Advent: Preparing for the Coming of Christ By Mary Garrigan

AdventarrivesagainonNov.29andI,likesomanyothers,willmarkthisfirstliturgicalseasonofthechurchcalendarwithalltheusualsymbolsthathelpprepareusforthecomingofChristintotheworld.

IwilldigoutmyslightlybedraggledAdventwreathandbuythreenewpurplecandlesandonenewrose-coloredone.IwillattempttofindtheAdventcalendarsthatIboughtonlastyear’safter-Christmasclearancesaleandgivethemtomygrowingpasselofgrandkids.IwilltrytoincorporatesomeAdvent-appropriatereadingintomyprayerlife.

AndIwillmakecaramels.

IfcandymakingandtheIncarnationaren’tanaturalfaithfitinyourmind,allowmetoexplain.Forme,makingcaramelshascome

toseem,overthemanyAdventsI’vebeendoingit,tobethemostBenedictineofallmytraditions.ItisSt.Benedict’smotto,OraetLabora(PrayerandWork),inaction.

Becausemakingcaramelsiswork,nomatterhowsmallthebatch.Turningcreamandsugarintosilkysmoothcaramelisalong,slow,time-consumingprocessthatdemandsyourfullattention,especiallywhenyou

makeitinthequantitiesrequiredbymyChristmascaramelgivinglist.Itbrooksnodistractions,nophonecalls,nomulti-tasking.

Butitisalsoprayer,atleastformeduringAdvent.IplaysomeofmyfavoriteAdventhymns,IturnmythoughtstoGodandtoallthepeoplewhoneedGod’sgracethisyear,andIstir.Istir,andIstirandIstir.Ittakesalongtimefortheslowalchemyofheatandmotiontoworkitsmagiconthissweetconcoction.Mostyears,myprayerlistisexhaustedataboutthesametimethatthecaramelisfinished.

ThisAdvent,myprayerlistislongerthanusual.IthasbeenayearofdeathanddivorceanddiseasefortoomanypeopleIknowandlovedearly.I’llpraythatmysonswillemergefromthegriefoftheirfather’sdeath,cometooearlyandtoounexpectedly.I’llpraythatthedevastationofdivorcewillnotextracttoohighapriceonfamilyandfriendsIlove.I’llprayforthesoulsoffriendsIhavelosttocancerandforthehealthandhealingofotherswhocontinuetolivewithitsspecter.

Buttherehavebeenbirths,aswellasdeaths;peaceandforgiveness,aswellaslossandpain;bittersweetgoodbyesbutalsonewbeginnings.TheprayersthatIstirintomycaramelswillbeforallthosethings,thegoodandthebad,theblessingsandtheburdens.AndasIwaitfortheadventoftheChristchildintotheworldthisChristmas,IknowIamreallyprayingforthecomingofChrist’sloveintoallofourlives,aswell.

BlessedAdvent

St. Martin Oblate Bulletin TheOblatesofSt.MartinMonastery,RapidCity,SD Fall-Winter2015 Vol.4,No.2

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“Listening” Theme Inspires 2015 Retreat FourOblatesofSt.MartinMonasteryprovidedinspiringpresentationson“listening”fortheannualOblateRetreat,October9-10,2015.ThethemehadbeenchoseninthespringbyOblatemembers.OnFridayevening,SandiOhlen’stalk,“ListeningtoGod,”wasfollowedbyaTaizeserviceledbythemusicianswhoguidethemonthlyserviceattheTerraSanctaRetreatCenter.ThethemewasfurtherdevelopedonSaturdaybyGeriKonenkamp’sinsightsregardinglisteningto

othersandTomDurkin’sencouragementtolistentoGodinoursurroundings.Followinghissuggestion,manyofustookaquiet,meditativehikeononeormoreoftheTerraSanctatrails.BunkerHillconcludedtheretreatwithareflectiononlisteninginspiredbytheRuleofSt.Benedict.Evaluationsoftheretreatwereverypositive.Summariesofthreepresentationswillbeprintedinthisnewsletter;thefourthwillappearinalaterissue.

