tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.comments2023-05-12T07:29:18.163-07:00Life at the Monastery of St. GertrudeMonastery of St. Gertrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16138020234255600443noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-8808738483168583522012-08-20T13:53:59.356-07:002012-08-20T13:53:59.356-07:00Thanks for the good insights into this psalm, espe...Thanks for the good insights into this psalm, especially the image of being hit with a 2x4! That's an image I won't quickly forget!interested partyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660946641413062855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-66055320026076236092012-02-08T21:10:00.325-08:002012-02-08T21:10:00.325-08:00Oh, how I needed to hear this today!! The blessed...Oh, how I needed to hear this today!! The blessed relief that follows confession, whether it is before a priest, a superior, or a friend is one of life's miracles and is one of God's tenderest mercies. However, I had never considered the value of community that you talk about, the humility of true authenticity and transparency with those with whom you travel through life. Sometimes it is they who I put on the biggest mask!! <br /><br />You have opened a door for me, sister. Do I have to courage to act? I don't know. But I am going to find out! <br /><br />Thank you and thank Jesus for His gentle shepherding of all of us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-74999569135654595852012-02-05T11:34:41.182-08:002012-02-05T11:34:41.182-08:00Wow thank you for sharing and how strongly and hum...Wow thank you for sharing and how strongly and humbly expressed :). I am a discerner and I have a lot going on in my mind as I discern. Reading this just helped me have an understanding that I don't believe I had prior to reading this it has touched my heart and I am like wow. Is your community of Religious good teachers?? I am sure after reading this they are good Spiritual Directors thank you for sharing may God reward yous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-49672653343160506722012-02-03T10:08:32.235-08:002012-02-03T10:08:32.235-08:00Thanks Nancy, the prioress in a community does not...Thanks Nancy, the prioress in a community does not formally hear confessions, just to be clear! This was more a comment on the Rule than on our practice. The prioress always listens informally and supports every sister but we don't do things like Benedict did, perhaps to our detriment!Monastery of St. Gertrudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16138020234255600443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-71598750611720777972012-02-02T21:11:36.185-08:002012-02-02T21:11:36.185-08:00Thanks for this post. I certainly can see the valu...Thanks for this post. I certainly can see the value in owning ones sins out loud to another person. Although it is not something I have ever done being Protestant and not having it part of my faith tradition. You enlightened me, as you always do, in the posting. I never knew that the prioress listened to confession within the community. Of course, it only makes sense but I had never thought about it before.ngillardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531281165173772565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-18003803455176618292011-11-16T18:53:40.902-08:002011-11-16T18:53:40.902-08:00I stumbled upon your Blog and I wanted to say how ...I stumbled upon your Blog and I wanted to say how much it touched me. I am unemployed after 23 years in lay ministry in the Catholic Church. My husband is facing a serious surgery which impacts upon his employment. These circumstances will not allow us to <br />"spend" anything at Christmas but your reflection on St Gertrude really affirmed me in the correctnes of a "spending of presence" for those I love instead of "stuff." GREAT posting!<br />ps. I am a St john's alumni. SOT 1986-88.janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-52556817426862260282011-11-07T15:44:32.641-08:002011-11-07T15:44:32.641-08:00I am enjoying reading your blogs. I enjoy taking ...I am enjoying reading your blogs. I enjoy taking a pause from my 'day job' to contemplate. <br />I feel fortunate to manage the office side of a boat builder, living and working close to the ocean, a harbor, and 3 rivers. <br />Since moving here almost ten years ago, I have adapted my urban self to be so much more connected to the earth and I pay attention to Mother Nature. We launch our custom built boats on a high tide - that means either full moon or new moon phase. Clamming on the nearby beaches is scheduled for the very high and low tides - which occur at solstice or equinox. <br />In December of 2007 our community learned what it feels like to be locked in, unable to leave our area because we were flooded in, for a week, without electricity. We learned that gas stations cannot pump gas without electricity; cell phones do not work; atm's don't work... we learned our neighbors' names as we collected our supplies together in great big cook-offs with propane fueled stoves and shared the food our freezers could not keep preserved. I appreciate life so much more now. <br />I wish I had the time to preserve my own food, as many of my neighbors do now, but I am thankful that the skills are here in our communities. Thank you for sharing!Brigidsfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808703432722686926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-41511291225215534952011-11-02T10:31:22.129-07:002011-11-02T10:31:22.129-07:00It's no accident that I discovered this blog t...It's no accident that I discovered this blog today, Nov 2nd, after watching the DVD of The Tree of Life last night... an odd movie about life and death. Everything makes a little more sense today. Thank you for writing it so beautifully.Brigidsfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808703432722686926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-4771803607246982942011-09-26T15:00:49.302-07:002011-09-26T15:00:49.302-07:00I love this!!! How true whether in the convent or...I love this!!! How true whether in the convent or not!Theresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12174457885769121396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-59034207448803334392011-07-20T05:35:39.335-07:002011-07-20T05:35:39.335-07:00It is a joy for me to feel the vitality of the gro...It is a joy for me to feel the vitality of the group with us these days, especially at our times of prayer together. Thank you, Sr. Theresa, for your tremendous organization that keeps us all happy and wanting to share....and many thanks to our Affiliates, Volunteers, Oblates and our first group here for Monastic Immersion! God's Surprises each day are invigorating, yes?S Benita Hasslernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-86292931915880954782011-06-27T05:11:57.143-07:002011-06-27T05:11:57.143-07:00YES! Thank-you, Sr Teresa, for putting all these ...YES! Thank-you, Sr Teresa, for putting all these thoughts into words ~ that I could not come up with myself, but can only agree with whole-heartedly. Greatly anticipating your greeting me at your door when I arrive there! ~ MaryannAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-55333901518905828612011-02-21T07:02:37.410-08:002011-02-21T07:02:37.410-08:00wonderful, yes, it has become a cliche -but my 13 ...wonderful, yes, it has become a cliche -but my 13 year old daughter was just asking me what people do in monasteries, and why anyone would want to be there in the first place...