September Archives
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September 27, 2011
As the General Chapter in Assisi begins to wind down one can only ponder on all that has taken place during our last three weeks together. So much business, yet deep sharing on the things which mean so much to us as Cistercian monks and nuns. New foundations approved, an old monastery in Europe suppressed, which during a period of 130 years had made five foundations and re-founded another monastery, but now with the encircling years it is time for them to fade into the background and just be there for all who have come to love the monks during many decades. They have been born, fulfilled their purpose and, through historical circumstances gently leave the transmission of Cistercian life to other monasteries coming into existence. The transmission of new life is no longer theirs, but rather, it has been passed on to their foundations and they in turn, with the passing years, will pass on the Cistercian life, which has continued to grow and evolve with each passing century since 1098. The history of monasticism is fascinating and exciting. Tomorrow, September 28th, we will all go to the Basilica to celebrate our closing Mass. So many emotions in so many hearts from all over the world. I believe the deepest emotion embracing us is truly the love and support and companionship each one feels as they return to their communities - renewed, refreshed (even if a little tired), ready to continue to live their lives faithfully, quietly and with hearts full of hope. Our communities waiting at home have been closely connected through the means of modern technology. Photographs, blogs, emails and Skype have kept us all close to our communities. How different from the General Chapters of old when the communities at home just waited for the return of their Abbot or Abbess to share with them the deliberations of the General Chapter. The custom of ringing all the monastery bells on the return from the General Chapter still continues in many monasteries. The celebration of return.
Sister Gabriella
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September 17, 2011
As I sit here in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, during a break in the working sessions of our General Chapter, I cannot but help being overwhelmed at times by the size of the Basilicas here in Italy, by the adornment and the huge marble sculptures protruding from on high in almost all of the Basilicas. They are far from the Cistercian simplicity which so marks our churches, and yet they, too, speak of love. In the midst of the Basilica of Mary of the Angels is the humble Porziuncola which is the holiest place of all for the many pilgrims coming to visit Assisi. This is what I love more than the grandeur of the Basilicas – the simple Porziuncola. Yet one can only marvel at such works of art in the large Basilicas. How did they ever build them? How many hundreds of years did it take to complete them? How many tears were shed in their construction? How many millions of pilgrims have come to adore God, to thank him, to praise him and ask his forgiveness in these holy places? As I sat pondering on the adornment, in this particular Basilica, it came to me that those who dreamed dreams of grandeur for these ancient churches really wanted to show the depth of their love for the God they loved. They could only express it in what was conceived in their minds as giving God the greatest glory, and to express it by the work of their hands which gave birth to their longings. This was their way of saying, “Come, and see how great God is!” As I pondered these things my mind went back to another time when some disciples of Jesus thought that a woman was wasting precious, expensive ointment on Jesus by anointing him with it. This was her way of saying, “You are everything to me and there is only one way I can show you my love and that is by pouring out this precious ointment on you.” So too the designers and builders of the Basilicas were showing their love and desire to honor and praise their God in the most expressive way they could in their own days. And what of you, Gabriella? There is only one way for me to express my love, I cannot build great Basilicas, I cannot buy precious ointment to anoint the One I love, but I can pour out my whole life in love, day by day, in my vocation as a Cistercian nun.
Sister Gabriella
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September 12, 2011
Jesus, it is hard to find the words which will express what one experiences here in Assisi, where we are gathered for our General Chapter. Yes, the peace of this holy ground of Assisi is the dominant experience. That peace of which you speak so poignantly in the gospels which seems to flow into our hearts here through that little 'poverello' of yours who lived so many, many years ago here. His spirit is so alive and tangible that one expects to meet him around every corner, under every tree and in every grove. But there is more which unfolds in our hearts with the passing days of living and sharing together our common goals, our love for our Cistercian family, our vocation as monks and nuns and our longing to always be faithful to our charism, yet always open to a world so different from our founding Fathers. A world which they could never have imagined! Yes, there will be others following in our footsteps when we have long gone and they will be living in a world we could never imagine now. But none of that matters for the heart of our life is you, Jesus, and that is enough for generations to come. If we do not keep you as the heart and goal of our life, of our vocation there is no vocation. You alone sustain us in love. It is exciting, challenging and at the same time very grounding. It is so obvious to me as I listen to the hearts of the many monks and nuns, gathered here for our General Chapter, that it is love, and love alone, which holds us together as brothers and sisters, friends and companions on the way. So many nationalities from all Continents, different languages, different customs, different ways of viewing our world but truly one same longing to love you, our brothers and sisters in our world and each other, and to know at last we will all be brought together to everlasting life when our short journey is over and we hand the baton on to the next generation.
Sister Gabriella
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September 2, 2011
The ordinariness of some duties we embrace in our daily monastic life can have not an ordinary effect on us but touch us deeply. Having taken a sister to a doctor’s appointment as I was sitting in waiting room I realize how that room has become a meeting place of strangers. Strangers in one way but now a part of our life in the shared experience of needing some physical healing personally or that of a friend, a sister, a family member we have accompanied. There is an unspoken link here, heart meets heart in silence through a smile, a glance, a word whispered, “I will be praying or you.” Forever that person, those people will be part of the fabric of our lived Cistercian life – carried in love and prayer all along their life’s journey. Our monastic life is ever leading us out beyond our own hearts and desires to the heart of the world and its longings and desires, and that is as it should be – a life poured out in love to all whom we meet on life’s journey.
Sister Gabriella
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