Today we have a special guest blogger, Sister Chloe the Convent Cat.

A Meowy National Library Week to all you cats (and dogs I suppose). We heard last week about what is on Sister Maxine’s book shelf, so I asked if I could share some of my good books. You might be surprised to know that cats are excellent readers though we pretend to like to only lay on them.

Here’s what I’ve got on my kitty shelf:

• Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz — Sister Julie read another book of his called Beyond the Last Village and loved it (I know because I sat on her while she stayed up all night to finish it)
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck — I’ve seen a lot of his books on Sister Maxine’s shelf, but of course the mice appealed to me.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat’s Life — There’s a great essay in here about my friend Destiny written by his person Cate Adelman (a friend of my people and the A Nun’s Life Community).

Following in the footsteps of my humans, Sister Maxine and Sister Julie, I am something of a writer myself. I have a couple projects planned:

• I’d like to do a book about Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats. Very little is known about her so I’d like to do some more research and am planning a trip to Belgium.
• I’m thinking about writing a book in collaboration with Button my dog friend on the East Coast: Cats are from Mars, Dogs are from Venus: A Practical Guide for Working Collaboratively to Get Away with More.

Now with all this reading and writing, it’s important to remember to take a break. So in my spare time I head for choir practice with the Jingle Cats (best known for happy birthday songs and a fab rendition of Ode to Joy) or I find a nice spot in the sun and sleep.

Hmmm …. sleep ….

I still love Sister Chloe the Convent Cat … but Maru is terribly cute too!

Just the other day I came across my copy of The Hound of Heaven. It’s a poem about God’s untiring pursuit of us, a chase inspired by God’s great love. The poem was written around 1900, by Francis Thompson.

The hound image made me think of a song that one of my sisters recently told me about, “God and Dog.” Like the poem, the song is also about God’s persistent love, which takes many shapes in our life, such as our pets.

So today I give thanks for pets, especially Abby and Bailey (two of my favorite dogs) and of course Chloe the Convent Cat. Do you have a prayer of thanksgiving for a pet you know or one you fondly remember? If so, please add their names (in the comment box below) to our Litany of Pets! We’ll pray the litany at prayer tonight.

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Join A Nun’s Life Community for prayer today via our live podcast “Praying with the Sisters” and chat room. Just before 6 p.m. Central Time (your time zone) join us at http://aNunsLife.org/LIVE … more info on that page.

I have often heard Catholic sisters and nuns say, “Join the convent, see the world” because many of us do travel quite a bit for ministry and mission. Along with that comes the always pleasant task of actually moving. You know what I mean — boxes, tape, clutter, dust, lifting, moving, renting, changing, bubble wrap, exhaustion!

Moving also gives one the opportunity for self-reflection, to think about what one is attached to, how simply one lives, what facilitates community and mission, etc.

As you might suspect, I am in the process of moving — like right at this moment. My computer is the last to go. In an hour I will be picking up our 17′ rental truck (the experience of driving that thing in Chicago will probably make for an interesting blog post!) in order to move out of my current abode and to a new house with another IHM sister where we can live and offer hospitality to our IHM sisters and others.

Chloe the Convent Cat is coming along with us, and as you can see, she’s a bit self-reflective too.

We’ve done a great job at sorting and donating stuff. It’s so easy to accumulate “stuff” so I’m hoping to keep things simple. I feel better when I have less clutter, less stuff to be distracted by. After traveling so much, I realize that most of what I need I can toss in a backpack.

What have been your experiences of “move”? What does living simply mean for you?

Over the weekend we had great contributions to the post You may be a nun if …. An important question came up about being a Catholic sister or nun and having pets.

Not being able to have a dog is actually the one part of religious life I believe I will never get used to. I dreamed one night that I started sleeping with stuffed animals in my nun life since I am so used to having a dog pushing me around in bed at night…

For animal lovers, the pet thing can be a real bummer. Many of us grew up with these little (and not so little) critters as part of our family. However, when you enter religious life, you really do have to be absolutely free which includes not having any dependents. We have women who are unmarried/formerly married moms who enter the community but only after their children are no longer dependent. Same reasoning applies in a way to having pets which are absolutely dependent on us (except for cats who think they are beholden to no one ).

But fear not, animals do have a way of scurrying back into our lives, but we must always put our community first, and we must make decisions around pets with them. Many people have allergies to animals or just plain don’t want to live with an animal.

More thoughts or questions about animals and the sisterhood?

