Letter from a saint

Portions of a letter to the Rev. Julian Delaune, May 31, 1841

(The Rev. Julian Delaune was a priest in several parishes in the Diocese of Vincennes from 1836 to 1842. From 1842 to 1846 he was the pastor of St. Michael Church in Madison, Ind.)

“So we shall have a postulant from Madison! I cannot sufficiently express my thankfulness, dear Reverend Father, for the interest you take in our novitiate. Yes, we must have subjects if we are to continue the work begun here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. In the six months that have passed since our arrival twelve have joined us. That would be very encouraging if all persevered; but, fortunately, one returned to her family, unable to sacrifice her affections; and there are some others who we shall be obliged to dismiss unless a great change takes place in their hearts. I beg your Reverence to pray for these dear children, that they may acquire the spirit of their holy vocation. It is difficult for many to understand the necessity of religious obedience; especially does that seem to be the case in this country where the spirit of independence is carried into everything.” (“Journals and Letter,” p. 76)

For books about Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, visit The Gift Shop.

Finding the Words

What is your end of the dialogue when you take a moment to pray? Do you recite rote sequences that lull the mind into meditative stillness, or is yours a stream-of-consciousness experience that leads your spirit from the superficial to the intimate?

I am here to confess that lately I have struggled a bit to hold up my end of things in my prayer life. I seem to lack the ability to find the words I want to say: rote recitation feels rushed and insincere, while waiting for the stream of consciousness to take over I often find myself in the depths of sleep!

Of course there are people and things about which I wish to pray, and often I can at least manage to bring those things to mind. Yet something feels lacking, and I can't help but believe it is due to my lack of bringing everything I can to the experience. This has come to be such a disheartening feeling that my prayer life has gradually winnowed down to a few "please help so-and-so" and quite a lot of "thank you" prayers flung carelessly heavenbound throughout the day. Round that out with the odd "Hail Mary" and you have...not much.

Does it count that I am grateful for the fresh air and green leaves and birds outside my window, or for the intense gratitude I feel at being entrusted with children? Is the act of my daily routine a prayer if I occasionally remind myself that it is all for God? Or is that just me lacking discipline in terms of communing with God? I'm really not sure.

I would like to break this cycle of prayer despair, and I get the sense that what I need is to shake things up, maybe try something new. I am currently reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, in which one of the main characters has written out her prayers in lieu of saying them since childhood. I must admit I find that approach intriguing. Maybe prayer doesn't have to include words at all; some sing or dance or create art to pray. What about you? What are the prayer habits and patterns which allow you to enjoy a rich dialogue and intimacy with our Provident God? Please comment below--you may inspire the prayer lives of others out there who are struggling with a stale approach to prayer, myself included!

Letter from a saint

Portions of a letter to the Rev. Augustine Martin, May 1, 1841

(Father Martin gave the sisters their first retreat in the United States Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, 1840. In 1841, he was the pastor of the parish in Logansport, Ind.)

“I have followed exactly your recommendations in regard to the Bishop [Celestine de la Hailandière, 1839-1847], and I have found them good — indeed, very good. He is an excellent father. I have never found a more compassionate heart, one more charitable, under so cold an exterior. One thing that deeply grieves my heart is the pain we give to him. So far there is nothing but complaints about us. I confide this to your paternity, lamenting it, and at the same time admiring the ways of Providence; for, most truly we are all disposed to do all we can to acquire the perfection of our state, to walk with courage in the narrow path, and to follow the Divine Spouse who has deigned to call us in preference to so many others who would be worth infinitely more than we are. This good will, of course, is not equally strong in all the Sisters; but you know, dear Father, grace is not given equally to all, nor at the same time.” (“Journals and Letter,” p. 74)

To read more about Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, click here.

A gathering at Paddock Lake, Wis.

Saturday, Aug. 14, was a perfect day to gather at Paddock Lake, Wis., for the annual Day of Reflection on Making and Renewing a Commitment for Providence Associates and Candidate-Associates. Eleven associates and candidates from the Chicago area and one from Terre Haute, Ind., gathered for a time of prayer, reconnection, reflection and discussion.

To view some photos from this day, click here.

To learn more about Providence Associates, click here.

Picture of the Week: August 13

Sisters of Providence and friends slicing tomatoes grown organically at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice before placing them in the dehydrating machine to make sun-dried tomatoes.
(Clockwise from left in blue jumper: Mary Catherine Gibson; Sister Sharon Richards, SP; Patricia O'Connell; Sister Jeanne Marie Greenen, CSJ; Sister Peggy Nau, SP; Sister Francine Costello, CSJ; Sister Judy Miller, CSJ; Sister Maria Castagnaro, SSJ.)

Archives and the Civil War

The Sisters of Providence Archives has several historical documents and photos related to the Civil War. The Congregation, of course, provided nursing service at the Military Hospital in Indianapolis as well as the emergency hospital in Vincennes, Ind., during the conflict. Of the 11 sisters who served during the Civil War, our Archives has images of three sister-nurses: Sisters St. Felix Buchanan, Helena Burns and Henrietta MacKenzie.

Every Memorial Day the Congregation recognizes all Sisters of Providence who served in the military. The photograph above is an undated image of students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College placing flowers at the grave of one sister-nurse. For more images, click here.

Discerning a commitment

Discerning a commitment was the topic of the day during the Day of Reflection for Providence Associates and Candidate-Associates on Saturday, Aug. 7. Twenty-six people gathered for this special day. Next Saturday, Aug. 14, associates and candidates in the Chicago area will gather at Paddock Lake, Wis., for their Day of Reflection.

To learn more about the day and to view some photos, click here.

For more information about Providence Associates, click here.

Texan renews her commitment

Karen Rangel of Fort Worth, Texas, renewed her commitment as a Providence Associate on Thursday, Aug. 5. Karen and her three boys — Elias, Emilio and Esteban — made it an adventure and drove all the way from Texas to the Woods.

The Renewal of Commitment Ceremony took place during the Eucharistic Liturgy in the chapel in Owens Hall. Present for the renewal were Sister Mary Alice Zander, director of Providence Associates, and Sister Diane Mason, assistant director. Also attending the ceremony was Sister Alexa Suelzer, companion to Karen.

To learn more about Karen, click here. For more information about Providence Associates, click here.

‘Nuns of the Battlefield’

“Cloistered by forest, the convent and academy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, in 1860, would seem to have been too remote, too securely enclosed, to hear the rumblings of approaching war. Echoes of the trouble, however, seeped into this cloistered home. Realizing that if the war must come, so too must service, the latent spirit of nursing was aroused. One and all stood in readiness to serve and when the call did come, the Mother Superior [Mother Mary Cecilia Bailly] wrote: ‘This is an eventful occasion for the Community. May our Divine Lord help us to perform well the duties we are now undertaking.’”

Thus begins the story of the Civil War and the Sisters of Providence in the book “Nuns of the Battlefield” by Ellen Ryan Jolly. In this work, Dr. Jolly traces the service provided by women religious in the North and the South during the Civil War. The story of the Sisters of Providence is told in chapter 20. To view this chapter, click here.

For more information about the Sisters of Providence and the role they played during this tumultuous period in our nation’s history, click here.