That time of year ... when yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang upon the bough . . .

There's been a distinct shift from summer to fall this past week - some days are still hot. Eighty-one the other day. But nights are very cool - and mornings are crisp and chilly. The leaves are starting to turn. They say it'll be a short foliage season this year because of the long summer drought. But it's turning out to be spectacular!

So let me tell you about my Sunday at Visitation Monastery

in the Monastic Immersion Experience:

Morning prayer is at 8:30 on Sundays (7 AM M-F, 8 on Saturday). I love going to Morning Prayer. Our two houses are only a block apart, so it takes very little time to transition from Girard to Fremont where we have Morning Prayer.

By the time I got to the kitchen this morning, I could hear the little gong signaling that it was time to begin.  Sister Mary Frances was already playing a prelude on the little organ in the chapel when I got there.

We all stop at the shelves and pick up our books - finding my way through the office books is still a challenge for me, but today was just a regular Sunday - Week 2 in the 4 week rotation of psalms. The chapel is tiny. There's room for just the six chairs, a bench across the back where Sister Mary Frances sits at the organ, and the beautiful cruciform Christ backed by the stained glass window. (The window was made deliberately transparent, so we can see out to the street and the intersection of Fremont and 15th. What happens outside those windows is meant to be part of our prayer.)

We each have our assigned chair. I am tucked in between Sisters Mary Virginia and Mary Margaret on the outside wall. Across from me are Sisters Katherine, Karen, and Suzanne. Our Chinese Sister-in-Residence, Mary Mau and our VIP Intern Anna sit on the bench on either side of Mary Frances.

The Sacrament is reserved in our chapel, so each sister makes a profound bow in that direction as she enters. The routine has become familiar - and my heart always leaps for joy when I take my place.

Because I have a condition called Sjogrens, my vocal cords don't work well, so I try hard not to compromise the sound of singing and chanting by sneaking my thin, creaky voice in between those on either side of me as the two sides sing antiphonally. I find that I am always happy when my favorite psalm passages happen to occur when it's "my side's turn." Strange thing to be made happy by something so simple.

Each week, different sisters are assigned different roles in celebrating the Divine Office. I haven't quite figured out what each one actually does, but it's second nature to them: there is a chantress, a reader, an office planner (who picks the hymns?) and an officiant.  I don't have any of these roles; I just have to try to keep my place, be on the right page, and join in when it's "our turn." And keep my voice "invisible."

Sometimes visitors are with us. There weren't any this morning. I look at the figure of Christ and the glorious window. I look at the vase of flowers placed at the foot of Christ. And I look at the feet of the sisters, and I think, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good tidings . . . "

The Divine Office is very simple: In morning, mid-day, and evening there are three psalms, each with its own antiphon. We all sing the antiphon. One sister sings the opening two lines of the first stanza, the rest of those on her side chime in with the rest. The next stanza is sung by the those of us in the other choir, like playing tennis with our voices - and then the antiphon. Then there is a pause and we are free to speak of something that has to do with the psalm or the reading or with our life in the neighborhood.

Today some shared thoughts on the workshop we went to last night at the Basilica on Faithful Citizenship; it was taught by Father Michael Joncas (the writer of many of my favorite songs, including On Eagles' Wings) and reviewed the pastoral letter of the U.S. bishops on how we Catholics should form our consciences when preparing to vote. And, to my surprise, it was an amazingly helpful and illuminating evening for all of us. He laid out the principles so clearly - and made so clear that once we'd moved through those steps, we each had to consult our own consciences and make a determination based upon our own prudential judgment as to how to mark our ballots. No one - not even the bishops, not even the pope - can violate the sanctity of the individual conscience. The consistent teaching of the church has been that one is obliged to act by his or her own conscience - even if that conscience may be in error! What a great thing to hear that articulated so clearly once more.

Then the organ began and we sang the next antiphon, and chanted the next psalm. And again paused to talk briefly about the things that have happened in the neighborhood in the past few days: a terrible massacre at a business only a mile from here where six people were killed and two more lie in hospital in mortal danger; a fight where homeless people hang out behind the local supermarket where a man was stabbed to death. And a dear friend awaiting news as to whether her chemo is going to save her life.

And then the next antiphon, the next psalm.  After that there was a reading from scripture. Then we sang a response. And then we sang the antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah which is sung every morning. And then there was a dismissal.