ListeningtoGodBySandiOhlen

Takealookatthewordslistenandsilentandyou’llseetheysharethesamelettersbutsimplyinadifferentorder!ThisisenlighteningbecausethesetwowordsareessentialingredientsforourgrowingrelationshipwithourlovingLord!Scripture,theDesertMothersandFathers,andtheSaintsandProphetsallattesttothenecessityforlisteningtoGodinsilenceifwearegoingtofollowthedesireofourheartforintimacyandunionwithourCreatorandRedeemer.OurMother/FatherGoddeeply

longsforustocometohimandtoshoweruswithdeep,grace-filledlove.Andconversely,Godhasalsoplaceduponourheartsdeepdesireandlongingforcommunionwithhim.ThewordsofSt.AugustineexpressthismutualityoflovewehaveforGodandGodforus:”Youhavemadeusforyourself,andourheartsarerestlessuntiltheycanfindrestinYou.”WehaveasenseofincompletenessuntilweturntoGodandnurtureourdesireforGod

2015OBLATERETREATANTSBackrow:Sr.LoraneCoffin,MaryGarrigan,MichaelDoyle,BunkerHill;Middlerow:CarolGreen,TuraPelayic,GeriKonenkamp,KaySchwandt,Sr.ThereseMarieFurois,TerryBrockmeyer;Frontrow:RachelByrum,TomDurkin,SandiOhlen,KarenRichards

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Listen with the ear of your heart

throughourdailyprayerpractice.ThisreciprocityofloveflowsbetweenGodandourselveswhenweintentionallytaketimeawaytobeinsilent,listeningprayerwithGod.

Benedict’sfirstwordsinthePrologueofSt.Benedict’sRuleare,“Listenwiththeearofyourheart”.Oneofthemostlovinggiftswecangivetoanotherisgenuinelistening.Thisdeeplisteningdevelopsintimacyandrequirespresenceandattention.ThiskindoflisteningpresenceisessentialingrowinganddevelopingdeeprelationshipwithourlovingSavior.Itmeanstakingthetimeandspaceto“be”withGod…soakinginHislove….listeninginameditativewaytothevoiceoflove.Thisdeeppresenceinprayerleadsusintocontemplation:GodlovingusanduslovingGodinthesilenceofourheart.Ittakesustoourcenter,oursoul,ourveryessencewhereGodlovesusintolife.Jesus’wordswerealwaysborneoutofprayerful,quiettimecommuningwithhisFatherinheavenasheretreatedtoaquietplacetopray.Nouwenwrites,“ItisinlisteningthatGodbecomespresentandheals.”Godiswaitingforustocometohim,togivehimroominourheartsothathecanshoweruswithloveandteachusofourpreciousnessashischildren.Ps.46:10“BestillandknowthatIamGod.”Thistakesremovingourselvesfromthenoiseinourlives,andaswesurrenderGodshapesandformsusaccordingtoHiswill.Thenwebecomehisinstrumentofpeaceandloveintheworld!WehaverichprayerpracticesfromourearlyChristiantraditionandhistorythatnurtureandguideusinthisprayeroflistening.SomeoftheseincludetheJesusPrayerorBreatheprayers,LectioDivina,CenteringPrayer,theDivineOffice,the

PrayerLabyrinthandTaizeworship.Tryingdifferentprayerpracticesandgivingattentiontowhichresonatewithinourownheartisagoodplacetostart.Oneexamplethat’ssoeasytoinitiateintoourlifeisthebreatheprayerthatisbeautifulandhealing.BreatheintoGod’swordsforyou,“Iloveyou,JohnorSuzy(sayyourownname)andthenbreatheoutyourwordstoGod,“Iloveyou,Jesus(orFather,Abba,Savior,yourchoice).PerseveringindailyprayerandbeingincommunitywiththosewhonurtureandencourageusonourprayerjourneygroundsusinGod’sgraceandlovewhichwethentakeintoourday.CarlMcColmanauthorofBefriendingSilence,AnsweringtheContemplativeCall,writes,“WaitingontheHolyOne,insilence,istheheartofChristianspirituality.”GodspokeintheTransfigurationtoPeter,James,andJohn,“ThisismyBelovedSon,listentohim.”ListeningtoGodwiththeearoftheheartisfallingintothearmsofourBeloved!Blessingstoyouonyourprayerjourney!

Congratulations to Karen Richards, who celebrates her 50th anniversary as an Oblate this year!

Karen became an Oblate of Sacred Heart Monastery while she was a student at Mount Marty College.

