A Commentary for the 1st Week of Advent by Sr. Carol Falkner

Stay awake! Be alert! These words bring us to attention as we begin this Advent season. Benedict would say, “Be sober and alert!” The reason we are being called to attention is because this holy season matters to us who are seeking God. We are to take time to watch and wait for something important is happening - Jesus has come, is coming and will come again. Advent brings new energy, new grace for encountering Christ if we open ourselves to it and pay attention.

During Advent we have our sights set on Christ’s return at the end of time. Christ has fulfilled his mission and is now, like the “lord of the house,” traveling aboard. We have been put in charge. We are watching and waiting for the Master’s return. How are we to be during our watch? We are not to be watching for Christ, but rather to watch Christ. From his example we learn how to respond to others -- how to feed the poor, heal the sick, strengthen another’s faith. Our work is futile if it only serves our purposes, but it is fruitful when we are able to reach out to others and bring justice and peace to our world. Through such actions we draw nearer to Christ and nearer to one another.

Watch - for you do not know when the Lord of the house will return. He may come in the morning, at noon or in the night. But if we align our will with the will of God it will make no difference. We will not be caught sleeping, but awake and ready. Let us then welcome this season of Advent. Let us ask Jesus to open our eyes so we can realize how close he is to us and we to him. Let us take time to pray more fervently so as to prepare our hearts for His coming once again.

Stay awake! Be alert! By all means! Amen! So be it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"No meal should be begun without prayer, and before leaving the table thanks should be returned to the Creator." (St. Jerome)

Today we give God thanks for the many blessings God has given us. Make a list of everything you want to give God thanks for. Post it where you will see it everyday. Continue to say thank you for all God's gifts.

What do I find myself saying thanks be to God? My list of thanks include:

• Relationship with God


• Benedictine Vocation and Community


• Etienne Family


• Friends


• Students


• Nature: snowy days, sandy beaches, golf courses, forest, rain, all seasons


• Good Health


• Affiliate Heather


• Food


• Shelter


• Clothing


• Having a teaching job


• Sense of humor


• Laughter in my life


• Lectio Divina


• Divine Office


• Catholic/Sacramental life


• People who desire to "Climb the Mountain" with me


• Perseverance


• Joy


• Peace

Give God the glory and all will be well. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"May God grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you."
(Sirach 50:23)

Sr. Carol Falkner's Favorite Quote from the Rule of St. Benedict

"Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else." (RB 4:20)

Christ challenged us to love one another. St. Benedict knew that relationships built on love would also bear the marks of our Christian life. This quote reminds me that as a person who professes to follow Christ my words and actions must be different from the world's way and be ones of patience, kindness, respect and love for others. It makes no difference who I encounter in a day, that person deserves my respect and love. If, for some reason, I am not treated with respect in return I am still responsible for my behavior. I must choose to be loving, I must share the love of Christ with that person. I pray that I might always remember that such love comes before all else.

Commentary for the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King by Sr. Renee Wargel, OSB

Today's gospel is the scene of the Last Judgmehnt - The Vision of our eschatological future. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will sit upon His glorious throne in glory with all the angels with Him. All the nations will be assembled before Him.

Like a shepherd, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats...the faithful on His right and the unfaithful on His left. Jesus will make decisions both sobering and surprising. It is sobering to hear the Shepherd separating the sheep from the goats because one gets the sense that there is no way of escaping it. It is surprising because people are judged on the way they meet the very basic needs of others.

The throng of people gathered at this event will be judged according to the way they treated the disciples of Jesus...Jesus' Apostles were chosen with Jesus' authority. To reject the Apostle is to reject the One who sent the Apostle.

The guilt of the people being judged in this passage is not found in the wrong they have done, but in their failure to accept those who were bringing them the Gospel to them.

The righteous are invited into the Kingdom where they will enjoy eternal life. The wicked are cast into the punishment of eternal fire. The personal choices they made will decide the sentence they receive.

The Kingdom of God is an inclusive Kingdom. Criteria for membership are not based only on obedience to the commandments or on conformity to ritual obligation. Membership is based on the covenantal bonds that unity us to each other; the bonds of love and concern...bonds that reach deep into the human heart.

Concerns must be genuine. Assistance is given whenever and wherever it is needed: in ordinary acts, in giving food and drink, shelter and clothing; in spending time with someone who might be lonely or afraid; in patiently waiting for the elderly person; in thanking people for their services.

The Kingdom we establish during our lifetime...this will be the kingdom into which we will be welcomed at its end. Christ, the Good Shepherd, looks to us through the eyes of the needy, the disfigured, the refuse of the earth. They are Christ's hands reaching out for assistance.

It is Christ who tests our patience and generosity. It is through the least of God's people that we enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD!

Benedictine Oblates

Who Are Benedictine Oblates?
Oblates are Christian laypersons who promise to live Benedictine
spirituality in their chosen lifestyle, affiliated with a particular
Benedictine monastic community.

What Is Benedictine Spirituality?
Teaching found in the Rule of Saint Benedict,

written in the sixth century, is the basis

of Benedictine spirituality. The Rule, which includes many quotes from Scripture, is a guide to lead disciples of Christ to God by way of a specific path that embraces humility, obedience and silence as necessary tools for a balanced life of prayer and work. Respect for all persons and forms of life underlie a special focus on hospitality and service.

Who Is Saint Benedict?

Benedict of Nursia, Italy was born about 480 and died about 547. He founded several monastic communities, most notably at Subiaco and Monte Cassino, Italy. From there, the Rule attributed to him spread throughout the world and is still lived today.

