Bethlehem Monastery of Poor Clares
Christmas, 2009

Be you praised, my dear Lord, through little Brother the Wind…

Dear Friends,

To be honest, that was not quite the line we had in mind when we first began to write this letter. That had seemed to be suggested by the very hillsides here on Mt. St. Francis. A few weeks ago, they truly presented a vision of heaven and nature singing together the wonders of God’s love. If such be the glory here below, we asked, what will it be when all things are made new? But when Tropical Storm Ida swooped in accompanied by a not-so-little Brother Wind driving an equally generous portion of Sister Rain, we knew we had to change our tune! And when, subsequently, our lights went out for almost three days, we knew we also needed to add a few more items to our song: Be praised, my Lord, for big Brother Generator, whose energy kept our well and refrigerators and hot water going and for numerous Sister Extension cords, channeling power to lights and sewing machines and sundry other things otherwise out of reach of the energy circling our halls in various outlets. However, needless to say, we were most grateful to the crews of intrepid linemen whose efforts restored regular power midmorning on Saturday, November 14, slated as our second “Come and See” vocations day here on Mount St. Francis.

Many of you who live near-by may have noticed items in your parish bulletins or posters or flyers in various places regarding this event. We had arranged it as a way sharing our life as far as possible to us with any young women in the area who might be interested either in religious life in general or Franciscan contemplative life in particular. Ida’s blustering failed to dampen our plans for the day which went forward in faith, trusting that weather would clear. And so it happened. Her effects on our lights and part of our heat had not been overcome by that morning’s Mass, however, so that those who came were treated to a perspective not usually available.

Our chaplain, Father Francis Simeone, missed most of the storm, as it began some hours after he had gone up to Pennsylvania to check on the condition of his older sister who lives alone in the family home. He returned in time to have our Mass on our Vocations Day, delivering a masterful homily on the religious life. At recreation that evening, we remarked to one another that now we knew why we had not been able to find another celebrant for the day – Our Lord knew Father would be the right one! He also knew something else, however. The next day Father let Mother Abbess know that he had come to the decision that he must move up North to be with his sister full-time. He had seen that she shouldn’t be alone, but that after 80 years in the family home, neither would she be able to move into assisted living. It was a hard decision for him, as he has been so happy here serving us and living in his log cabin. It will be just as hard for us to lose him, but we understand his concern and will be supporting him in prayer for all that lies ahead. Thus, a whole new chapter in our history here at Mount St. Francis has begun – one we knew would have to come some day but weren’t expecting quite so soon. At this writing the search is on for another chaplain.

Another thing we weren’t quite expecting -- all the supposedly long-dead leaks in our sanctuary and chapter room rose up alive and well under the influence of Ida and her companions. True, they weren’t quite as bad as they were before our attempts at sealing them, but the water they let in required almost as many rags to mop up! We knew something more drastic than our previous efforts must be done if this challenge was to be met and possible major damage to our building prevented. Therefore, Mother called in a contractor who specializes in windows. He surveyed the situation and pointed out a couple of defects in design that allows water not only to get in in major proportions in some places, but to seep into and rot the wood frames of others. And so in this new year we are facing a renovation project of major proportions. It will likely involve the replacement of the windows in the cupola over the sanctuary as well as the removal of the sheet rock and insulation in the walls beneath them that have been getting soaked over the years. How much will depend on the amount of mildew and other water damage is discovered. The window replacement in the chapter room, however, could involve almost the entire north wall. About fifteen other windows throughout the house are also slated for replacement at this time. Needless to say, we will need your help very much with this project. We are most grateful to you for all the support you have given over the years in our various undertakings and we thank you in advance for that which you will give in this one. We know that with the current state of the economy each gift will deserve a double or even triple reward!

Speaking of the economy: haven’t you been struck by the insights of our Holy Father in his encyclical “Caritas in Veritate”? He even points out in one section that our attitude toward the environment has an effect on our attitude toward one another and thus very much affects the shape of the economy. So many jewels lay hidden in this text that we would like to share a couple that we are not sure many noticed. They come towards the end of the encyclical – in numbers 70 and 79 to be exact. He writes:

“…when the sole criterion of truth is efficiency and utility, development is automatically denied. True development does not consist primarily in ‘doing’. The key to development is a mind capable of thinking in technological terms and grasping the fully human meaning of human activities, within the context of the holistic meaning of the individual’s being. Even when we work through satellites or through remote electronic impulses, our actions always remain human, an expression of our responsible freedom. Technology is highly attractive because it draws us out of our physical limitations and broadens our horizon. But human freedom is authentic only when it responds to the fascination of technology with decisions that are the fruit of moral responsibility … we must reappropriate the true meaning of freedom, which is not an intoxication with total autonomy but a response to the call of being, beginning with our own personal being.

“A humanism which excludes God is an inhuman humanism… For this reason, even in the most difficult and complex times, besides recognizing what is happening, we must above all else turn to God’s love. Development requires attention to the spiritual life, a serious consideration of the experiences of trust in God, spiritual fellowship in Christ, reliance upon God’s providence and mercy, love and forgiveness, self-denial, acceptance of others, justice, and peace. All this is essential if ‘hearts of stone’ are to be transformed into ‘hearts of flesh’ (Ezek.36:26), rendering life on earth ‘divine’ and thus more worthy of humanity… God is at the beginning and end of all that is good, all that leads to salvation: ‘the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s’ (1 Cor. 3:22-23).”

May the Lord Jesus be Himself the Light of your lives and through you truly illumine the world. A most blessed Christmas to you all!

Our Masses at Christmas

December 25 Midnight Mass 12:00 a.m.
Christmas Morning 9:00 a.m.

January 1 New Year’s Day 8:00 a.m.

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