I saw Jesus at Ukrop's...

I’ll call him “Thomas.” That’s not his real name, but in the interest of his privacy, I’ll choose a good, sturdy biblical name. Thomas bagged all our groceries yesterday, wheeled them to the car and placed them in the trunk. (This customer service is unique to Ukrop’s Grocery. Founded in Richmond and still family-owned and operated, Ukrop’s is known for service, charitable contributions and community consciousness. The Ukrop family is serious about the Christian faith – so much so, that stores are closed on Sunday and won’t sell alcohol. Ukrop’s also gives a 10% discount to religious organizations of every kind – including Saint Gertrude Convent.) Back to the bagging...
It took me quite a while to get used to this “service.” I am, as you know, a healthy 40-something from NJ. I am strong, rather independent and completely capable of bagging our groceries. But, this added service creates jobs. Men and women of every age, race and ability become Ukrop’s baggers. Some, like Thomas, are differently-abled. Thomas isn’t fast. He works steadily with great concentration. Thomas doesn’t always get it right. He dropped a container of ice cream in the parking lot and tossed the Diet Coke in the trunk with a little more passion than necessary. But Thomas gave me more than good service yesterday. He gave me a glimpse of the disabled Christ. It isn’t about speed or “doing it right.” It’s about the dignity of work for all people and the dream of a world where everyone has a place to give. Thomas has also helped me to let go of the frustration of letting someone else do what I am capable of doing. Thomas is teaching me how to let others do for me and one day, I’ll have no choice there. GOD bless you, Thomas. And GOD bless you, Mr. Ukrop, for giving JESUS a job in my neighborhood.

Blessings and love to you all...
- Sister Vicki

A Brand New Benedictine...

At 4:30 yesterday afternoon, Mary Diebler Clark entered our monastery. Surrounded by her dearest friends and the entire monastic community, Mary answered the BIG question - "What do you seek?" - from her heart (and a small piece of paper.) She affirmed her search for GOD among us, her desire to love Christ in loving her sisters and the intent to do so all her days.

Our prioress, Sister Cecilia Dwyer, OSB, officiated at the entrance rite. It is her privilege and responsibility to welcome new members, ask the magic question, and read from the Holy Rule. The monastic community responds to Mary in song: "Come, O my daughter, listen to me. I will teach you to reverence GOD." The sisters also commit to supporting Mary and her Novice Director, Sister Doris Nolte, OSB.

When the rite was completed, Sister Cecilia asked Mary to lead the procession into the Chapel for Evening Prayer. A receiving line of sisters gave Mary hugs and kisses after EP. Then, a VERY festive and delicious Sunday dinner for the community and Mary's guests. (Our brother, Greg Evans, Obl. SB, helped to prepare the feast. And, our friend, Dr. Lorraine Gunzerath, provided the FABULOUS desserts! To ensure Mary's friends that they are now friends of the entire community, the sisters blessed them in song as the evening concluded.

Please join us in thanking GOD for the gift of Mary Diebler Clark, and ask GOD to bless her as she continues to discern our way of life.

Blessings and love to you all...
- Sister Vicki

Hope...

Next week I will be speaking to all the students at SGHS. Each class comes for chapel once a week and I've been asked to do the reflection. This year we, like the universal Church, are focusing on the writings of Saint Paul. The passage for my reflection is Romans 8:22-28.
“We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. \We know that all things work for good for those who love God, 6 who are called according to his purpose. “

Hope. I chose the reading and the theme and now, today, I am wondering what I could possibly say to these young women about such an intangible virtue. I can talk for an hour about most things theological, if invited. For some reason, I can’t get my head around this one. Faith and love seem so much easier to talk about. The gospels are full of faith-based miracles and Paul’s hymn in 1 Corinthians spells out love quite clearly. But hope…hmm. Some things in our faith are so hard to explain. I feel the limitation of words, and of my own understanding. Maybe, like Saint Paul, I should just write a “hymn” with what I know of hope in my own life. Maybe, something of my journey might touch their adolescent hearts.