After Morning Office, we always put our books back in our baskets on the shelf and gather in a little circle in the front hall. As soon as all are present, we bow to one another, saying  in unison, God be praised! Good morning, dear Sisters!

 The first time I saw this happen, last summer when I visited, I was filled with a stab of pure delight! I said inside myself, I love this! Why do I love this? And every day I have been here since, I am delighted once more. I feel the love of these people for one another that has been tempered over the years, and I am glad to share in it. Then we share announcements for the day, special requests and concerns (has anyone seen my lost green sock?), who has the car signed out for when? and so forth.

As soon as our morning "meeting" was finished, we piled into the van and headed for Ascension church for Sunday mass. Sister Mary Mau and Sister Mary Frances decided to walk - it's only about three or four blocks. They actually beat us there. I found my favorite spot down by the music group, and settled in. Mary Mau and Virginia joined me in that pew. I like to watch the musicians - and I wanted a good vantage point for taking a few more pictures.

My favorite musician is Pedro. I think he's about 10 years old, and quite a good musician. I love to watch him taking his role so seriously among the adults there.

Sr. Mary and Sr. Mary Virginia joined me in my pew:

Father Michael O'Connell delivered the homily today. He was grim. He spoke about the violence in the neighborhood the past week: the massacre, the knifing. And

some of the other tragedies of the past few months. A three-year old whose family rule is that if you hear gun-shots while you are at dinner, you take your plate upstairs where there's an interior room that will be safe. A gunshot tore through the wall of his house and killed him on the stairs. A short time later, a five year old, asleep on his grandmother's sofa was killed when his house was riddled with bullets from an automatic rifle. A short time later a homeless man was accosted one night on the sidewalk outside the church by a gang of young people and beaten to death. Father Michael told us that there were special sensors posted on power-poles throughout the city. They record all instances of gunfire and can be used to triangulate and find the source of the shooting. In 2011, there were more than 800 shots fired in our neighborhood.

Father Michael told us that at the conclusion of the service, after we had blessed the children of the parish, we would all process down the street to the site where the homeless man was knifed, and we would hold a prayer service there. So out we went to the closing song, out the front door and down the sidewalk, servers leading the way, carrying the processional cross, Father Michael and Patty Stromen leading the way.

Then we returned home. Four sisters live in each of our houses. I live in Girard. There were only three of us home for breakfast. Sister Karen has been out of town at a meeting of the Visitation Federation in Washington, DC. So Sister Mary Frances fried bacon and eggs for our breakfast, and we made some toast and shared our meal at the dining table while reading the Sunday New York Times.

Afterward, Mary Frances and I helped clean up after breakfast while Mary Virginia made a pecan pie for dinner tonight. Then we all went about our own affairs. I worked on my messy desk for a while. (Yes, it followed me all the way here from Forks!)

And then I went out to take a walk. I decided I wanted some pictures of the newly turned foliage before it is gone. They say we have another week of this gentle autumn weather and then it will turn cold and blustery. I walked all over the neighborhood. I met people I knew here and there - and was glad to share in the general good will that the sisters have earned in the neighborhood. It was a beautiful day.

And now I am working on this blog, downloading my pictures, and trying to get those stacks of paper organized and put away. I'm going out in an hour or so to a performance of Mexican music and dance with Anna. Some of the other sisters went to the show last night while I was at the workshop on Faithful Citizenship with the rest. So we'll miss Evening Prayer at 5 PM. That's when the show starts. We have the car checked out (and Anna will drive! I'm not very comfortable driving at night - nor driving the Prius). We'll miss dinner, too, but we'll warm ours up in the microwave when we return.

And I've just remembered! I must save time before I leave to set the table for dinner. That's one of my responsibilities -

Later . . . 

Anna and I went to Celebremos MEXICO! a program of music and dance presented by my friends Sevaro and Melina Garcia as "a way of sharing the culture and heritage of Mexico with the community."

And then back to Girard to find the other sisters all deeply engaged in a game arond the dining table. Today is the beginning of the Moon Festival - a mid-autumn festival in China, so they were playing Sr. Mary Mau's favorite game, Spinner dominoes, between dinner and night prayer. I warmed up my dinner and ate it as I watched the game conclude.

Then upstairs to our little Girard chapel for Night Prayer which is very brief: one psalm, a responsorial, and the Canticle of Simeon.

We sing, 
              Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; 
              watch over us as we sleep, 
              that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, 
               and asleep rest in his peace.

              Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled . . . 
                        (the prayer of Simeon upon seeing the infant Jesus presented in the
                        temple . . .) then a closing prayer ending every night with these words:

              May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. 
                         Amen. 

Then we sang the refrain of Gentle Woman and finished as always with a short litany of saints.

A few sisters went downstairs to catch the 9 o'clock news. The Fremont folk went back to the other house. And I came up to finish this blog.

It's a simple life here. I've just finished my third month. I'm half way through my stay here. I love every day. Every moment.

(Note: these blogs do not necessarily occur in chronological order. 

Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn - Alafia Place, Minneapolis

One of the most remarkable people I have ever met is Mary Johnson.  Mary's son was killed many years ago by another young African American man. Years later, Mary, who knew her Bible, and who knew Jesus's admonition to us that we really must forgive those who have wronged us, went to the prison where her son's murderer had been living for 10 years. She spent two hours there getting to know him. And out of that encounter, she forgave him.

.

He is now out of prison - and both live in Alafia Place, a little apartment building in Minneapolis. One of my most wonderful experience here in Minneapolis was attending the annual "Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn" event a couple of weeks ago; it was hosted by Brian Mogren, director of St. Jane House, the Visitation Sisters spirituality center.

The evening included a wonderful dinner, a beautifully decorated garden, and fantastic music, featuring Robbie Robinson, a wonderful gospel singer.

The event is held yearly to support the ministry of Mary Johnson, the founder of From Death to Life. Mary has pulled together the mothers (and some fathers) of young people killed by violence in this area - and the mothers of those who have committed violence. They meet regularly at St. Jane House for healing prayer and community. During the course of the evening, Mary called up the members of her community, and, one at a time, they spoke the names of their children, and told when and how they lost them - because, as Mary says, the mothers of both the victims and the victimizers lose their children. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Mary and Oshea Israel, the young man she forgave and now calls her second son, go together to speak to young people, or to people in prison. Mary went to Washington, D.C. recently to speak to the question of whether minors should ever be sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court Justices, as we now know, agreed with her that teenagers have not yet developed sufficiently to be fully responsible for their actions, and that, therefore, it is unconstitutional for them to be sentenced to life imprisonment. I am told that Mary has been invited to Assisi, Italy, to speak at a conference on forgiveness sometime this year.

I am so delighted to get to meet her - and visit with her from time to time, because she does show up at Visitation often, and is a good friend of the Sisters.

She's an amazing woman, and a real inspiration to me. Because I, too, believe we are called to forgive our enemies. I don't find that easy - but if Mary Johnson could forgive Oshea Israel, I should be able to forgive those who haven't done me  anywhere near that kind of harm.

So in support of her ministry, Brian Mogran hosts this wonderful party each year: Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn. What a wonderful, vibrant group of people were there! Mary's group, the sisters from Visitation Monastery, neighbors, friends, and supporters. It was marvelous and fun!

 The music was incredible. Robbie Robinson's voice is like liquid velvet chocolate! And his marvelous faith pours out of him and into all his listeners! I've never heard anyone that inspired me more. And before the evening was over, I was dancing, too!  With the sisters! With Brian!

When Mary's friends started sharing, there was hardly a dry eye in the town! Those women - and some men - have truly suffered and have chosen to forgive. Wow!

The sisters' charism is to "Live Jesus," and it just happens that way in North Minneapolis! Mary says "forgiveness" is the new "f-" word. I hear it a lot in this neighborhood - mixed into the cacophany of violence and anger and poverty and troubles. Makes me experience that "the Kingdom of Heaven" is truly among us. We live in mystery of good and bad - but when the good shines out it is truly amazing.

 Before the evening was over there were games. Miss Linda (Goynes) who is a Visitation Companion was the grand winner! She's dancing up a storm here in celebration (pink sweater). (I so wish I could have shared the music with you, too, but if you don't sort of hear it while seeing these pictures, I'd be surprised.)



And, of course, there had to be one round with Brian and Mary. And finally Sr. Mary Frances took the floor with the rest and the dance went on into the dark of night.

Who would have guessed that nuns had so much fun???






As we left, we passed the "Memory Tree," where earlier in the evening, pictures of children lost to violence in the neighborhood were displayed.