Thistles, wild grapes and a mink at the monastery

This week two more women joined us for the Volunteer in Community program. A third woman will join the group on Sunday which will bring our numbers to ten. We tackled a number of tasks last week including digging thistles from the prairie and cutting wild grape vines out of the evergreen trees along the path to the garden. Since we haven’t had measurable rain in a couple of weeks we have also been watering the plantings around the new monastery building and the vegetables in the garden. Speaking of vegetables, we are harvesting green beans, eggplant, cabbage, and of course, zuchini!

One of the volunteers saw a mink on the monastery grounds today. What wildlife have you seen as you walk the trails at the monastery?

Volunteers in Community coming & going

Today we sent one of our Volunteers in Community off with a blessing. She had been with us for almost three weeks. From here she is going to visit a friend for the weekend and then return to Tennessee. Another volunteer arrives Monday which will bring our number to eight.

 Tomorrow is the Solemnity of Benedict and Scholastica and our oblates are meeting this weekend. So prayers are being held at Waunakee Village Center where the oblates have been gathering for their retreats until our new monastery building is completed. Some of the Volunteers in Community went on a tour of the building today. One of them called it “amazing!” We are all looking forward to being in the new monastery building soon!

Benedictine Women welcome Volunteers in Community

On June 15, the sisters welcomed the first six women who will be living and working with us for varying lengths of time this summer as part of our Volunteer in Community program. They come from around the U.S. and from New Zealand and bring much energy for caring for the earth and learning about Benedictine life. We have invited them to write about their experiences and reflections as they work on the monastery grounds, pray, eat and share leisure time with us. You will begin seeing posts from some of them soon.

Recognized for Building Community

As recently cited in Spectrum, an insert to Madison Magazine:

“On the outskirts of town is a faith community that is leading the way in promoting land conservation and environmental justice. The Holy Wisdom Monastery, led by the Benedictine Women of Madison, is nestled among prairie land and rolling hills overlooking Lake Mendota just north of Madison. It is an ecumenical society of sisters (they were formerly Roman Catholic until they changed the rules of monastic living by opening their doors to sisters of other denominations) who provide spiritual guidance, retreats and prayer opportunities for anyone of any faith….”

Perspective on Stability

Stability means staying with the same group of people over the course of one’s life as a monk. Stability provides ample opportunity and the necessity to develop the skills and compassion to work things out with others. Remaining stable allows one to make the interior journey of conversion of life. Stability provides us the grounding to change.

Remember mercy

Benedict calls for the Lord’s prayer to be said every day to remind us of the need to forgive one another and ourselves even as we have been forgiven. Benedict says, “never lose hope in God’s mercy.” (RB 4:74)

Centering Prayer

Imagine two friends sitting in silence, content to simply be with one another. They have a sense of calm and comfort in the ease of their relationship. Centering prayer offers this same feeling.

Part of an ancient contemplative tradition, centering prayer allows individuals to turn within and rest in God’s presence. The practice can be particularly rewarding for individuals caught up in the demanding details of daily life or caring for others. In as few as five minutes, you can connect with the inner peace of God and experience renewal.

Whether practiced individually or within a group, the rhythm of centering prayer can contribute to both mental and physical wellness.

• Find a quiet place. Assume a comfortable sitting position, keeping your back straight and feet on the ground. You may find it helpful to set a timer to mark the prayer period.

• Relax and quiet both your body and your mind. Follow your breathing. Close your eyes and gently become aware of your deepest center.

• Choose a single, sacred word of one or two syllables. The word may be a name you call God (Lord, Jesus, Abba, Father, Mother) or a word that speaks to your understanding of God (Love, Faith, Peace, Trust).

• Say your word inwardly and focus on God’s presence in you. When you become aware of competing thoughts, feelings or sensations, gently return to your sacred word.

• At the end of your prayer period, remain in silence for a few minutes allowing a favorite saying or prayer to speak itself to you. Slowly open your eyes.

Centering prayer cultivates a capacity to be cared for and accept help more readily from others, as it attunes practitioners to Christ’s presence elsewhere in their lives. Over time, centering prayer brings a relationship with God from the awkward stage of acquaintance to a level of friendship where being in each other’s company, even in silence, is deeply satisfying.

Perspective on Obedience

Obedience is a response to listening to the Word of God in scripture and one another. The Latin words for listening and obedience come from the same root. Our listening to God’s word is meant to result in concrete action in our lives.

Sister Lynne on Unity.fm

Sister Lynne is live on Internet radio! On Monday, November 10 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. (CST), she’ll follow in the footsteps of spiritual trailblazers as a featured guest on The Leading Edge with Mindy Audlin.

Sister Lynne will share her revolutionary journey from Presbyterian minister to Benedictine Sister, offering everyday tools for your spiritual journey.

Listen for…
• Introduction into Benedictine prayer practices
• A guide to Lectio Divina, prayer of the hours
• Spiritual guidance from the Rule of Benedict

How to listen to Sister Lynne live on Unity.fm:

Visit the Unity.fm homepage and the streaming content should begin to play. If it does not, you may need to install a newer version of Windows Media Player. Unity.fm is optimized for Windows Media Player versions 7, 8 or 9. Mac Users will need to download Windows Media Player 9, and can do so by clicking here.

Meet Sister Lynne
Sister Lynne Smith was called to spiritual life as a young girl, telling her mother that she wanted to become a nun when she grew up. While her mother told her that only Catholic women could become nuns, Sister Lynne continued to feel a call to give her life in service to God and others. After over 15 years as a Presbyterian minister, she found her heart’s home in the monastic community Benedictine Women of Madison. In 2000, she made her profession to the community as the first Protestant member.

Prayerful Listening

Lectio divina is a prayerful reading of scripture, a way of spending time with the Word of God. Readings are slow and deliberate, allowing the Word to resonate within one’s heart and mind. The process itself has a rhythm that allows individuals time and space to find spiritual meaning beyond the literal text.

Lectio divina differs from traditional Bible study, spiritual reading or prayer because it requires a more concentrated interplay between listening, reflection and application of a specific passage.
When done on an individual basis, the process is organic. An individual follows the ebb and flow of their conversation with God, traversing through spoken word, gentle repetition, reflective prayer and rest. Throughout the process, the individual may feel challenged as God’s word touches one deeply.

When done as a group, the process becomes more structured into phases:

• During the first reading, the passage may be read aloud twice while each person gently listens for the word or phrase that speaks to them and touches their heart. After a period of silence, all share the word or phrase that has touched his or her heart.

• During the second reading (of the same scripture), an individual meditates on how the chosen word(s) touch their life. After personal reflection, individuals share how they have heard or perceived God reaching out to them.

• The third reading is followed by prayer about how the individual is being called to act in their daily life. The individual may then spend time in contemplation with God before praying for the person next to them.

Lectio divina seeks to teach more than the skill of listening. It teaches about the person within and allows individuals to unite with God. By making time in daily life for lectio divina, individuals can connect with their inner being, nurture a bond with God and create a strong relationship with Christ, ultimately resulting in a sense of clarity and understanding for their place in the world.