Hope… is walking on frost-covered earth and seeing the tiny bud of a crocus peeking up through the snow.
Hope… is a woman with child caressing the baby yet unborn.
Hope...is a ten-year-old girl praying for GOD to cure her mother's cancer.
Hope… is going to Mass every Sunday even though the mystery of the Eucharist often feels too much for the mind to hold.
Hope… is saying the words, “I love you” first.
Hope… is getting out of bed and going to work when you feel empty of blessings to give.
Hope… is praying when you have no words left in you and all you can do is just be with GOD.
Hope… is the thing that gets you from a loved-one’s grave back into the limousine.
Hope… is the fuel that gets a dying body to move into one more day because that day is pure gift.
Hope… is the hand of a real friend on yours when words are useless.
Hope… is the memory of love kept alive in the heart – a memory that makes loving again possible.
Hope… is a GOD who loved us enough to become one of us – absorbing all the joy and pain of being human.
Hope… is knowing the GOD for whom nothing is impossible.
Hope...is an empty tomb.

Blessings and love to you all,
- Sister Vicki

Presentation of the LORD...

Today the Church celebrates the meeting of the Holy Family with Anna and Simeon. Jewish law mandated that a woman return to the temple 40 days after giving birth to be ritually cleansed. In keeping with that tradition, Mary and Joseph brought JESUS to the temple so that they could make an offering t0 GOD. The two elders who see the Christ child represent the waiting and watching of Israel for the coming of the messiah. When they behold Him, they are filled with joy because the promise has been fulfilled. Simeon, who was given the grace to see this day, prays: "Lord, let your servant now die in peace for you kept your promise. With my own eyes I have seen the salvation you prepared for all people. A light of revelation for the Gentiles and glory for your people, Israel."

Not until the 11th century did the practice of blesing candles begin. "Candlemas" has become an honored ritual in churches and monasteries all over the world. (Our liturgy at the monastery is exceptionally beautiful. I miss being home on days like this - more than usual.)

February 2nd is also set aside as a day to celebrate consecrated life. The Church, here in Richmond, planned a retreat day for all the sisters, brothers and religious priests serving in the diocese. The three of us joined about forty others at St. Joseph's Home, the mother house of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The hospitality was over-the-top, and from a Benedictine, that is high praise. The sisters were so happy to welcome us to their home. The day began with a Eucharist of Thanksgiving in which we all renewed our vows. (I monkeyed with the words a bit to reflect our monastic profession of stability, obedience and fidelity to the monastic way of life. Had to be done.) Our presider was Rev. Msgr. Thomas Shreve, PA. Then, after lunch, Adoration and Reconciliation. Two conferences followed. Fr. James Kauffmann, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at VCU, spoke on St. Paul's hymn to love. Rev. Msgr. Mark Lane, Vicar for Clergy & Religious, gave a wonderful conference on the life, conversion and ministry of Paul. All in all, a grace-filled day. (Special thanks to Liz Primich and Ann Niermeyer - the women who organized the event.)

I guess I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the other event on February 2nd. Did he see his shadow?

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Trusting the system...

A wonderful woman is entering our monastery two weeks from now. Part of my job is to help her tie up the loose ends of an independent life in the world. While preparing your heart for this life-changing moment is of utmost importance, there are practical concerns that need attention. The cell phone service has been turned off. The credit card has a “0” balance. The car has been given to family and all personal funds have been tucked away safely for the duration of initial formation. Our newest member will learn mutual interdependence. What she needs, the community will provide. While this all may sound simple, it’s not. These are hard tasks that demand trust. That trust will grow over time, but at the beginning, this is really hard.

