Get inspired and nurture your faith! As the Monastery continues preparation for the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of St. Paul’s Monastery and the 40th anniversary of the Benedictine Center this call to action returns to me often. Get inspired! For almost eight decades the women religious of St. Paul’s Monastery have been ministering…
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Benedictine Associates Update March 2023
The Benedictine Associates continue to study and reflect on the program “Being Benedictine." Last month we watched the video presentation of Judith Valente, an oblateof Mount St Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas, on silence. A lively and enriching discussion followed. Later in February we will discuss Discernment from the same program. Silence is defined by…
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With Grateful Hearts
On June 22, 1948, 301 Summit Avenue (then known as St. Paul’s Priory) was blessed by Bishop James J. Byrne and declared canonically erected by Mother Rosamond Pratschner, Mother President of the Congregation of St. Benedict. The Most Reverend James J. Byrne, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul, opened the first chapter meeting…
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Humility: Step 3
The third step of humility is that we submit to another person in obedience for the love of God, imitating Christ who became obedient even unto death. My co-teacher’s ninth grade son asked her repeatedly over several days to come to his Friday evening basketball game in Hugo, about 45 miles away. Naomi gets off…
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Oblate Column for March Newsletter on Benedictine Hospitality
When most of us think of the Benedictine value of Hospitality, we are drawn to Chapter 53 of The Rule in which Benedict states: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” During my initial Oblate formation, when I first read these words, I interpreted them to mean that each guest was…
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February 2022 E-Newsletter
January 2022
Happy New Year to you! At the Monastery, we do not celebrate with loud noisemakers and cheering at midnight to welcome in the New Year, nor do we celebrate New Year’s like the Romans by offering sacrifices to Janus (a Roman god), exchanging gifts, attending parties, and decorating with laurel branches. As a monastic community, we do not celebrate in the shadow of the secular world. Instead, we celebrate a Holy Day of Obligation, The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God who is the Author of Life in the mystery of salvation.
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me."
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