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Women’s History Month: God chooses the humble
Like any human, Saint Mother Theodore had her doubts about her upcoming mission to the New World. “The Eighth American Saint” describes her feelings: “What chiefly troubled her [Saint Mother Theodore] about this new mission was that its success or failure would depend on her. She was already forty-one years old, perhaps too old for pioneering; she had never been in really good health since she was a postulant. On the other hand, there were no ties of family to...
The wisdom of Saint Mother Theodore: Letter to Sister Gabriella
...often have you been, dear Sister, in the Stable of Bethlehem? Without doubt you have paid many visits there to adore our Divine Saviour. Have you considered, my dear Sister, with what rigor He treats His innocent Body, so tender and so young? What an example of mortification and self-denial! He gives us the graces which have cost him so much and which are so sweet to us! Oh, let us love Him! Let us, after His example, mortify our...
Asking questions: Feast Day 2012
...a beloved friend. I can’t imagine these words escaping my lips! Listen to her words as she advises sisters of Ruillé desiring to come to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods: “If your hearts waver, if you are afraid of the cross, of poverty, of humiliations, do not leave France; you would not be suitable for our little Community” Can you imagine receiving this letter from her and facing the decision? Yet, no doubt her words are as true today as they were then....
“It’s those gates”
...campus and experienced Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The person who was about the twentieth to say this, just threw up her hands and said, “It’s those gates!” She even likened the gates to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters of Harry Potter fame, the platform that whisked the young people off to Hogwarts and a magical adventure. Is IT magic dust that sprays over you as you enter the gates at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods? I doubt if Mother Theodore thought that as she extricated herself...
Sister Mildred Anne Dudine
“Acclaim the Most High, all Earth, serve God gladly, come into God’s presence with songs of joy!” (Psalm 100) “Sister Mildred Anne Dudine, no doubt, entered God’s presence with songs of joy that represented a 77-year lifetime of dedicated service as a Sister of Providence musician. The most frequent descriptive words I heard these past several days about Mildred Anne were, ‘She loved music; she was a happy person, always smiling; she was a very affirming person,’” said Sister Ann...
Bridge Prayer
Lord, it is hard sometimes to believe that you are really present in this world of ours. But I do believe it, Lord! Please help me live my life in such a way that it will be easier for others to recognize you. When I find doubt, help me bring a little light. Where I find discouragement, let me be a ray of hope in the darkness. To those who feel estranged and alienated from you and your Church, let...
Grandma’s rituals: Holy Week & Easter 2013
...yeah.” And I’ve never again seen a lamb cake, a real lamb, a cuddly stuffed animal lamb that I haven’t thought of “the Lamb of God.” So, those of you who interact with children in any way — never doubt the power of home ritual to shape a believer. It seems to me no home activities around any of our holy days is without its power to influence a lifetime. Rituals shape us; bend us toward the Mystery who is...
Saint Mother Theodore’s feast day
...Mother Theodore advised: “Repent of your sins and failings; take resolutions to do better and, after that, be quiet. The more we stir up a dung hill the more it exhales bad odors…. “ No doubt, someone here singled out love. She expressed that love in such tender and homey ways. On a journey from Madison, Indiana she writes these words to the Sisters at St. Mary’s: “I am writing to you with an iron stick they call a pen,...
Surrounded by the dead
...Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with photos of people who they feel have led saintly lives. Once-in-a-great-while Aunt Ellie would report having seen Pop, as she called him, with that impish smile on his face. Most of my family was doubtful. I believed her. I am confident that the dead do surround us. Usually we don’t see them, at least not with our eyes. Most of them have never been canonized by the Church. Nov. 1 is the feast of...
Sister Mary Eymard Campeggio
“‘Rabbi, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the household tasks? Tell her to help me!’ Jesus replied, ‘Martha, Martha! You are anxious and worried about many things, but only a few things are necessary – really only one. Mary has chosen the better part.’” Luke 10:40-42 Our Sister Mary Eymard was both a Martha and a Mary and without a doubt, we know her relationship with Jesus was very good. However, we would be somewhat...
Mother’s Day reflection: God’s grace and love help mothers “do it”
...I’ve been in conversations with other Sisters of Providence about “how do mothers do it?” Any small incident can trigger this — watching a mother juggle small children in church or in the grocery store. All significant incidents evoke the conversation — watching a mother care for a hospitalized child or getting a call from a mother asking for our prayer for her child who is troubled by alcohol or drugs. No doubt, God’s grace and love help mothers “do...
Grateful for all who have served this Memorial Day
...the end of the war with organized women’s groups in the South decorating graves and many in the South still call the holiday “Decoration Day.” Over two dozen cities and towns have claimed being the birthplace of Memorial Day and while none can “prove” they were the first, there is no doubt its birth sprang from death — the death of so many Americans, whether they be called Yankees or Rebels. Memorial Day changed after World War I when it...