I am a little late writing my post today because I have a couple of my friends visiting from Monroe. I tried to get one of them to write a post this morning, but sadly, coffee had not yet been fully absorbed in her system. The girls are on their way to Racine, Wisconsin, for a sex workshop. Okay, that may be a little too sensational of a description, but it makes for good reading. Seriously they are attending a workshop on psychosexual development for men and women in formation from a variety of communities in this area.

It’s been great hanging out with them. Last night I took them out for Thai food (vegetarian Pad Thai is AWESOME). When we got back to the convent (Chloe the Convent Cat had everyone’s bed ready but I think she ate the mints on the pillows) we each had some work to do. It was actually quite funny because I looked up at one point and the younger one was sitting in her flannels knitting and our veteran sister was reading the NY Times online from her Mac laptop. The juxtaposition of young knitter and older Internet surfer made me laugh!

This morning we enjoyed coffee together and chatted about IHM community life and other verities of life. It’s so good to have my nuns here. I love to see how our IHM charism incarnates itself in each and every nun and how she uniquely expresses that common charism.

So now I must go before they get too absorbed in double yarn overs and Persepolis. Got to get them on the road so they don’t miss out on the sex workshop!

It’s a chilly Nunday here in Chicago … so cold that even the snow has stopped falling, the nun mobile doesn’t want to start, and Chloe the Convent Cat is buried in my comforter.

It’s is fitting then that today’s Nunday photo feature Catholic nuns embracing the joys of winter. The following photo was submitted by my blogging friend Sister Susan Rose Francois, CSJP, of Musings of a Discerning Woman. Sister Susan writes,

This is a picture of 3 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace – Sr. Amalia, Sr. Susan (me), and Sr. Suyki. We had a snow day here at our province headquarters, St. Mary-on-the-Lake. We decided to make a snow person in the courtyard outside our dining room windows so that the elderly sisters could see it. We had great fun with our creation – who we christened “Sister Snow.” Inside our sisters cheered us on. One even gave us a standing ovation. We had a great time!

Read more about Sister Susan’s snow day on her post Sister Snow at Musings of a Discerning Woman.

Chloe: Hi Joan, Thanks for being here today. How does the idea of angels fit with the idea of the Holy Spirit as God’s abiding presence among us? Does the presence of angels diminish the significance of the Holy Spirit in any way? I appreciate having a place to ask this question! Thanks again.

Joan: Hi Chloe,  No, the Blessed Trinity really doesn’t conflict at all with angels.  Angels aren’t God, and don’t have God’s power.  We could get along without them, but try getting along without God!  People often wonder why God made angels, and I really don’t know.  I guess, just as there are millions of varieties of plants, for example, God is an abundant God.  We could have gotten along with two or three varieties, but He gives us tons.  And the same with angels.  Life is so much richer knowing that angels are around.

More than one person has suggested that to some, God may seem too exalted to relate to, so angels are a good substitute.  I don’t think anything can be substituted for God, however I do see what these people mean.  Perhaps an angel is more approachable.

Last night Chicago witnessed one of the most spectacular storms — also very dangerous. Here’s my story of the storm.

Not one to believe weather reports, I hopped on my bike after work yesterday and went riding downtown with my buddy Carol. We parked our bikes at Ohio Street Beach, right at the foot of Navy Pier. The beach is almost always populated during the summer,  and the stretch of Lake Michigan water that goes along the board walk is a place that many swimmers do laps (it’s where I trained for my triathlon last year).

It was about 6 p.m. and the sky was cloudy, but not threatening in any way. We locked up our bikes and biking gear and hit the water. Immediately we noticed that the water was higher than usual — normally you can walk for 1/4 mile + out but even before we got to the bouys, the water was nearly neck high. We swam a bit but mostly chatted. It was so great to cool off. Then off in the distance I saw a flash light up the sky over Lake Michigan. “Uh, Carol, i think that was lightening.” “Oh, it’s way off. We’ve got plenty of time,” replied Carol. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure lightening travels faster than you or I can swim,” I said. We kept going out but as soon as we saw the next, closer flash of light, we headed back toward the beach. Swimmers were still heading out, but as the sky got darker, I was glad we were heading in.

Just as we saddled up our bikes and started riding through downtown towards home, the rain hit. Big, huge drops of rain that hit with a thud and exploded like a water balloon. Still we weren’t too worried because we were already soaked from swimming and the extreme humidity, but as darkness descended we began to wonder if we’d be able to get ahead of the storm. Unfortunately neither of us had bike lights because we didn’t expect to be out late nor did we expect the premature darkness. So we rode safely but swiftly. About 2 1/2 miles from home, we parted ways, each to our own abode. By then the lightening was all around us, the rain pouring down, and the darkness swallowing up the city. It was as beautiful as it was terrifying.

