|
Archived
Monastery Happenings
September 2008
Sister Madelyn and Sister Hannah
Make First Monastic Profession
September 27, 2008
Having completed their novitiate year, Sister
Madelyn Louttit, OSB and Sister Hannah Vanorny, OSB, made first monastic
profession on September 27, 2008, in a ceremony during Evening Prayer in the
chapel at Annunciation Monastery. Members of their families were in
attendance along with the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. The
profession ceremony was followed by a celebratory meal in the dining room where
their family members were introduced to the sisters. Congratulations
Sister Madelyn and Sister Hannah!
Sister Madelyn (center) says her vows for
first monastic profession.
Left: Sister Hannah, Right:
Sister Agatha Muggli, formation director.
Sister Hannah (center) says
her vows for first monastic profession.
(Above) The Sisters' blessing.
Sister Madelyn Louttit, Sister Nancy Miller
(Prioress), Sister Hannah Vanorny
Reflection from Sister Nancy Miller
on the First Monastic Profession of Sister
Madelyn Louttitt
and Sister Hannah Vanorny
Sister Madelyn and Sister Hannah, this is a joyous moment for you and for us
who are members of Annunciation Monastery. We are happy that your families
are here with us. Sister Madelyn, we welcome your mother, Ida, and Sister
Hannah, we welcome your parents, Sharon and Tom and other members of your
family. All of us pray with you that the Holy Spirit may sustain you in
your search for God. Thank you to all who nurtured and nourished, supported
and encouraged Sisters Madelyn and Hannah in their desire to deepen their
relationship with God as a member of Annunciation Monastery.
You
chose a wonderful reading from Romans for your profession ceremony. I
understand it comes from your study of the Rule of St. Benedict. This is
only natural because Scripture was so imbedded in Benedict’s heart and mind,
it overflows in the Rule he wrote. St. Paul in the letter to the Romans and
St. Benedict in his Rule instruct us to love one another with mutual
affection, to outdo one another in showing respect, and to persevere in
prayer. Both give concrete ways to live in harmony with others whether it
is in the monastic community or the wider world. What if we and all people
would bless instead of curse those who persecute us? What if we would
rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep? What if we
did not repay evil for evil but would strive to live in peace with all.
Wouldn’t this be a different world?
The
monastic life strives for these ideals. Our goal is to grow in a loving
relationship with Jesus and with other people. Sisters Madelyn and Hannah,
you have lived with us for a little more than two years. You have seen and
experienced what it takes to rub shoulders day in and day out with us in
community. Like family life, it isn’t always easy. Sometimes people rub us
the wrong way and we them. It takes love, respect and acceptance to live
harmoniously with each other. It takes putting into practice some of the
ideals taught by St. Benedict and St. Paul.
Through your first monastic profession, you Sister Madelyn and Sister Hannah
intensify your baptismal commitment to God in Christ. You are able to
approach this moment with full confidence because in and through Christ, God
promises to remain with those who live in love. As a member of this
community which Benedict calls the school of the Lord’s service, you will
discern the wisdom of Benedict: to seek God, who first seeks us.
So
it is in the daily, the ordinary living that the Benedictine sister seeks
and finds God through the threefold promise of stability, fidelity to the
monastic way of life and obedience. You have studied what this means, but I
can assure you that the meaning of this commitment will grow deeper every
day you live the Benedictine life.
Through the promise of stability we commit ourselves to this group of women,
in this community, in this place on the prairie. It means staying put when
we’d rather retreat from ourselves and or God. It means allowing God’s
“staying power” to hold us in the daily ups and downs of life.
By
the promise of fidelity to the monastic way of life, we commit ourselves to
keep on growing in the Benedictine way – to open ourselves continually to
the transforming grace of God. It means being faithful to the entire
monastic lifestyle which includes prayer, hospitality, solitude and
community.
As
Benedictines we believe that when we listen, God speaks to us. Each of us
is called to listen with the ear of the heart. We listen to the voice of
the Spirit in the Scriptural Word and in the Rule of St. Benedict. We
listen to the community’s leader, the prioress, and to the voices of the
women with whom we live. We listen to those we serve, we listen to the call
of the Church and the cry of the poor. Through all of these
interconnections, God speaks and directs the movements of our lives. As we
listen and respond, we are living our promise of obedience.
In
keeping with the monastic tradition, Benedictines are intent on God, living
in God’s love revealed in Christ and we live celibate lives. We commit
ourselves to close personal union with Jesus, which is the heart of celibate
chastity. It is the basis for our friendships and all other human
relationships. Monastic Benedictine poverty is expressed in our
acknowledgement that all we are and have comes from a generous God. We
strive to live simply, keeping our needs to a minimum. We share our gifts
willingly, exercising stewardship of all resources.
Sisters Madelyn and Hannah, we are grateful for your generous spirits and
your response to God’s call. We promise you our prayer and support.
Together we seek God, we encounter God in ordinary events and relationships
of daily monastic living. May God’s peace, which is beyond all
understanding, dwell deep within you and all of us now and always.
~Sister Nancy Miller, OSB, Prioress
(Sept. 27, 2008)
* * * * *
|
