Insights from the Life of a Franciscan Sister

[juchu]

“…More than watchmen count on daybreak”- Reflections on Psalm 130

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To quote more fully from the psalm: “My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on His word. My soul is longing for the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak. Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.”

Anyway, this morning, I had finished my work and was just standing in the hallway waiting for the nurse to come. I was quite tired since I hadn’t slept for nearly 24 hours. I could really relate to this passage and thought: “So this is how the watchmen referred to in the psalm felt.”

yes, I love this psalm. We sing it for compline once a week and during advent time with a special antiphon that makes you really feel that one "longs for the Lord".

I also often have in my mind Jesaja 62, 6:

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest."

For me it describes very beautifully the sense of a contemplative vocation. To be "watchwoman" over this world.

[sr.christinaosf]

I do kind of wonder how this psalm got to be associated with prayers for the dead.  It is such a good one for the living as well.  

It's interesting the different translations there are of it.  Sometimes when we pray it at Office (when it comes along in the four-week cycle), I want to say "Eternal Rest grant unto them.." instead of the "Glory..." and have to catch myself.

[sr.christinaosf]

I'm sorry this isn't the most well-written article ever.  Guess I got a little 'writer's block' .    

Whatever the case, don’t lick the microphone!!!

JULY 7, 2015 / OUR FRANCISCAN FIAT /

This afternoon, I ended up calling bingo for our residents in the activity room here at St. Anne’s Guest Home.  I like to throw in a little humor and liven things up a little on the few occasions that I help out as a bingo caller.

I wear a straw hat and go by the name of “Edith” rather than “Sister Christina.”  This comes from the fact that the “church ladies” (from St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s) often call bingo on Tuesdays during the school year.  During the summer months, our activities staff and another volunteer hold bingo instead.  When I call, I’m a pretend “church lady.”  I wear a flowered straw hat and tell jokes in personification of the role.

I also like to have fun making puns with the numbers.  For example, I’ll call “B-4…Before, you shout ‘bingo’ be sure you have all the numbers.”

Besides this, and along with an occasional stray bingo ball, things were also ‘livened up’ today in a rather unsavory manner.  You see, we make it easier for our residents (some of whom are hearing-impaired) by amplifying our voice with a microphone during bingo.  This afternoon, I was speaking into the mic. and accidentally licked it – YUCK!!!

Thinking about this, as I prepared to write, reminded me of St. James’ warning about the tongue (ch. 3).  He had strong words to his readers about its use.  The tongue is, indeed, a powerful organ, for good or ill.

As I was slightly disgusted by the feel of my tongue touching the microphone at bingo today, all the more so should I be careful not to let any disgusting or harmful words pass by it.  I don’t want to say anything demeaning to the dignity of any person.

There’s a neat little quip I learned during my school years, growing up, which may be a helpful ‘tongue-guard.’  Before speaking about someone, we can ask ourselves: “Is it true?  Is it nice?  Is it necessary?  At least two out of these three questions should receive an affirmative answer before we proceed to say something.

Edited July 8, 2015 by sr.christinaosf

[sr.christinaosf]

The bells of St. Anne’s…Ah, here they are calling

JULY 10, 2015 / OUR FRANCISCAN FIAT / 

Last Sunday, St. Anne’s Chapel re-instated the practice of using a bell at Mass during the Eucharistic Prayer.

There were various reasons in church history which led to the ringing of bells.  Although all of them are not still in effect, the practice still can be advantageous and is even mentioned in the Church’s official General Instruction on the Roman Missal.

I read a comment that the ringing of bells in times past may have been related to the priest using a low voice; even today, hearing issues are a consideration for some of our residents.  Even for those of us with perfect hearing, the bell serves a purpose.  I know, for myself, I do not have perfect concentration, and my mind can wander even at Mass.  (I even forgot to ring the bell on Thursday; just call me a ding-a-ling!).

Now, I have to be ‘on my toes’ because the job of bell-ringer has kind of fallen to me.The ringing of a bell can serve as a kind of ‘wake-up call” to get us back on track during this very special, very holy moment that we don’t want to miss due to distraction.

