Comments on: When a Sister is sick or dying … http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:56:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Another Sister Julie, CSSF http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1706 Another Sister Julie, CSSF Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:44:04 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1706 When one of our sisters is dying, everyone in the house goes to spend some time with her. Well, one summer, as we gathered all the sisters of the province for the first time (We ususally came together in two or three shifts during the summer, because the Texas teachers had to be in school from August 1 to June 1, but the California sisters from September 1 to June 17 or so), one of othe elderly bedridden sisters was said to be dying. From breakfast time to early afternoon, each sister present came and visited and prayed with Sister D and kissed her goodbye. For some reason or another, I was the last to enter her room. She cracked her eye open and said, "Go! GO!" Whatever plagued her had passed and she lived for several more months. Or provincial had concluded that the saying that you needed X number a kisses a day to survive was proved true that day in Sr. D's remarkable recovery! Another time, when I was a novice, dear Sister B was said to be dying. Now, this was the third time we did a death watch for Sr. B. She was 98 and, well, you never knew with her. At about 11PM, after many hours of prayer, Sr. B cracked open one eye, saw the provincial sitting at her side and she asked, "Am I dead?" "Apparently not!" came the provinical's response. Our congregation had that tradition mentioned earlier of laying out a sister with all those flowers (lilies if you could get them) around her body. Little did anyone know that those flowers hid the wood shavings left from making the plain, poor box that held her! (The shaving were under her body. Sheesh, Sister was already dead! Did her body still have to do penance?) When one of our sisters is dying, everyone in the house goes to spend some time with her. Well, one summer, as we gathered all the sisters of the province for the first time (We ususally came together in two or three shifts during the summer, because the Texas teachers had to be in school from August 1 to June 1, but the California sisters from September 1 to June 17 or so), one of othe elderly bedridden sisters was said to be dying. From breakfast time to early afternoon, each sister present came and visited and prayed with Sister D and kissed her goodbye. For some reason or another, I was the last to enter her room. She cracked her eye open and said, “Go! GO!” Whatever plagued her had passed and she lived for several more months. Or provincial had concluded that the saying that you needed X number a kisses a day to survive was proved true that day in Sr. D’s remarkable recovery!

Another time, when I was a novice, dear Sister B was said to be dying. Now, this was the third time we did a death watch for Sr. B. She was 98 and, well, you never knew with her. At about 11PM, after many hours of prayer, Sr. B cracked open one eye, saw the provincial sitting at her side and she asked, “Am I dead?” “Apparently not!” came the provinical’s response.

Our congregation had that tradition mentioned earlier of laying out a sister with all those flowers (lilies if you could get them) around her body. Little did anyone know that those flowers hid the wood shavings left from making the plain, poor box that held her! (The shaving were under her body. Sheesh, Sister was already dead! Did her body still have to do penance?)

]]> By: Bill Howdle http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1704 Bill Howdle Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:37:38 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1704 I thank you for sharing this most beautiful story. I congratulate you on having the strength to visit you friend. You said you were unable to find words to say, and started praying aloud. What words could you possibly have said that would have meant more than just your presence there with her. The prayer was undoubtedly a blessing to her at that time, but so was the fact that you were there. She knew you cared enough to visit, she felt your love. Nothing could have been more special than that. You were a blessing to her and to all Bill I thank you for sharing this most beautiful story. I congratulate you on having the strength to visit you friend. You said you were unable to find words to say, and started praying aloud.
What words could you possibly have said that would have meant more than just your presence there with her. The prayer was undoubtedly a blessing to her at that time, but so was the fact that you were there. She knew you cared enough to visit, she felt your love. Nothing could have been more special than that.
You were a blessing to her and to all
Bill

]]> By: Anonymous1 http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1705 Anonymous1 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:10:23 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/06/25/when-a-sister-is-sick-or-dying/#comment-1705 This is a very beautiful thing and reminds me of pictures or video that I have seen representing the way that Carmelites are laid out after death with all the beautiful flowers surrounding them. I still pray that communities, especially ones that are mainly contemplative could be more open about accepting people initially who have serious illnesses. The proper response from all the members of the community are also needed in this regard. God is not afraid of Providence over the sick, so maybe communities could look into the heart and be more accepting initially. May all our dear religious and priests be blessed by St. Joseph and their communities with the grace of a happy death. This is a very beautiful thing and reminds me of pictures or video that I have seen representing the way that Carmelites are laid out after death with all the beautiful flowers surrounding them. I still pray that communities, especially ones that are mainly contemplative could be more open about accepting people initially who have serious illnesses. The proper response from all the members of the community are also needed in this regard. God is not afraid of Providence over the sick, so maybe communities could look into the heart and be more accepting initially. May all our dear religious and priests be blessed by St. Joseph and their communities with the grace of a happy death.

]]>