Fortunately good bicycling skills and adrenaline took over. I took side streets home, riding through a few flooded streets and trying to stay away from lightening, trees blowing precariously in the wind, and wavering cars. Truly it was exhilarating though probably not all together smart. I finally got to my house. I had to walk between my brownstone and my neighbor’s. The alley was lit up like a night game at Wrigley. I could feel the lightening reverberating all around me. I threw my bike over my shoulder, hopped up my back stairs and prayed that my metal door would not electrocute me. Somehow I got me and the bike inside, climbed another set of stairs and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I reached my flat. Pfew!

I realized how scary the situation was when the tornado siren started going off. Carol called having gotten home safely. We hung up, and I went to find my cat. I picked up Chloe the Convent Cat, held her close, and sat in my hallway for a good 10 minutes. The wind and rain were whipping the building and trees relentlessly. I cleaned up quickly and packed my backpack anticipating a quick escape if necessary. Cat food? check. Water? check. Flashlight? … flashlight? … where the heck are my D batteries?? Wallet? check. Cell phone? …. is it really almost out of juice? … argh! So much for emergency preparedness. Towel? check. Safari hat? check. Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Once packed, I went around the entire house and unplugged everything, except one fan and my cell phone that was recharging. Exhausted, I lay in bed – sneakers and all. Chloe sat nestled in my arm oblivious to the non-airconditioned heat. Long story short, we made it through the night. Fitfully. The damage in my neighborhood wasn’t too bad. And we still had power, unlike many in Chicago — including my buddy Carol. So this morning bright and early I went over to pick up her three over-heated cats and bring them to the convent. Soon after Carol followed. Then it was off to work!

Now, its after 8 p.m. My house guests — Carol, her three cats, and her Mac laptop are settled in and happy to have a cool, powered home to hang out in. As for me and Chloe, it’s time for bed. I have some much needed sleep to catch up on, and Chloe needs some loving since having house guests detracts attention away from her!

My prayers are with all those who are suffering in the aftermath of the storm.

I’m hanging out at Starbucks so I can cool off. Just installed my AC units this morning but still hot and muggy. I left Chloe the Convent Cat sprawled on the rug and licking an ice cube. What happened to the rest of Spring??

Today the IHMs in Chicago are gathering from far and wide for a cook-out, book study, and prayer. I’m looking forward to being all together. We are reading The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. It’s a series of vignettes about Esperanza …

… a Chicana (Mexican-American girl), who is about twelve years old when the novel begins. During the year, she moves with her family into a house on Mango Street. The house is a huge improvement from the family’s previous apartment, and it is the first home her parents actually own. However, the house is not what Esperanza has dreamed of, because it is run-down and small. The house is in the center of a crowded Latino neighborhood in Chicago, a city where many of the poor areas are racially segregated. Esperanza does not have any privacy, and she resolves that she will someday leave Mango Street and have a house all her own. (source: SparkNotes)

Have you read it? What do you like about it?

I have this memory that when I was a child I used to be able to talk with animals — and that we could understand each other. I must have lost this gift over time because my cat Chloe acts as if she doesn’t understand one thing I say! Anyway, I have a great fondness for animals and, at the moment, am surrounded by 3 of them (plus miscellaneous convent spiders). I am cat sitting for a friend so her two girls, Sassy and Lucy, are having a slumber party here. As I type, the two cats are literally crawling all over me. All 20-lbs of Lucy are walking across my keyboard. Chloe is in the other room — she’s not all that pleased with the presence of other cats in her home, but she’s making do. When I go into the other room, she’ll express her disgust with the situation and then promptly sit on me.

It is an amazing thing to live with creatures and other living things like plants. It keeps one aware that it’s not all about onself nor about human beings. As fabulous as we are as humans, we can learn so much from the other creatures around us. Chloe, for example, happens to remind me of the great importance of tenderness — something which I’ve always valued but which I am reminded about on a daily basis now. In some strange way, I think this makes me a better person — being reminded daily of tenderness keeps that in the forefront of my mind and heart and, I hope, positively affects how I am throughout the day with the rest of creation — including my fellow human beings!