Along with the purpose of reining in wandering minds, the use of the bell, I think, also can add to the sense of reverence for the sacredness of what is happening right here.  Our Franciscan Rule exhorts us “to show the greatest possible reverence and honor for the…most holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”  It is hoped that this little gesture in our liturgy can contribute to this.

I thought I would close this little article with my version of the song that inspired the title.  Though a different version was sung in the 1945 classic film The Bells of St. Mary’s, I am using a modification of the original lyrics.

The bells of St. Anne’s
Ah, here they are calling
The old loves, and the true loves
that come here to be.
And so my beloved…
to our knees we are falling
The love bells shall ring out, yes, ring out
For you, yes, you and me.

 

[BarbTherese]

Keep posting, Sister.  I am really enjoying your posts - instructive too.

[sr.christinaosf]

Thanks....I am kind of doubtful about this new way of adding posts onto the one single thread.  It gets so long and does not specify what it is about until a person opens it.  I think it might be better to create new threads instead.  Any thoughts?

[BarbTherese]

For my part, Sister, I have been very happy to follow the thread and because I am interested, opening the one thread is not a problem rather a blessing - I don't have to look around for a new thread.  Others may have other thoughts.

You opened the thread on the 15th June 2015 (27 days to current) and have had 858 viewings.  That's a good number and shows their is real interest I think.

(You can find your statistics under the thread title in Vocations Forum)

[marigold]

Thanks....I am kind of doubtful about this new way of adding posts onto the one single thread.  It gets so long and does not specify what it is about until a person opens it.  I think it might be better to create new threads instead.  Any thoughts?

Just speaking for myself, now that it's a single thread, I do read the posts. When it was a separate thread for every blog post, I didn't read them.

We already know roughly what it's going to be about - thoughts, musings, funny incidents from your perspective as a Franciscan sister - and that's what we are happy to read, no matter what the particular 'topic' of a post is. Just so long as you don't start slipping in subliminal messages, I think your readership works well this way

[sr.christinaosf]

I just thought I'd add...

If anyone has suggestions for future topics or feedback about what you most enjoy/find most beneficial, I am always looking for suggestions.  Thanks.

[vee]

I just thought I'd add...

If anyone has suggestions for future topics or feedback about what you most enjoy/find most beneficial, I am always looking for suggestions.  Thanks.

Just your ordinary life is interesting. 

[sr.christinaosf]

I won't paste the whole transcript here, but in honor of the upcoming feast of St. Bonaventure, I've posted my interview with our Sister Mary (Bonaventure) who was a teacher and an artist.  If you're interested, check it out at: https://ourfranciscanfiat.wordpress.com/

[:o)Katherine:o)]

Please keep it a single thread! While I may not always comment, I enjoy checking this thread when I see that you have posted something new. Along with Marigold, I often missed things you posted under other threads. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to share with us your insights, thoughts and life. You are a blessing and joy! 

[BarbTherese]

Please keep it a single thread! While I may not always comment, I enjoy checking this thread when I see that you have posted something new. Along with Marigold, I often missed things you posted under other threads. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to share with us your insights, thoughts and life. You are a blessing and joy! 

Second the motion wholeheartedly.  Thank you very much, Sister - and yes keep it in a single thread please.

 

[sr.christinaosf]

Thanks for the comments.  I kind of felt funny using the word "insights' -  like I'm so insightful, right?  

I just had a to add something kind of random...I'm getting excited for next week.  I serve here at St Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks, North Dakota and we're gearing up for "St. Anne's Week," in honor of what would be her feast day (July 26). Since it's a Sunday this year, it unfortunately falls off the liturgical calendar.  

Anyway, we've got some fun plans, including different themed dress up days (can't wait for sports day and pajama day) as well as a daily trivia contest.  I might just have to write up something about it on our Fiat. For now, if anyone has any other fun ideas, you can please share.  Thanks. 

[sr.christinaosf]

“Laundry Ladies”…what an unexpected phone call and an unplanned afternoon have in common

JULY 17, 2015 / OUR FRANCISCAN FIAT / 

Late last evening, I got a phone call from my former “junior directress,” who mentored me during my years between the end of novitiate and my final vows in 2013.  Sister Leonida has been of great assistance to me over the years, but this time, she wanted a favor from me!

