We've Gone Public!

[Spem in alium]

Funny moment the other day. I was writing some Christmas wishes in Italian and was wondering why they didn't sound right. I read them over and over and even checked them against a dictionary to see what was the matter. Then I finally realised that part of my Italian wishes was written in Polish!

 

[Spem in alium]

Sensational few days.

We celebrated our congregational feast day with a good meal and carol singing. On New Year's Eve I went with my formator for some shopping and for brunch. She is such nice company and we had a great time. In the evening we had Adoration and watched the NY fireworks on TV and also from our garden  (the school next to the convent was celebrating).

 Yesterday we had our house blessed. Two priests came and we had a beautiful lunch together. In the afternoon, after Vespers, we received our patrons for the year (we get a patron, a virtue to practice and something to pray for). Another sister and I prepared 31 patrons for our sisters, our houses and our province. After two years of having our foundress as my patron, I wondered if I would be blessed again to be under her protection. This year my patron is St Edith Stein! What I found particularly moving was that she is the patron of loss of one's parents, and I am praying this year for the deceased parents of my Sisters  I had absolutely no idea of her patronage when I was putting the patrons and prayer intentions together as I know very little about her!

 

[Spem in alium]

Today is one of our sisters' birthdays. We had the normal cards and gift for her in the morning, and in the evening we organised a cake with the community. After we had eaten our superior suggested we sing and so we spent close to an hour singing carols. When we finished singing, we all moved to the kitchen to start washing but one sister was still singing. She started dancing with our birthday girl and soon we were all dancing together...all seven of us, in the kitchen!

The small moments in community are so beautiful to me.

[Sister Leticia]

16 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

This year my patron is St Edith Stein! What I found particularly moving was that she is the patron of loss of one's parents, and I am praying this year for the deceased parents of my Sisters  I had absolutely no idea of her patronage when I was putting the patrons and prayer intentions together as I know very little about her!

 

After what you've written about your parents' struggles with your entrance... Maybe you could ask your new patron to reverse her patronage, for you and your family - and take special care of your parents, who fear they are losing their daughter?

[Spem in alium]

4 hours ago, Sister Leticia said:

After what you've written about your parents' struggles with your entrance... Maybe you could ask your new patron to reverse her patronage, for you and your family - and take special care of your parents, who fear they are losing their daughter?

That's a beautiful idea. I have searched (but not been successful) to find when her mother died - if she was alive when Edith converted and later entered the Carmelites. I doubt that St Edith did not pray for her parents. I think she will be a good patron in that regard, praying for my family too. 

[Spem in alium]

Nice (and funny) moments in aged care:

- I was going home for lunch and crossing a courtyard where some residents were sitting. I smiled and waved at them and one man said (not in English), "Hi, little Sister!" I went up to him and took his hand and he said something like "Why are you so small???"

- After lunch I went to visit a few particular residents. I was in the dining room speaking to one lady and I saw another lady whom I know make a beeline for me. I happen to remember her full name, even her maiden name, and she always gets a kick out of hearing me say it (though because she has dementia, she doesn't remember that I know it, so it is always a pleasant surprise for her ). We went into their TV room to talk and another lady followed us, so we were a nice group for a while. The two of them both have some form of dementia to varying degrees so it made for interesting conversation!

One thing about this particular lady is she gives compliments every few minutes, maybe even more regularly. It makes me a bit uncomfortable (compliments, especially extended ones, generally do) but I stay with her - she remembers me and likes to talk with me. At one point she said, "I never thought I would fall in love with someone the way I have fallen in love with you." It was so surprising! 

[beatitude]

On 1/2/2017 at 7:09 PM, Spem in alium said:

That's a beautiful idea. I have searched (but not been successful) to find when her mother died - if she was alive when Edith converted and later entered the Carmelites. I doubt that St Edith did not pray for her parents. I think she will be a good patron in that regard, praying for my family too. 

Edith's mother was alive when Edith was baptised and when she entered the monastery, and she cried both times. Her daughter's conversion was very painful to her. On the day Edith entered the monastery, she accompanied her mother to synagogue one last time, and her grieving mother asked her, "Why did you get to know it [Christianity]? I don't want to say anything against him [Jesus]. He may have been a very good person. But why did he make himself God?" That anguished, "Why did you get to know it?" has been asked by a lot of Catholic parents about their children's decision to enter religious life. I think Jesus has definitely sent the right patron to you.