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ListeningtoGodinourSurroundingsbyTomDurkin

HowdowelistentoGodinoursurroundings,especiallyinthemarvelousworldofnaturethatGoddelightsinsharingwithus?TomDurkingaveusarichresourceformeditationbysharingsomeinsightfulquotationsfromScripture,ascientistandchurchleaders.ThenheinvitedustohikeinsilenceoneormoreoftheTerraSanctatrailstotakeinthebeautyofourarea.

Howdowe“listen”toGodinoursurroundings…innature?Thefollowingscriptureversesandinsightsfromfamousthinkershelpaddressthatquestion.• Butnowaskthebeaststoteachyou;and

thebirdsoftheairtotellyou:Orthereptilesonearthtoinstructyou,andthefishoftheseatoinformyou.WhichofallthesedoesnotknowthatthehandoftheLORDhasdonethis?(Job12:7-9)

• TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGodand

theskyproclaimsitsbuilder’scraft.(Psalms19:2)

• Byfaithweunderstandthattheuniverse

wasorderedbythewordofGod,sothatwhatisvisiblecameintobeingthroughtheinvisible.(Hebrews11:3)

PinwheelGalaxyAlbertEinsteinreflects:“Myreligionconsistsofahumbleadmirationoftheillimitable

superiorspiritwhorevealshimselfintheslightdetailsweareabletoperceivewithourfrailandfeebleminds.Thatdeeplyemotionalconvictionofthepresenceofasuperiorreasoningpower,whichisrevealedintheincomprehensibleuniverse,formsmyideaofGod.”St.JohnPaulIIteachesusthatbyobservingandstudyingnature,wearedrawnever-closertowardGod:“Scientistsarewellawarethatthesearchfortruth,evenwhenitconcernsafiniterealityoftheworldorofman,isnever-ending,butalwayspointsbeyondtosomethinghigherthantheimmediateobjectofstudy,tothequestionswhichgiveaccesstoMystery”.(FidesetRatio,106).Lastly,inkeepingwiththefocusontheheavens,ArchbishopFultonSheendrawsabeautifulanalogybetweenthecreatedandtheCreator:“Godwhomadethesunalsomadethemoon.Themoondoesnottakeawayfromthebrillianceofthesun.Themoonwouldbeonlyaburnedoutcinderfloatingintheimmensityofspace,wereitnotforthesun.Allitslightisreflectedfromthatglowingsurface.Inlikemanner,MaryreflectsherDivineSon,withoutwhomsheisnothing.Ondarknightswearegratefulforthemoon;whenweseeitshiningweknowtheremustbeasun.So,inthisdarknightoftheworld,whenmenturnedtheirbacksonHimWhoistheLightoftheWorld,welooktoMarytoguideourfeetwhileweawaitthesunrise.”

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ListeningintheRuleofSt.BenedictbyBunkerHillBasedonanarticlebySr.AquinataBöckmann,OSB “Listen!”TheLatinforthisfirstwordofBenedict’sRuleis“obscultare”,an

intensifiedformthat’susedonlyhere.EstherdeWaalwrites:“Itisadmonition,exhortation,toarouseorawaken,topiercetheheart,tochallenge.‘Listen!’-IcouldtakethatasasummaryofthewholeofBenedict’steaching.”TheProloguerepeatsagainandagainthattheLordcallsus,anditisnotenoughto“listenwiththeearofourheart”onlyonce,butwemustlistenagainandagain,maybeondifferentlevels.Itisessentialtoamonasticlife. ThePrologueisconstructedlikeadialoguebetweenthelisteningearoftheheartandthepowerfulandchallenging,butsweet,goodandpromisingvoiceoftheLord.Thuswegainpeaceinourhearts,whichthenallowsustolistenevenmoredeeply.Incliningtheearofourheartallowsustobecometrulyhappy. RB4:55admonishesustolistenwillinglytoHolyScriptures.Thesedayswereadscripture,butinBenedict’sday,evenifthemonasticswereabletoread,theywouldnormallyreadaloud,thustheholywordsenteredtheheartthroughtheeyesandthroughtheears.OneimportantpartoftheBiblemustberead“whileallarelistening”,andthatisthe“OurFather”.Yet,theyallsaythesecondpartwhichcontainsthephrase:“forgiveusasweforgive”(RB13:12).Incliningoftheearoftheheartinclinesourheartstoforgiveothers. InRB6:6Benedictsaysthatit’sproperforthediscipletobesilentandlisten.Listeningistheartofloving,anditisnecessarytoovercomeanger,hostileemotions,murmuring,differentkindsofrevolt,andbringpeacetoourheart.Ifwecan’tpracticesilence,wewon’tbeabletoheartheLord’slovingvoice. RB5clarifiesthatlisteningisessentialtothevowofobedience.OneshouldlistentotheabbotasiflisteningtotheLord.ButBenedictadds:

