Like Thomas Merton, Ed believed that every event in our lives holds something of the divine. Some experiences from Ed’s life at St. Benedict Center portray this belief. In the mid-60s monks of Taize along with our sisters led weekend retreats for university students at our Academy of St. Benedict. Ed, a good friend of the monks of Taize and an active member of Madison Campus Ministry arranged their fall retreat at our newly opened ecumenical retreat and conference center known as Saint Benedict Center. We had a stable of six or seven riding horses from our Academy Riding Club …
Seeds of Change: Musings of 50 Years of Monastic Profession
One of my most cherished experiences from childhood was going to the “preacher’s house” to buy a bridle for my pony. I had my pocket full of “egg money,” saved from each sale. Placing the money on his very large wooden desk made me wonder if I had enough. Rev. Doctor looked at it and me, and with a big smile said, “That’s about right,” and shook my hand and handed me the bridle. I sensed it was a matter of trust and respect, not money, that made the sale. Little did I know that this childhood inter-denominational experience would …
Sister Asella Returns to Korea
In June 2009, Sister Asella Kim, a Missionary Benedictine from Seoul, Korea, came to live with the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery. She was here on a year’s sabbatical after serving a Korean and American parish in New Jersey for six years. Asella has known us since 1994 when she spent four years here learning English and continuing her education. Because Sister Asella is a kindred spirit we count her as part of our community. She especially enjoyed walking in the prairie and working in the garden. She even requested a three-month extension of her sabbatical so she could help bring in the produce …
Leadership in a Benedictine Community
Respectful listening is the first and foremost quality for leadership according to St. Benedict. He begins his Rule with “Listen.” For anyone seeking to grow in relationship to God, self and others, attentive listening is key for a whole and holy life. Two premises support the understanding of leadership in the Rule of Benedict (RB). The first is that Christ is the ultimate authority and second that the abbot represents Christ in a special way for the community. The leader, either prioress or abbot, is chosen by the community and receives what Benedictines believe to be the grace of office. …
Sabbatical Time: Listening to the Spirit Within
I received a three-month Lilly Sabbatical grant for Pastoral Leaders in 2009. The time I chose was April 15 through July 16, closing with a family celebration for my mom’s 96th birthday. The purpose of my sabbatical was to take time to renew, to reflect and to remember: “to bend back” over my community’s journey of becoming the first ecumenical Benedictine monastery in North America. I accomplished my purpose. To begin, I had some special time, meals and conversations with Sisters Joanne, Lynne and Martha. Sister Martha is a retired member of our community who lives in Sioux City, Iowa; it’s always a blessing when the four of …
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