Some of What We Learn in Instructions During the Novitiate

My arm is tired. That's because I just finished my final exam for New Testament. So it's a good feeling because it means that I am now on summmer vacation. The weather hasn't quite caught up with the college calendar. We are having April showers. On Friday though, it is supposed to be about seventy degrees and sunny....perfect for more rollerblading!

I am in that strange state that I think a lot students feel shortly after the semester. The feeling that you have homework as usual, but at the same time knowing you don't have homework.

In instructions (for the novitiate) we have finished studying the Rule and Constitutions and we are now studying the history of the Third Order (Franciscans). It's very interesting. Brother Bill Short visited our community about 15 years ago to teach us about it, and fortunately someone videotaped his lectures. He is so funny- he really brings history to life. It is also enjoyable to see and hear our sisters in the video.

Next year, the instructions will be centered around the vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience. I am looking forward to learning more about what I'll be agreeing to. :)

Time to go light the charcoal for Exposition of the Eucharist!

With Scars in His Hands

Throughout the Easter Triduum, I had a song going through my head as I contemplated the resurrected Christ. I thought of Jesus appearing to the disciples with scars in His hands, fully embodying the Paschal Mystery.

Paschal Mystery means that Jesus' Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension are all a single event.

Here is the song I was thinking of:


I thought that the song goes well with the following passages from scripture. I invite you to read and reflect on them:

"Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.' Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.' Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'
-John 20:24-29, NAB


"Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered."
-Revelation 5:6a, NRSV
"After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"
-Revelation 7:9-10, NRSV

Christ's suffering has been vindicated. So is/will our suffering! Alleluia!

I pray that your Easter is full of many blessings and insights into your relationship with our risen Lord!

A Lovely Day for Rollerblading!

Sister Pamela Catherine and I just came in from rollerblading. I don't have much experience on hills so she taught me how to do it and we went down some pretty cool ones. (Don't worry, Mom, I was able to put a helmet on over my veil.) I am looking forward to another trip out there!

I hope that you find time to do something fun, too!

A Lesson from a Flower

A few months ago, I inherited a flower. At the time, I thought it was pretty, but a little confused. Rather than growing up straight like other flowers, the stem curved up then down and back up again with little red flowers at the end. It was cute in a Charlie Brown sort of way. I even thought of Linus' line in A Charlie Brown Christmas: "It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love." So out of all the flowers that I got to choose from, I chose the Charlie Brown one.

Much to my amazement, with a "little love," water, and sunshine, my confused flower was not so confused after all! Other bunches of flowers along the stem, which turned out to be a vine, started to come up. They blossomed and bloomed and even the leaves grew plump. As it turns out, it is not supposed to stand up straight like the "other" flowers. If it did, it wouldn't be nearly as beautiful.



P.S. Does anyone know what kind of flower this is? Thanks!