsel, lights, and nativity sets (with the Christ child waiting until Christmas Day). Holiday baking can also be scented all around the house. Me? For the most part, I spent the morning catching up on paperwork and making deliveries around the Monastery offices. This afternoon I reserved for a deep meditation on silence...truthfully, 6:30AM prayer caught up to me and I rested with God for a bit. Then I helped carry in Christmas gifts from St. Mary Parish!

Tonight's O Antiphon is Jesus as the anointed leader...

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared in a burning bush to Moses and
gave him the Law on Mount Sinai,
O Come, come Lord and redeem us with your strong arm out-stretched!

Thursday...I was home in time for evening prayer and supper, but the day was long. The short version is that all the flights were out and in on time and the connections were good. I was happy to be home and found greetings around each corner. At supper I even received a kiss on the forehead from one of our wise elders, I think of it as a blessing. The O'Antiphon wreath of pine cones and lights was hung in the hallway to the refrectory with a one word written in delicate calligraphy displayed in the center...Wisdom...the antiphon and our prayer for the day.

O Wisdom of God, who came forth from the mouth
of the Most High, reaching from beginning to end,
and with great power yet gentleness
you set all creation in order,
O come, come Lord and teach us the way of Wisdom!

Blessings from the Monastery!

Two Sleeps!

Greetings,

Only two sleeps until I come home for Christmas and all the holy days that follow! I'm very excited to see all the sisters, family, and friends. I'll have just over two weeks at the Monastery in Yankton and then just under two weeks to bounce around and between family. This is the part of college that I like best, four weeks over Christmas to travel about and catch up with all the folk I've been missing. Okay, so I like the learning and meeting new professors and friends as well.

I sent home an e-mail to our sub prioress, anticipating the possibility of volunteering in a variety of ways while I'm home. The liturgist has claimed me for part of day to help out in preparing the chapel. This could involve carrying/arranging/rearranging poinsettias, setting out new candles, hanging the festive banners from the columns, draping white and gold material, and (of course) cleaning up after all the tramping about. I'm sure I'll get to help put several trees together for our hallways, entryways, and the gathering space by the chapel. My biggest hope is that our baking sister will need help with all the Christmas cookies, breads, and goodies that pour out from her ovens during this season. The warmth and smell from our bakery is intoxicating this time of year.

Sisters, I'm on my way home soon! I can't wait to be hugged over coffee, quizzed about school, and in all ways warmly brought back into the fold.

Blessings,

An Advent Pilgrimage Stop

Greetings,

Today, I stopped by The Basilica of Saint Josaphat after my morning tutoring with the boys. All I have to say is WOW did those Polish-Russian folk know how to embellish their church buildings! The windows told scripture stories, Franciscan saint tales, and a stories from a few Dominican saints as well. All four side altars and the main altar are surrounded by paintings, mosaics, and phrases in not only Latin but also Polish or something similar. The body of the church was filled with wooden pews that creaked comfortably when I sat down. I didn't venture up to the balcony level, but they were filled with galleries of pews also!

It was wonderfully quiet inside, it reminded me of the kind of quiet at home. I was able to just sit and be for awhile. However, now that I'm back at the house, there are a few last minute preparations I need to finish for my presentation tonight.

Blessings,

Gaudete! Rejoice!

Greetings!

Today, I joined the sisters in Gaudete Sunday at St. John's Cathedral. The space was renovated not too long ago (not sure when) and the result is warm and welcoming. It was a beautiful space to celebrate and rejoice during Advent. The whole of the interior seemed to be ready for Advent...a soft tan-rose color was used in much of the repainting and in the floor tile. Still, I must admit that the music was my favorite part at the Cathedral. It was only simple Advent music, but the parish I joined likes to jazz it up during this season and the Cathedral kept the organ subdued and the hymns familiar to the congregation. The result was everyone singing out loud and clear...

Tonight, the rejoicing continues with a wassail party. The sisters have invited family, friends, and neighbors to the house for fellowship, food, and wassail.
Last year it was quite the social event, and I'm assuming it will be filled with laughter again this year.

However, the student can only come up from her office for a quick bite or two. Tomorrow, each of us in the research class will present our study, findings, and implications to the group. We do plan on a little bit of Christmas Joy as well ~ one can't have presentations and not have treats : )

Blessings,

One More To Go

Greetings,

School is wrapping up all around me. The library is overrun with students trying to cram that last bit of information or write that last paper, the English teacher in me is suspicious that no outlines or rough drafts are being used in that process. There is this air of frantic, caffeine charged frisson where ever I walk by these clustered groups of students. I'm working down to the line as well, but a little more controlled.

The research study is written and safely saved in three locations (I don't want to loose those 53 pages). I have finished the presentation for class on Monday night as well...speaking in front of my classmates doesn't worry me. It will be interesting to hear about every one's research and conclusions. The paper I'm rewriting for the history course has me a bit more concerned. The prof. read a rough draft for me (very generous) and made several good suggestions, and now I need to reorganize the content of the paper to better fit his requirements.

All in all, I should be ready to fly home soon! I am excited to be home to help prepare for Christmas at the monastery. There will be hallways to decorate, cookies to bake, and a thousand little details to cover. Plus...O'Antiphons to sing and the chapel to prepare. I hope someone is making a list for this willing volunteer when she gets home for the holy days!

Blessings,