“Evenifhisownconduct–whichGodforbid–beatoddswithwhathesays,remembertheteachingoftheLord:‘Dowhattheysay,notwhattheydo’(Mt23:3)”.Thesuperior’ssindoesnotexcuseusfromlisteningandperformingthetask;onthecontrary:itmeanslisteningdeeper. InRB38onthetablereadingatmeals,themonasticsarecalled“listeners”.OntheonehandtheylistentoHolyScripture,andontheotherhandtothenecessitiesoftheirneighbors,sothatthereisnoneedtoaskforanything(38,6f).InRB47BenedictsaystheonewhoproclaimsthereadingshouldannouncetheHolywordstothehearerswiththespiritualqualitiesofhumility,gravityandreverencesothatthelistenersmaybeedified(47:3).Thecommunityis“edified”,builtupbylisteningtotheHolyWord. InRB3:2,listeningnotonlyrelatestoScriptureortothewordsoftheabbot,buttheabbotmustlistentothebrothers.Benedictwantstheabbottoheartheiradvicewheneveranyimportantbusinesshastobedone(3:1-2).Asdifferentviewsareexpressed,theabbotmustlistentotheLordtodiscernwhichadviceisbest.Oneimportantsentenceforhisdiscernmentis:“TheLordoftenrevealstotheyoungerwhatisbetter(3:3).”Paradoxically,Godrevealshismessagetothelittleandsimpleones. Godinclinestheearofhishearttousaswell.God’slisteningisundisturbedattention,lovingopennesstous.Godhimselfisthemodeloflisteningwiththeearofhisheart,joiningourheartsinloveandobedience. Therearemanychapterswhichdonothavetheword“listen”,buttheyarestillfulloflistening.Ifweareattentive,wewillfeelhowBenedictlistenedandinclinedtheearofhishearttothisandtheothersideandespeciallytoGod.ItisclearthatBenedictdesignedhisRuletomakeofthemonasteryalisteningcommunity!

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The Oblate Institute By Carol Greene

InJuly,SisterLoraneandIstartedajourneytothe2015OblateInstituteatMountSt.ScholasticaMonasteryinAtchison,KS.WewerejoinedbyBunkeratthemonastery.TheworkshoppresentedbySisterIreneNowellwasbasedonherbook,Pleading,Cursing,Praising:ConversingwithGodthroughthePsalms.SisterIreneisamemberoftheAtchisonBenedictines.Theauthorofseveralbooksonbiblicaltopics,sheservedonthetranslationteamoftherevisedOldTestamentoftheNewAmericanBibleandontheCommitteeonIlluminationsandTextsforTheSaintJohn’sBible.Icanonlyimagineherloveofthepsalmscomesfromherparticipationinmusicministry.Bunkerexpressedmythoughtswhenhesaid,“Sheisascholar.”SisterandIleftRapidCitytheWednesdaybeforetheeventandtraveledtoSiouxFallswhereshehadmadearrangementstostaywiththePresentationSisterswhohavehomesnearAveraMcKennanHospital.Thesuiteswerelovelywithlacecurtainsonawallofwindows;itremindedmeofhistorichomesonWestBoulevard.Thesistersdelightedmewiththeirconversationatsupper,afterwhichwetookatourofthehospital’sartgalleryandbeautifullylandscapedoutdoorcampus.Asoneofthesisterssaid,itishealingforboththebodyandsoul.ThenextdaywetraveledtoMountSt.Scholastica.OncewegotthroughaconfusingdetouronthecountryroadssouthofKansasCity,wearrivedatthemonastery.WesettledintoourroomandwerefortunatetohavealovelywomanfromKansasCityroomingwithus.Thenextthreedayswerefilledwithwordsofwisdom,greatpeopleandfunevents.OnFriday,thepresentationscovered“TellingYourStory”and“CryingOutYourPain.”Forthefirstsession,sheinvitedusto