[Spem in alium]

2 hours ago, beatitude said:

Edith's mother was alive when Edith was baptised and when she entered the monastery, and she cried both times. Her daughter's conversion was very painful to her. On the day Edith entered the monastery, she accompanied her mother to synagogue one last time, and her grieving mother asked her, "Why did you get to know it [Christianity]? I don't want to say anything against him [Jesus]. He may have been a very good person. But why did he make himself God?" That anguished, "Why did you get to know it?" has been asked by a lot of Catholic parents about their children's decision to enter religious life. I think Jesus has definitely sent the right patron to you.

Oh, thank you. This speaks right to my heart. She is the perfect patron for me at this time. Thanks be to God.

[Spem in alium]

Praying especially for the homeless today. Since last night we've had a man sleeping and drinking alcohol in our garden. We've called the police but they've not yet arrived and we can't get him to move. One sister and I took him some food, drink and clothes as he's very wet and dirty. He seems very disoriented and lost (perhaps as s result of alcohol) and couldn't tell us anything besides his name and that he has no family.

[Spem in alium]

The man was taken away by the police this afternoon. He couldn't stand and walk on his own and was very disoriented, so an ambulance came to assist. Please pray with us for him.

[Spem in alium]

Today some of my sisters and I had a beautiful day at the beach - walking, swimming, talking, eating gelato... Only letdown was getting stung by a bluebottle (small jellyfish) and getting a bit sunburned -- my skin is very sensitive even with sunscreen. My legs now look like tomatoes but I should be right in a few days!

[TheresaThoma]

Ouch on the bluebottle sting! I hope it was only a mild one. Sounds like a lovely day besides that though.

[Spem in alium]

One of my sisters died today. I feel numb but I know she's with God. She is the first person to die whom I've really known and loved. 

[Spem in alium]

On Sunday, January 08, 2017 at 10:33 AM, TheresaThoma said:

Ouch on the bluebottle sting! I hope it was only a mild one. Sounds like a lovely day besides that though.

It was mild but still very painful. One of my feet (the one which was stung) is sore and blistered. Otherwise I'm ok, just still red.

Sister's funeral will hopefully be this week. Today was not an easy day by any means. Please pray for us. 

[NadaTeTurbe]

My prayers and thoughts are for you and your sisters, Spem. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-i1ESIRKdA

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your arrival and lead you to the holy city Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive you and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.

[Spem in alium]

Thank you, Nada. Her death was very unexpected and we're just shocked; she was in hospital but not critically ill. Many sisters went to the hospital but she died before they arrived - one sister was with her, and I'm glad she didn't die alone.

Some of us stayed home and prayed (we were praying around the time she died). There are some absolutely beautiful prayers for the dying and departed. We prayed one which was like a litany of Old Testament figures, very striking.

Sister and I lived in the same community and were quite close to one another. I am still coming to terms with the fact that I'll never see her again on earth. I was quite consoled and amused, though, by the fact that my prayer intention for this year is for our deceased parents and Sisters. When I got that intention I had the feeling it would be very relevant in some way, but didn't realise it would happen so soon. Maybe she's in heaven saying, "See, Spem? I asked you to pray for me and now you can  - ALL YEAR!" 

Edited January 9, 2017 by Spem in alium

[Spem in alium]

My application to progress to the next stage of my formation is almost finalised. It would be nice to have a response before I go for my home visit in just over a week, as my family is asking me a lot of things, but there are so many more important and pressing things going on especially with our sister's death that I don't expect it. 

I will really miss her. She was much older than me, and of course had her own issues and faults, but her presence and influence in my life was huge. She's one of the most hospitable and caring people I've ever met.

 My anniversary of religious life is coming up on March 19. I was accepted on the feast of St Joseph as Sisters know how special he is for me. Sister's feast day was the same day. Another way we are connected  

[Spem in alium]

Sister's funeral is on Tuesday, her burial is on Friday (she will be cremated) and on Saturday I go for my two-week home visit. In between all that is celebrating my formator's birthday, working and packing up all my belongings to move to another room in our house. Full-on! Deo gratias.

[Spem in alium]

This week I believe my application to progress to the next stage of religious formation will be presented to my superiors. I hope to have a decision before I go for my home visit on Saturday, so that I can tell my family in person, but with everything we have happening this week I'm not pushing it. Please pray for all of us. 

[Spem in alium]

Sister's funeral was today -- the hottest day we've had in a while. It was a beautiful and very simple ceremony. Afterwards I came home, sat in her chair and ate ice cream, because she liked it! I was also able to take some of her possessions as mementos, including a Rosary ring. It's too big to fit my fingers, except my thumb, but I draw comfort from the thought that she wore it and used it to pray.

A sister very close to my heart gave me a hug and told me that she and others are thinking of me. This is the first person I've known to die whom I've really known and loved. My sisters are so much like a family to me that it's like losing a relative. Those words of comfort mean so much.