As you may know, June 7th was my birthday. The Sisters here did celebrate so nicely with me, beginning with singing "Happy Birthday" after Morning Praise and having a very pretty table setting , even with beautiful roses from their garden. At different times during the day I was surprised by sisters in special ways. At the end of supper they had different types of little cakes and gelato for us all!
During the day on Saturday, we attended classes on the topic of "Cultivating a Monastice Instinct" by Sr. Karen Joseph,OSB. The classes were so good!!
Then, on Sunday we had our second Reflection Day. On those days we spend most of the day in silence. Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, OSB, who is the head of all Benedictines in the world - Sisters, Monks, and Oblates- celebrated Mass for us. He gave a wonderful homily. Later he ate with us and then led an open discussion with us, answering our questions. He was very interesting and seemed to have a very good grasp of the challenges as well as beauty of our Benedictine vocation. He was also very encouraging.
On Monday and Tuesday we had more classes, with the topic, "Obedience according to the Rule of St. Benedict." Sr. Manuela Schieba, OSB, was our presenter. She is from a monastery in Berlin, Germany and is just completing her doctorate with a thesis on our class topic. We found her classes very good with much research on how the Rule has been interpretated over many years.
Today we went to a large Audience with Pope Benedict in St. Peter's Square. Sr. Marcia had gotten tickets (free) for us and we were all surprised at how close we were to him, our chairs being on close to the same level as him, above the main part of the crowd. There were probably at least two hundred others on the same level as us! It was wonderful how each group was introduced to him, with clapping.. ., sometimes with beautiful singing and much gusto, from the different groups. He acknowledged each group with a wave and smile . He addressed us in different languages. Later we ate at little eating places in small groups and then could do what we liked. Like some of the others, I did a little shopping and went back to St. Peter's. There is so much to see there and they have a beautiful Blessed Sacrament Chapel in which to pray there, too.
I hope you are all well! God bless you!
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2 comments:
Aunt Nancy that is amazing that you saw Pope Benedict!!!
Aunt Nancy, I talked with Grandma yesterday, and she said you also saw PJPII when you were in Rome on your Holy Land trip --- two popes in a lifetime is even more amazing! :) Also, did you know you can leave comments in response to comments on your own blog? I don't remember quite how it works...but I know it is easy. :)
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