A Nun's Life » hospitality

Hospitality–creating a space for mourning

Sister Maxine — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Yesterday I attended a funeral service in a Christian church in a small town. The parking lot was packed. People of all ages squeezed into pews, sitting elbow-to-elbow to make room for all. The love and respect in the worship space were tangible.

When the pastor spoke, he articulated the spirit that I felt in the church. He talked about hospitality, and how it creates a space for mourning.

He urged the assembly to embrace their feelings about the death of their loved one – to grieve, to celebrate a life well lived, to be angry, peaceful, joyful, sad. The pastor didn’t suggest that they should just be happy that their loved one was now with God, or that they should simply be stoic.

It’s hard to let go of the people we love. In times of grief, it’s hard to believe the psalmist’s words–that our despair can be turned into a dance. But the small-town church was a space where people were free to bring all their emotions to God, trusting that the Spirit would be with them, offering consolation and healing and hope.

The church service reminded me of the unselfish nature of hospitality. Hospitality has no hidden agenda. It has no answers or quick fixes. It is open to mystery. It lets people take their time.

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Join the A Nun’s Life Community for prayer at 6 p.m. CT in the chat room today.

You (Yes, You.) Are Called

Sister Julie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:30:15 +0000

Today’s Scripture reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans is a powerful reminder that each and every one of us has a calling.

All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the almsgivers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.

Do not let your love be a pretense, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as sisters and brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.

Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied. (Romans 12:5-16)

A vocation is not just a calling to consecrated life (such as becoming a sister or monk or deacon); a vocation is a calling to each and everyone of us to live our life fully using the gifts that God has given to us and the grace that God continually gives us. Saint Paul gives us some examples (first paragraph) and he also gives us a kind of road map to living fully (second two paragraphs). Listen to some of the key words of this road map:

prefer good to evil … love … have profound respect for people
minister with earnestness of spirit … hope … do not give up
keep praying … share … give hospitality … bless and never curse people
be in solidarity with those who rejoice or are in sorrow
treat everyone with equal kindness … make real friends with the poor

These are some of the dispositions that we can take to heart and in doing so live more fully the life God has blessed us with.

Pick one, just one, of these “landmarks” on the road map and consider how you can take it to heart each moment of this day and into the week.

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Here’s the time in your neck of the woods.

Nun Photo – Linda a Brigittine Postulant

Sister Julie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:28:00 +0000

Nunday is here! Every Monday A Nun’s Life features your photos of Catholic nuns and sisters in an effort to express the beautiful diversity of religious life and to provide authentic images of nuns today. We’re getting to the end of the photo bucket, so start clicking and sending in more photos! I’m sure you’ve got pictures from Thanksgiving and preparations for Advent that you’d LOVE to share!

Nunday today features a postulant from the other side of the globe. Well, I don’t know if Sweden is exactly on the other side, but it’s pretty far from Chicago! Soon-to-be-Sister Linda is a postulant with the Brigittine community in Sweden. Here she is “basking” in the Swedish autumn grey skies! Writes Linda, “The Brigittines are amazing contemplative nuns, who exude a wonderful atmosphere of warmth and live their religious life with joy and sisterhood.

The community of Brigittine Sisters was founded by Saint Birgitta of Sweden and approved by Pope Urban V in 1370. The Sisters’ life is deeply formed by the monatic tradition and centered around liturgical prayer. Their ministry is one of prayer, hospitality, ecumenism, and teaching the Catholic faith.

I can personally speak to the sisters’ ministry of hospitality. In 1995 I took my first and only trip overseas to visit England, Scotland, and Italy. Two friends and I spent a week in Assisi at the guest house of the Brigittine Sisters. We slept, prayed, and ate at the Guest House — three of the finest things in life! I can assure you that not only was the hospitality superb, but the meals were out of this world. Some of the best pasta and wine this side of God.

Blessings to you, Linda. Please be assured of our prayers as you continue your journey with the Sisters.