The sisters’ commitment to caring for the earth has deep roots in our Benedictine spirituality. Having made a promise of stability, we seek to work for the good of the place where we live. This refers to both the people and the land which is our home. Benedict tells his community members to care for the tools of the monastery as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar. By this he lets us know that all things are holy. Such a mindset leads us to care for creation by reducing, recycling and reusing whatever we can. A monk …
Chamber Music with a Bang: Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society to Perform at Prairie Rhapsody Benefit Concert
Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society co-producers Jeffrey Sykes and Stephanie Jutt bring their “chamber music with a bang” to Holy Wisdom Monastery on June 13, 2013 for the annual Prairie Rhapsody benefit concert. Photo by C&N Photographers. We are pleased to announce that Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society (BDDS) will bring their act to Holy Wisdom Monastery on Thursday, June 13, 2013 for the annual Prairie Rhapsody benefit concert. We are excited to see this come to fruition after being in conversation with BDDS about the possibilities since 2011! BDDS performs throughout the Madison area in June of each year, bringing their “chamber music with …
Volunteer Spotlight: David Fisher
David Fisher enjoys removing invasive plants at Holy Wisdom Monastery to keep the native landscape thriving. Photo by Kent Sweitzer. David Fisher has been instrumental in removing woody invasive species in the prairie for the past two years. His largest project includes removal of a 20 foot high x 40 foot long hedge comprised of honeysuckle and buckthorn, two woody invasive species which take over if left to grow. David has made this his mission and volunteered in weather extremes ranging from 5 to 100 degrees. “He works no matter what the weather is in removing invasive species,” Sister Mary David Walgenbach …
All in Time – Part I
I am walking into the sun. I am struck with this thought as I am temporarily blinded on my way to the monastery this morning. I am by no means experiencing a dramatic post-resurrection vision like Paul on the road to Damascus; it is just that the sun has been such a rare sighting since my arrival at Holy Wisdom Monastery in early April. It is now May. Spring is finally here, I think. And after a little over a month I am cheerfully settling into my Sojourner Year (though still arriving over the long term – see my introductory …
Sister Lynne Smith's Homily from Ascension Sunday on May 12, 2013
Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11 Some weeks I can hardly bear to read or listen to the news. This was one of those weeks: the murder trial in Lafayette County; the report of three women held captive for a decade in Cleveland; more than 1,000 deadin the collapsed building in Bangladesh, the on-going killing in Syria. The amount of pain and suffering in the world seems too much to bear sometimes. I wonder how the suffering is ever going to stop. When I was a child a Sunday School image from the book of Revelation used to console me. I …
Scripture Commentary for April 28, 2013 by Arthur H. Cash
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 28 April 2013 FIRST READING Acts 11:1-18 The earliest Christians were Jerusalem Jews. The major theme of Acts is the story of how, under the urging of Peter and Paul, the church decided to convert gentiles. (May I remind you that the term “gentile” means anyone who is not Jewish?) In our reading, we hear how the Jerusalem church was shocked to hear that Peter had been converting gentiles. They called him to return, and today we hear his defense. He begins with the fascinating vision he had of being told by God to eat meat …
Libby Caes' Homily from April 28, 2013
April 28 Acts 11:1-18, Rev. 21:1-6, John 13:1-31-35 Doesn’t it feel like we are living in a new heaven and a new earth? Now that we have had several consecutive days of sunshine and warm weather, the relentless succession of gray cold rainy days are becoming a distant memory. Spring is finally here! It is one thing to look out the window and see blue skies, green grass, crocuses and daffodils. It is another thing to go outside, soak up the sunshine, smell the newness, clear out the flower beds, walk the Farmer’s Market. Sit on the back porch and …
A New Thing
Hello from Trish Stefanik, the newest Benedictine Sojourner. I have arrived. At the monastery, that is; I have a long way to go to acclimate to a new part of the country, get to know a whole new community of people and enter into a new way of life. Not to mention, learn what light switch turns on what light, where the dishes and utensils are kept in the kitchen, and how to get around the oratory, offices, buildings, the prairie and a new town. Whew. Yes, arriving will take time. I am very grateful that the sisters and the …
Scripture Commentary for April 21, 2013 by Arthur H. Cash
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 21 April 2013 FIRST READING Acts 9:36-43 In Acts, Chapter 9, Peter brings about two miracles, the second of which you will hear about today. Both result in many conversions to “the Way.” Throughout Acts, miracles lead to faith. Yet in the gospel of John, the risen Christ says to doubting Thomas, “have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (20:29). It is significant that Peter stayed with a tanner. In Jewish law tanners were unclean because they worked with animal carcasses. Aside …
Scripture Commentary for April 14, 2013 by Arthur H. Cash
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER 14 April 2013 FIRST READING Acts 9:1-20 Today we hear the remarkable story of the conversion of Paul. In Acts, Paul (his Latin name) is sometimes called Saul (his Greek name). The name “Christian” had not come into being; instead the movement is called “the Way.” There also are two other accounts in the Acts of the conversion, both told by Paul (22:1-29); 26:1-23). Paul had been a leader of the Pharisees who persecuted Christians and had been in charge when they stoned to death St. Stephen (7:54 – 8:3). In his dramatic conversion, Paul had …