How Does One Become An Oblate?
There are several stages to becoming an oblate. The first stage is Inquiry. This is a time of being acquainted with the monastic and oblate communities. The best way to get started is to contact the Oblate Director and find out meeting dates and times. The inquirer can request a personal meeting with the Oblate Director. The time of inquiry lasts a minimum of nine months. During this time, the inquirer attends bi-monthly meetings. The Oblate Director engages in discernment with the inquirer to determine readiness to move to the stage of Candidacy.

There is a simple ritual to mark the step of becoming an Oblate Candidate. The Candidacy is also a minimum of nine months that includes monthly meetings. There is assigned reading and reflection in preparation for sessions with other candidates and the Oblate Director. The Oblate Director engages in discernment with the candidate to determine readiness for Oblation.

What Is An Oblate Of Our Lady Of Grace Monastery Expected To Do?

+ Engage in a regular practice of prayer suitable to the oblate's chosen lifestyle
+ Continue ongoing formation in Benedictine spirituality
+ Communicate with other oblates and members of the monastic community
+ Participate in activities of the oblates and the monastic community that are
suitable to the life-style of the oblate
+ Renew commitment of oblation by submitting to the Oblate Director a written statement annually.

What Benefits Does An Oblate Receive?
The community of Our Lady of Grace Monastery provides for the oblate:
+ Hospitality, that is a standing invitation to join the monastic community at prayer and use of space for individual prayer
+ Information about Benedictine history and spirituality through use of the monastic library
+ Ongoing formation as an oblate by gathering with other oblates at the monastery
+ An annual retreat for oblates
+ A prayer partner
+ Pray and Work Days at the monastery
+ Remembrance at the Liturgy of the Hours

Who should you contact if you are interested in becoming an Oblate of St. Benedict?

Sr. Antoinette Purcell, pictured above, is the Oblate Director for Our Lady of Grace Monastery. You can reach her by calling (317) 787-3287 X 3022. You can also email Sr. Antoinette: antoinette@benedictine.com

Celebrating the Feast of St. Gertrude

We celebrate the Feast of St. Gertrude on November 16th. Sr. Kathleen Yeadon gives us a better understanding of the life of St. Gertude in this post.

Dwelling, being pruned and bearing fruit are all themes in the life of Gertrude of Helfta. Her book: The Herald of Divine Love invites us to enter into the heart of Jesus –a heart wounded by love.

God begins pruning her life in her mid 20’s. The liturgical life is the transformative source of pruning and bringing fruit from Gertrude’s life.

First her response to God:
I praise, adore, bless and thank you to the best of my ability for your wise mercy and your merciful wisdom! For you, my Creator and my Redeemer, have sought to curb my stiff-necked obstinacy under your sweet yoke with the remedy best suited to my infirmity (The Herald of Divine Love: p. 95-96).

As Gertrude attuned herself to this new awareness of God, she saw God everywhere: So you were with me in all my actions, stirring my spirit within me (97).

Although her life was flooded by God’s graces, Gertrude struggled with being present to God. May You ever find me as attentive to Yourself as You show Yourself to me. . . . a soul weighed down with the weight of the flesh, which always resists Your love (99).

Gertrude mourned her sins and faults. She found the mercy of God ever present: Even so, unworthy as I am, I found that the depths of Your love were not exhausted (100).

Gertrude’s desire to love God is evident in her prayer: Inscribe with your precious blood, most merciful Lord, your wounds on my heart, that I may read in them both you sufferings and your love (100).

God’s desire to be her all is found in God’s response to her: May all the affections of your heart be concentrated here: all pleasure, hope, joy, sorrow, fear, and the rest; may they all be fixed in my love (102).

Our Herald of Divine love shows us the fruit of a life filled with lectio as Scripture permeates every page of her writings.

Gertrude’s joy bubbles up and her gratitude to God is readily available: May my soul bless You (Ps 103: 1), Lord God my creator! May my soul bless you and, out of . . .my inmost being, let me proclaim the mercies of the overflowing love with which you enfold me, O my sweetest lover! (128)

I close with an image of dwelling with God: May I breathe my last breath in the protection of your close embrace, with your all-powerful kiss! May my soul find herself without delay there where your are, . . .indivisible, living and exulting in the full flowering of eternity, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, true God, everlasting, world without end! (99)

Gertrude of Helfta: The Hearld of Divine Love, ed. and trans. Margaret Winkworth, The classics of Western Spirituality (New York: Paulist, 1993).

Sr. Mary Cecile's Vocation Story

"Here I am, Lord, Serving Your People"

For the past twenty-nine years I have been privileged to minister as a Pastoral Associate, Associate and Director of Faith Formation for twelve years in two rural parishes - St. Maurice, Decatur County and St. Maurice, Napoleon and then for nineteen years at St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg.

It helps me grow spiritually as I visit the sick and dying, prepare persons to enter the Catholic Church in the RCIA program, teach catechists who pass the faith to adults, teens, and children, share in Christ Renews His Parish Retreats, discuss God's Word in Scripture Studies, plan Faith Formation Programs, Reflection Days and Penance Services that create an environment for God's Spirit to work in the hearts of the people. No two days are alike! I can never predict what person's life I will share that day, what problem may need solving, what will break and need a repairman, what cross a person may be carrying, what surprise joy or happiness may come.

The 19 year old teen who entered the Ferdinand Benedictines in 1945 could never in her wildest imagination have known the ministry our surprising God had in store for her. I received my B.S. in Elementary and Music Education, MA in English from St. Louis University, MA in Religious Education from St. Meinrad School of Theology, a two year Pastoral Leadership Institute, a two year Internship in Spiritual Direction, yearly Retreats, and Hundreds of Seminars and Workshops were preparation for this ministry

The life requires FAITH, LOVE OF PEOPLE, ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY, AND QUALITY TIME each day in GOD'S PRESENCE IN PRAYER.