We are all connected...

I woke up at 1:15 this morning. I grabbed the cell phone which had been set to vibrate at 5 AM. Realizing that it was still time to sleep, I happily rolled over. At breakfast I learned that there was an aftershock at 1:15. It wasn’t the phone vibrating. It was the earth.

The 5.9 earthquake two days ago continues to be a hot topic of conversation at table and on the local news. This sturdy cement-block structure was built 50 years ago and resembles the Catholic elementary schools of the 1960’s – solid as a rock! Other structures in the area were not as sound and suffered cracks and crumbles. Several historic structures in DC – the National Cathedral and the Washington Monument – had more damage because of age and design, I suspect.

I am in awe of creation and grateful that we were spared the sufferings of Haiti or Japan, Alaska or California. Earthquakes are not fun or to be taken lightly. All in all, this earthquake did little to harm but much to awaken us to the power of nature and our interconnectedness. Twenty-two eastern states felt this quake – not because of its magnitude, though 5.9 is significant. These states rest on one tectonic plate – share real estate in a primordial sense. Interesting to see one event ripple out so far – touch so many lives and light up so many cell towers simultaneously! The earth can teach us many lessons. We are, in fact, interconnected. Our joy, our pain, our love sends out a ripple into the world. Every act of goodness blesses and every selfish sin has its repercussions. This truth is from the beginning – when we were made in God’s image and likeness. We have within us the capacity for great love – the love that changes things and transforms lives. This redemptive love is building in the world – not unlike the earth’s energy beneath millions of layers of clay and shale. That building up of love’s power is the kingdom coming. And, one great day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. We need not fear its coming. Our loving, our relentless pursuit of right relationships, our longing for wholeness simply beckons Christ to come.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

August 16th...

“Jesus said to his disciples,… it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

Today is the memorial of the death of Elvis Presley. [I’ll bet you thought I was going to say St. Stephen of Hungary or Brother Roger of Taize.] Actually, all three men have something to teach us if we can hear today’s gospel through the lens of their lives. We can learn what being rich really means and what is truly possible for God.

Stephen was a strong advocate for the Catholic faith and was crowned the first king of Hungary by the Roman pontiff. Rich in faith, rich in power, rich in wisdom, Stephen was acclaimed a saint less than fifty years after his death. Brother Roger – the founder of the Taize community in France – was killed by a mentally ill woman during Evening Prayer six years ago. An ecumenist by vocation, Roger helped to pen the community rule, nurture the simple chant that drew thousands on pilgrimage and gave his life as a martyr for Benedictine hospitality. Rich in faith, rich in imagination, rich in holiness – Brother Roger’s dream of Christ’s body made whole continues to be enfleshed by his brothers.

Last, but not least, Elvis Aaron Presley – a poor Mama’s boy from Tupelo, Mississippi – died on this day in 1977. “The King” of rock n’ roll was 42 years old when he died alone in a mansion called, “Graceland.” Rich in fame, rich in material wealth, Elvis was plagued by addiction, spiritual restlessness and a deep loneliness.

Jesus has taught us that the kingdom of God is at hand – here, in our midst. To “enter the kingdom” means living with God now in fidelity and joy – confident that the kingdom will come in its fullness later – in God’s time. I suppose it’s Elvis’ kind of rich that Jesus was talking about in this gospel. Although he was a believer in the gospel and a spiritual seeker throughout his life, somehow he was unable to know the true freedom of the children of God. Fame, money, sex, drugs – all these things became stumbling blocks – as they can for all people. St. Stephen and Brother Roger possessed another kind of wealth – the riches of faith, hope and love. When these are our real treasures, no stumbling block will keep us from entering the kingdom – right here, right now. Our simple Benedictine life is the path that leads us to the kingdom. And every now and then, when we have our priorities straight and our hearts open wide, the One who called us here beckons us to enter through the narrow gate. Here, now, we are given a taste of heaven in Word and wheat and in the intimacy of the common life. We are the rich ones. We know that God does the impossible within us and for us every day of our lives.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

"Eye has not seen..."

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin gives us a wonderful opportunity to meditate on the glories of heaven. In her person God manifests the wholeness and dignity which is proper to every believer. The Blessed Mother experiences death – crosses the boundary between here and there. In that she shares our humanity. But the Church teaches a different end to her story. Her body is not returned to the earth but taken to heaven. Her body and soul know no separation. She is, by virtue of her faith in the angel’s word, given a special prerogative. And we, in her assumption, are given a glimpse of what we can only imagine. “Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love God (I Corinthians 2:9)." But one day when the human project reaches its fulfillment, we shall each be made whole in Christ. Our bodies, like our souls, shall be raised and glorified. It is too much to understand but not too much to believe. If God raised Jesus from the tomb, God can raise us as well. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of this Marian feast is the knowledge that God wants this wholeness for us. To her who bore the Son of God, this special gift was given first. We who have followed Christ through death into life by baptism will know this sacred unity of body and soul at the end of the age. What we celebrate today for Mary, we celebrate also for ourselves. Where she is – body and soul – we shall also be. Happy feast!

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

What I learned from "Real Time"...