<br /><br />i'm going to show her this postpescehttp://islandofnoisland.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-87003768796345564932011-01-28T19:39:13.879-08:002011-01-28T19:39:13.879-08:00Thanks for this reflection! If we look at the futu...Thanks for this reflection! If we look at the future of religious in our own box (USA), yes we could sit and lament the dwindling numbers. Worldwide however, the numbers are not dwindling. Religious life is still going strong...no matter if motley or not. <br />Living with a vision, passing it on, no matter where on the globe.Sr. Andrea Westkamp, OSBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04891231384529207775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-68129773073618356372010-11-18T10:29:50.823-08:002010-11-18T10:29:50.823-08:00Who is the judge of what is needed, I wonder?Who is the judge of what is needed, I wonder?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-7216461737843358682010-07-17T11:35:09.010-07:002010-07-17T11:35:09.010-07:00Teresa, I did a paper on our culture in a sociolog...Teresa, I did a paper on our culture in a sociology class in college, I'll have to see if I can find it and share itUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04029320051300555271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-26481230114269582822010-05-31T14:40:50.411-07:002010-05-31T14:40:50.411-07:00So true Teresa.So true Teresa.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04029320051300555271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-65907833157317693262010-05-22T13:08:44.547-07:002010-05-22T13:08:44.547-07:00Ohhhh, how I remember the days of BSWR 2006 in Cot...Ohhhh, how I remember the days of BSWR 2006 in Cottonwood and inspiring presentations similar to this one. :) I am Sister Becky Mathauer OSB from Ferdinand....I still pray to your mountains in Cottonwood with God as my guide! I hiked to the meadow twice daily while I was there-what a beautiful image of God! It is a joy to hear your stories on the web! Send special greetings to Lillian, Agnes, and Sue Ellen for me! :)Sister Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372439777688728684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-85807064062941736862010-04-19T08:29:43.786-07:002010-04-19T08:29:43.786-07:00I think I'm a monk. Or would I have to be a nu...I think I'm a monk. Or would I have to be a nun? I study the Bible every day and I travel through the day trusting that God can help.lisacoloradohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00866755207829269366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-83702607326880990642010-02-21T07:38:18.108-08:002010-02-21T07:38:18.108-08:00Wow! Thanks for posting this. At this moment, I re...Wow! Thanks for posting this. At this moment, I really needed it.Tessanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-81076766171289919342010-01-27T09:19:33.572-08:002010-01-27T09:19:33.572-08:00Dear St. Gertrude Sister,
It is amazing how writin...Dear St. Gertrude Sister,<br />It is amazing how writing out our deepest pains to God can bring such light to the hurt. Thank you for sharing your Psalm in all its struggle. I think it is the song of many communities (mine too) as we pray our way into an unsure future.<br />Sister Carol JeanSister Carol Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04029558466342121833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-29237503348129423042009-11-18T18:32:48.175-08:002009-11-18T18:32:48.175-08:00Thank you.
I am a baby Catholic Benedictine obl...Thank you. <br /><br />I am a baby Catholic Benedictine oblate, but eager to immerse my life in the Rule of St. Benedict as a lay Catholic. <br /><br />I am always trying to describe the essential vision of monastic life — a way to help most people see monastic life as more than being “locked away from the real world.” <br /><br />While "Quaerere Deum – to seek God and to let oneself be found by him” serves as an excellent description, I think some people might still have difficulty seeing the full scope of those words from Pope Benedict XVI. That is why I was very pleased to read this blog and your comment that “Benedict sees that monastic life is all about the journey to dwell with God.” Excellent. You provided a great insight to the monastic spirit. Thank you.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01438934904276002548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-18359390433142419722009-09-07T09:07:52.802-07:002009-09-07T09:07:52.802-07:00Keep up the good work...Love the stories of the ds...Keep up the good work...Love the stories of the dsert as that "interior" place within all of us.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-20638792369208531012009-05-25T07:52:21.183-07:002009-05-25T07:52:21.183-07:00It is striking isn't it? It is by an artist named...It is striking isn't it? It is by an artist named Tamas Galambos. I found the picture at: http://en.easyart.com/art-prints/artists/Tamas-Galambos-9743.html<br /><br />He has other pictures with Biblical themes.Monastery of St. Gertrudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16138020234255600443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-34695566344089204062009-05-24T23:54:48.389-07:002009-05-24T23:54:48.389-07:00Thanks. Whose painting so perfectly illustrates th...Thanks. Whose painting so perfectly illustrates that piece?LMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17046933467760216889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567497006429899119.post-53040182434288817332009-05-21T20:10:15.892-07:002009-05-21T20:10:15.892-07:00Teresa, this is beautifully written and much too c...Teresa, this is beautifully written and much too close to home. sigh. What is it that prevents my own sense of balance and reasonable time for prayer... a perceived need to "do"...<br />the painful truth.<br /><br />Thanks for your wisdom.<br /><br />Jane Somerton-FrithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com