Since moving back to our provincial house/St. Francis Convent (SFC) in Hankinson, she has befriended the two women who work in the main laundry room there.  She told me last night that she goes down from time to time and visits them, often bringing jokes to share.  Even though she has experienced many years of life, Sister still has a youthful sense of humor along with many other gifts.

Sister Leonida knows the propensity I have for making up names for things and people; after all, when I first came to our community, I dubbed her the “C.C.C.C.”  (consistent, careful, counter cleaner) for her diligent work cleaning up after meals.  So this time when she called, it was to ask me for name ideas.

This is because Sister Leonida had referred to the workers as ‘laundry ladies.’  They had expressed to her that they would prefer a different name.  After a brief discussion, we came up with “the Double L Team” (which stands for Laundry Laidies).  I offered to try and design a logo for them with the new name, and came up with the above image, just in time to save it and attach it in an email before turning in for the night. 

Little did I know, as I did this little graphic design project, that I would be the “laundry lady” today, due to a family emergency on the part of our regularly scheduled worker.  It’s ironic that today I got the job of collecting, sorting,checking pockets and laundering our residents’ clothing, right after my naming endeavor with Sr. Leonida.

[sr.christinaosf]

I wanted to share this about the fun we'll be having!  It's from my blog for our facility, The St. Anne's Scoop.

Looking forward to ‘St. Anne’s Week’

July 16, 2015 Uncategorized

Last year’s Sports Day

Soon we’ll be kicking off our annual week of festivities in celebration of our patron saint, that is St. Anne, the mother of Mary and Jesus’ grandmother!

I say “kicking off’ because the dress up theme for the start of the week is ‘Sports Day.’  Each day will have a dress up theme, an act of kindness, and a trivia question.  Prizes will be awarded, probably at our celebration day on Monday, July 27.

So if you stop by St. Anne’s and notice people being especially kind, or dressed kind of goofy, you’ll know why.  If you plan ahead, you can even take part yourself – take a look in your closet.

The schedule is as follows:
Monday, July 20 ~ Sports Day
Tuesday, July 21 ~ Western Day
Wednesday, July 22 ~ Wacky Hair / Hat Day
Thursday, July 23 ~ Miss-Match Day
Friday, July 24 ~ Bedtime Day
Wear blue for St. Anne’s
Saturday, July 25 ~ Patriotic (Red, White & Blue) Day
Sunday, July 26 ~ Dress-up Day
Monday, July 27 ~ Wear blue for St. Anne’s

“Street Dance” ~ Sunday, July 26 ~ 7 p.m.
Our residents will be invited to gather on our patio for some music

St. Anne’s Day Party ~ Monday, July 27 – 2 p.m.

We’re looking forward to a fun week!

[vee]

Sounds like your residents have a lot of fun!

[sr.christinaosf]

I hope so...   I hope we have good participation!

[sr.christinaosf]

“We’re going shoplifting…I mean shopping.”

July 21, 2015July 21, 2015 / Our Franciscan Fiat 

 

This morning, I hurried after prayer to make chapel preparations for Mass before going with Sister Elaine on her bi-weekly expedition.  I normally do not do this, but I am getting ready to make special cheese cakes for our upcoming celebration of St. Anne’s Day and needed a few ingredients.

We left right away at 7 a.m. in one of the big vans to go shopping; we wanted to be back on time for our 9 a.m. Mass.  Sr. Elaine was to play the organ for the first hymn and I needed to be available to make finishing touches on the sacristy/altar preparations.

Along with many other duties, Sr. Elaine helps St. Anne’s by “shoplifting.”  Don’t worry; this does not refer to any illegal activity, but is just the term she jokingly uses to alert staff of her plans; they give her their lists of needed items and she graciously picks them up for them.

Rather than add to her burden (especially since I was a little uncertain as to what I was getting), I went with Sr. Elaine this morning and found my cream cheese and graham crackers.  I was “tickled pink” because I made a neat discovery.  I will be making some chocolate peanut butter cakes along with the raspberry ones and I wanted something for a tasty and decorative topping.  It made my morning when I saw bags of Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chips…how perfect; it was exactly what I needed and I didn’t even know that such a thing existed.  It seemed that Someone was looking out for me!

Edited July 21, 2015 by sr.christinaosf

[sr.christinaosf]

(Please note: We work at St. Anne's, a home for elderly and vulnerable adults.)