shareeventsinourliveswhereweexperiencejoyorpain.Wewerename3or4importanteventsinourlivesandrespondtothemwith“God’sloveenduresforever.”InthesessiononPsalmsoflament,SisterIrenesaidnothingistoorawtobebroughttoGod,andwhateverourpainGodwillshowourenemymercy.AswetellGodourtroubles,Hewillturnourhopeintothanksgiving.Inthisactivity,weusednewspaperarticlesofcurrenteventsthatcausepainandsufferingtowritealament.OnSaturday,thetopicswere“GivingThanksToGod”and“SingYourPraise.”SisterIrenesaidthethanksgivingPsalmsaresongsofconfidence.Ouractivitywastousethealphabettowritedownthingswearethankfulfor.Aftertimesoftrouble,whenwerealizewearesaved,wearefilledwithgratitudeanddelight.Thenwegatheracrowd,tellourstoryandsingHispraise.Ouractivitywastowriteasongofpraise.ThefinalsessiononSundaywas“SharingtheTreasure.”Psalmscalleveryoneandeverythingincreationandonearth;theytellthereasonforpraisingGodandanappropriateendingisthegreatHebrewcalltopraise,Hallelujah!Attheendofthissession,Bunkerandacoupleofotherparticipantswereinvitedtosharetheirthoughtsabouttheweekend.TheSistershostedanicecreamsocialonFridayevening,andonSaturdayeveningthetopicwas“ThePsalms:AnExerciseinHumor.”Withwinetobringoutourcreativeside,wewroteandsharedhumorouspsalmsthatproducedalotoflaughs.ThatsameeveningthecitywascelebratingitsannualAmeliaEarhartFestival,soafterdarkweweretreatedtospectacularfireworks.Ofcourse,therewasplentyoftimeforwalksinsolitudearoundtheirgrounds.Wewereabletosharemorningandevening

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praisewiththecommunityinthechoirchapelbuiltin1900wheretheornatechoirstallsfaceeachothertoenhancetheliturgyofthehours.Itfeltlikeanotherera.Thechapelwindows,designedbyEmilFreiinSt.Louis,tellthestoryofSt.BenedictanddepictaspectsofhisRule.AsidenoteoftheweekendwaswhenSisterIrenetalkedaboutthepatronsaintofoblates,St.FrancesofRome,whofoundedtheOlivetanOblatesofMary.Hermostfamousquoteis,“Amarriedwomanmust,whencalledupon,quitherdevotiontoGod

atthealtartofindHiminherhouseholdaffairs.”AfterMassonSunday,SisterandIheadedbacktoYankton,SDwherewespenttheeveningwiththeBenedictineSistersofSacredHeartMonastery.WehadanicewalkaroundthegroundsandSisterLoranesharedsomememoriesofwhenshewenttoschoolthere.Thenextday,wereturnedtoRapidCity.IwouldrecommendthisOblateInstitutetoeveryone.ItisagreatlearningexperienceandagreatopportunitytomeetOblatesfromaroundthecountry.

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TheOblatesofSt.MartinMonasteryareChristianwomenandmen,Catholicornon-Catholic,layorordained,whoarespirituallyunitedwiththemonasticcommunityinseekingGodaccordingtothesixthcenturyRuleofSt.Benedict.TheyhavediscoveredthattheguidanceoftheRulecanhelpthemdevelopabalancedlifestylethatwillstrengthenandenhancetheircommitmenttoChrist,regardlessoftheirvocation.Ecumenismisstrengthenedbytheparticipants’respectforthereligioustraditionsandinsightsofeachmember.TheOblatesmeetatthemonasteryfrom12:30-2:00pm.onthesecondSaturdayofeachmonthexceptinJune,JulyandAugust.ForinquiriesregardingtheOblateProgramatSt.MartinMonastery,pleasecontactSisterLoraneCoffin,OSB(605)343-8011email:lcoffin933@gmail.com

OblatePicnic,July11,2015underthebigtentatTerraSancta

Seated:PeterPelayic,JaneHill,TuraPelayic,Sr.ThereseMarie,CarolGreeneStanding:Sr.Lorane,TomDurkin,GeriKonenkamp,DonFrankenfeld,KaySchwandt,MaryGarrigan,KevinWooster,BunkerHill.