What have you learned from one of God’s creatures lately? Perhaps the patience of a rock or the perseverence of a salmon swimming upstream …

This could so be my cat Chloe …

Yesterday Elizabeth asked the following in her comment on my About Me page:

I was wondering if you would be interested in describing what your day is like. If you consider this an intrusion, please feel free to ignore it.

It’s no intrusion at all, Elizabeth. I’m pleased to respond. I must first preface my response by saying that not all my days are like this nor do all sisters/nuns’ lives necessarily follow this particular pattern.

Most days like today, I wake up to the quiet hum of my clock radio at 5:00 a.m. I head directly to the coffee machine. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Straight to the coffee machine. Once the coffee is ready I visit with the convent cat whose name is Chloe. Chloe is an 8.5 year old girl. She is very sweet and contemplative. I think of her as a live stuffed animal because when I was a kid (okay a few years ago) I always hoped and prayed that my stuffed animals would come alive. Now I have Chloe!

Then I pray Morning Prayer according to the Liturgy of the Hours. This is one of my most favorite prayers. This prayer also unites me with my sisters because though we do not live under the same roof, it’s like we can come together in prayer wherever we are. I pray for all of my IHM sisters, the other 2 communities of IHMs, and the Oblate Sisters of Providence (all of whom were part of our early days as a congregation). I pray for my family especially my parents and siblings and their families. I pray for all those people who have asked me to keep them in my prayers. I conclude by praying for all those who do not have someone to pray for them.

After prayer I head to the computer with my trusty mug of coffee. I check my email, write on my blog, and do other computer tasks. Then I rev up for the day ahead of me. I pack a lunch, get my work bag and clothes together, and leave the house as soon as I can so that I can make it to the gym for a swim before work.

Then it’s off to Loyola Press. I must say that I truly love going to work. I have fabulous colleagues, a great work environment, and a job that is truly prayer and ministry. I work in the catechetical department of Loyola Press. Among other things, we are responsible for the theological content of our religious education program and materials and for ensuring good catechesis. We work closely with editors, designers, production, customer service, marketing, etc. When I first came to the Press, we were working on Finding God — a new religious education program based on Ignatian Spirituality and written by the folks at Loyola Press. It is a beautiful series that begins with prayer and the understanding that children are already in relationship with God. Not only is the writing and artwork stunning, but catechists keep telling us how much it helps them help the children experience God and learn our Catholic faith. I’m proud to be part of this good work.

Here are some of my colleagues: Joe, Tom, and Jean (a nun!). At the beginning of the year Joe started his own blog about being a catechist. It’s very cool. Check it out at Catechist’s Journey and learn not only about catechesis but also about Joe’s favorite sports teams!

After work I head for home. Unpack, get my mail, visit with Chloe, check in on my IHMs, and do ordinary domestic things. In the evening I read — theological texts, spirituality books, novels, whatever peaks my interest at the moment. I occasionally turn on the TV (as I will this evening to watch “Heroes”, one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time) or listen to National Public Radio (NPR). I conclude my day with the Examen. Click here for more info on the Examen. I learned it from my Jesuit friends when I studied in Toronto. It is a prayerful way to review your day and get a sense of God’s presence in your life. I will occasionally pray Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Then it’s off to bed!

I have learned from my sisters what it really means to “pray without ceasing” as Saint Paul calls all of us to do in his first letter to the Thessalonians 5:17. We are to make the whole day a prayer — coffee rituals, caring for God’s creatures, working out at the gym, doing our job and chores around the house, sitting around daydreaming — all of these things can be opportunities to open ourselves to God, to experience his love and to radiate this love to others. This is what I strive to do every day of my life.

3 Needles is a film that looks at the struggle against AIDS through the lens of situations in three different cultures: “a novice nun in Africa tries to educate villagers in safe sex; in China a black-marketeer collects illicit blood donations; in Canada a porn star hides his occupation and his illness from his mother” (NYTimes).

In particular, here’s what the NYTimes synopsis says about the novice nun:

Sister Clara (Chloë Sevigny) is a young nun who is working with two, more experienced, missionaries (Olympia Dukakis and Sandra Oh) in a village along the African coast. Sister Clara finds herself struggling against ignorance and misinformation among the natives, but discovers she can only accomplish so much through traditional means and is forced to make a great personal sacrifice for the greater good.

Shawn Ashmore, Stockard Channing, Lucy Liu, and Tanabadee Chokpikultong also star in this film. 3 Needles is written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald.

It is due to be released on December 1, 2006. Check out the 3 Needles Web site and the movie trailer at Bigfoot Entertainment.