We’ve had two wonderful women with us this week for our “Real Time” in the Monastery program. We’ve never done this before so I’ve been looking for its worth and graces. Typically, interested women come for a weekend of discernment or a vocation retreat during the sacred seasons. This has been most fruitful. Yet, women often express the desire to spend more time with us – real time, ordinary day-in-day-out time. We have a "Live-In" Program to meet that need, but that’s long term. Women in our Live-In Program are usually in for a year of discernment. So, finally, after seven years of vocation ministry, I’m trying something new. As usual, there are things to tweak and improve but overall, I am pleased to have this kind of time with women who are eager to pray and to work. That’s basically what they’ve been doing this week – ora et labora – pray and work.

Two of our monastery gardens needed serious watering. Our first arrival taught me much about how living things. Did you know a flower can be beautifully in bloom, yet its roots dry and longing for water? I had no clue but I guess people are that way too. Any one of us can look A-OK on the surface and deep inside there is a dryness – a spiritual or emotional longing that needs attention. All the more reason to give one another some room to be less than we wish them to be. We never know what another person is carrying inside. I also learned that “puzzle people” abound – and not just in monasteries! And working a puzzle with someone can be an opportunity for building relationship – elbow to elbow, searching for the last piece of a blue sky.

Even what might have been disappointing became a blessing. Our “luau” at the pool turned into an indoor event due to thunderstorms. It was the best “pool party” we’ve had in seven years! We skipped the swimming and went right to the dancing. After a few tropical tunes we switched to Big Band and dancing classics for the benefit of the elders who came to join the fun. Every one was welcomed with lei and invited into the circle of fun. The Vocation TEAM outdid themselves on the decorations. When we were worn out, we moved on to popcorn and a movie. Great fun…special for us as well as our guests. As we blessed our friends this morning, I wasn’t so much thinking about the party – as fun as it was. I was thinking how much I’ll miss them in the oratory and in the dish room. [We spent a lot of time there!] I guess that’s another plus for the “real time” program. Retreat days have their highs and Benedictines are ALWAYS looking for a party. Yet, it is the “normal” routine of prayer and work that steadies our feet on the path to God. In the Chapel, in the garden, in the library or the dishroom - time spent in prayer and work sanctifies us gently over a lifetime. Real time is holy in the monastery. Maybe, that's once of the reasons I came and, more importantly, of the reason why I stay.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

Back on the grid...

It’s been too long since I’ve written. I’ve missed the writing and perhaps you’ve found my absence curious or even disappointing. It’s been a VERY full summer. In the last six weeks alone, I’ve been to Minnesota, North Carolina, Indiana, Deltaville, VA & Richmond. I’ve never had to be in so many places in quick succession. But grace abounds! I’ve been content – pleased to be exactly where I was for a few days or even a week. All but one trip were monastic “business.” The exception to that was my vacation week – the long-awaited “week 52”. [See last summer for an explanation of that term of endearment.] The rest was just glorious and sufficient to fill the tank for the rest of my journeys. Each little jaunt was a blessing in its own way – something learned, someone I needed to talk with, experiencing life in other monasteries. While I haven’t really had time between trips to process and sort, I know God will use all of it in some way – for vocations, formation, liturgy or leadership. [That’s the newest hat – being a member of the Council. I was actually “in charge” the other night in the absence of both the prioress and subprioress and didn’t realize it until a sister made the point. I suspect it will take some getting used to…for all of us.]

Although summer is far from over, here, in the monastery, we are gathering our energies for a new year. The first blessing of August has been the addition of a new member of our administrative staff. Mary C. Finnigan is our new Director of Operations & Human Resources. A friend to our community for years, Mary will now lend her considerable professional gifts to our ministries.

I’m busy, too. [smiling] Summer is a wonderful time to organize things a bit better. [I’m a “J” on the MBTI. Organization is key to my ability to be productive. OK…I still color-code my calendar with highlighters. It’s just so pretty!] Things are disappearing into the shredder. Office supplies are en route. A lovely woman who’s here for our “Real Time” vocation program is organizing our Formation Library. Agendas are nearly finished for the planning retreats still ahead of me this month. AND…after four years in Richmond, I’ve re-learned where all the dishes go, what constitutes "doing the tables", how to lead Midday Prayer and the voicemail numbers of all the internal offices. It’s all good – all part of being home and in the heart of our community life. Ora et labora – pray and work. That’s what I’ve been doing and what I hope to be doing for a very long time.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

PS - I missed haircuts because of travel so this is my shaggy self.

A poem...

There are things of which I am certain,
many I can’t begin to understand.
By grace,
the former take care of the latter
and I live in the land called, “faith.”

Vicki Ix, OSB

Happy Feast!

July 11th is the summer feast of Saint Benedict - Patriarch of Western Monasticism. This feast is observed by the universal Church. Benedictines everywhere keep holy the 21st of March - the death of our Holy Father Benedict. Today, every daily-Mass-going Catholic is hearing of our patron and celebrating the gift of monastic life to the Church. We have a special horarium today in his honor: 9 AM Morning Prayer (sweet!), 11:30 Eucharist w/ festive meal following at 12:15. Around the world Benedictines observe this feast in a variety of ways. Some claim this day for professions and jubilees. If you know and love a Benedictine, today would be a great day to send them a greeting or offer a prayer for their perseverance in monastic life. As we pray and feast here in Bristow, know that our sisters on mission, our oblates, friends and benefactors are all held in grateful prayer.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki