A vignette captured as we prepared for mass in our living room the other day. |
These words from a David Hass hymn speak to me
of the life we share here.
We come to share our story,
we come to break the bread,
we come to know our rising
from the dead . . .
We are called to heal the broken
to be hope for the poor,
we are called to feed the hungry
at our door.
You will lead and we will follow
you will be the breath of life
living water, we are thirsting
for your light.
The living room at Girard house is ready for mass. |
Eucharist is the very center of life at Visitation Monastery in North Minneapolis. We have mass at the house at least three times a week. On other days - and on Sundays - we go out to one of several nearby parishes.
On Saturday mornings we have a Communion Service. So every day is centered around the Eucharist.
The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the chapel in each of the two houses. We pray the Divine Office in one of these chapels four times every day - and as each sister enters, she makes a profound bow to the Real Presence in the reserved Sacrament in the tabernacle. On Sundays and other major feast days, incense is burned during the office - and all present are blessed with that incense.
The slightly larger chapel at Fremont decorated for last Easter. |
The small chapel at Girard. |
Holy Mass: our central act of worship as Catholics.
Father Michael O'Connell at Ascension Church one Sunday morning recently. |
The priest says the words of institution, and holds up first the consecrated host, and then the chalice. We each acknowledge the central belief of Catholics: that bread and wine have become, in fact and faith, the body and blood of the crucified Christ." We pray, "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed."
All prayer services and liturgies are open to our neighbors and friends. Before we begin, one of the Sisters puts this sign on the front and back doors: The Sisters are at prayer now. If you would like to join us, please ring the doorbell. And they do - neighbors and people in search of help, friends and patrons - all are welcomed into the worshipping circle.
The Blessed Sacrament displayed in the Monstrance at the Fremont Chapel. |
We meet Christ in our daily work and ministry as well as in the liturgy.
Neighborhood Ice Cream party at Girard |
So at Visitation Monastery one meets Jesus in one guise or another all day long - Christ lives in and among us. The Kingdom of Heaven is present to us.
Praying with people who came looking for some help. Sometimes all we can do is pray together. This was one of those times. |
I told the Sisters the other day, it seems to me, that this is the very threshold of Heaven.
I do love the life here! What an adventure!
4 comments:
It is beautiful to see the final product of your prayerful presence and ubiquitous camera. I was excited when you were putting this together during the presidential debate, and it has been well worth the wait! Your blog is beautiful, Marsha--thank you.
I absolutely love that song, Marsha. Thanks for sharing.
This is pretty great post. I´ve been thinking of starting a blog on this subject myself.
Nice blog!Thanks for sharing this information.
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