The ministry I do gives me the opportunity, at times, to see how my own journey is going. Even as I instruct our candidates that they must enter with empty pockets and open hearts, I remember how my own trust in the monastic “system” had to grow. I had to learn that the simplicity of our life frees us from certain concerns so that we can give our greater energy to serving GOD’s people. Sometimes, there must be a “no” for the greater good. The women who direct us can see a bigger picture. Often they know what we cannot when we’re new to the life. It’s hard – REALLY hard sometimes. But from these experiences we learn to trust the community with our lives.

In the Holy Rule Saint Benedict says that when we obey the prioress, we obey the voice of Christ. Whoa… In six years I have never wanted for anything. I have learned more about the difference between what I want and what I really need. When important things have happened in my family or dear friends have experienced a loss, I have always been given permission to be present. I will be there for my niece in May when she makes her first Holy Communion, and I will be with a dear friend in NJ as she buries her father tomorrow morning. In six short years I have come to trust the system – a chain of wisdom that links the women in leadership to Christ, himself. Even when it’s been hard, it’s been right. I marvel at the generosity of my community, the attention to individual needs and concerns, and the primacy of our families. And I bless GOD for this wonderful job through which I often catch a glimpse of my own growth in this beautiful, challenging way of life.
Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

PS – Off to New Jersey for a couple of days…look for me on Friday.

"Choose Life"...

“For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children (Deuteronomy 4:7-9).”

Today, the Catholic Bishops of the United States have declared this a day of penance for sins against the dignity of human life – especially, but not exclusively – abortion. We have, as a nation, repented social sins before: slavery, racial discrimination, the oppression of women, abuse of the immigrant, and, more recently, the torture of human beings. As human beings we fail, often, to recognize GOD in one another. Sometimes, we just forget GOD altogether, and then we think we are GOD. Perhaps our values get skewed by efforts to sanctify one over the other. How can “freedom” trump “life”? How can one human being’s choice be more important than another human being? Made in the image and likeness of our GOD, our true freedom comes from an inherent dignity. That dignity must be protected and preserved if we are to be the great nation we long to be.

It has been 36 years since our highest court made abortion a legal option. Each year, without fail, tens of thousands of people gather in Washington to “March for Life.” As our nation begins a new chapter – welcomes with hope a new administration – it would seem the moment to begin a vital, albeit difficult, conversation. Now is the moment to gather the finest minds of science, medicine, social work and ethics with theologians of every faith tradition for a national conversation on abortion. I pray that President Obama initiates such a dialogue and listens with the ear of his heart (Rule of Benedict, Prologue 1). Sometimes, we as Americans do forget GOD. It is time to for us to remember.

“…I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).”

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Not red, not blue...but American

Last night I gave a presentation to the RCIA cohort at St. Michael the Archangel here in Richmond. (I love this parish!) I had spent the better part of the day with the events at the Capitol. As I drove to the church, I found myself feeling especially grateful for the quiet. There was so much to take in, so many wonders of the day; the time alone felt right.

The peaceful transition of power is a remarkable feature of democracy. The dignity and respect the President and former President gave to one another was a tribute to the greatness of our nation. No monastery can have two abbots. One must withdraw so the next can begin the next leg of the journey.

I’m sure most of you heard the speech live. I was moved by the beauty of President Obama’s words and the clear request for our help. Our President quoted Saint Paul and urged us to leave behind “childish things.” In the Rule of Benedict, we are cautioned against "murmuring" – giving speech to divisive thoughts or stirring up trouble with our complaints or gossip. I think President Obama may be asking the same of us as individual citizens.

I pray that we can keep becoming as a nation – keep refining the ideals that make us who we are as a people. I pray for freedom tempered with respect, civility in our discourse, protection of the most vulnerable, a peace that comes with justice and the proper stewardship of the resources entrusted to our care. I pray that our Congress will work as one for the good of all. I pray that our new President will have the wisdom and strength for the road ahead. And, I pray that this great nation, will sit among other great nations, as partner in the global goals of peace, health and prosperity for all GOD’s people.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki