“The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns”–A Review

19 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

As it’s been said before, “We don’t have a lack of vocations; we have a lack of people willing to say “yes” to their vocation[s].” So, what could be more unexpected in this day of bizarre reality shows than an honest, balanced look into the lives of five young women who are pursuing discernment to religious life?

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/the-sisterhood-becoming-nuns

If you thought it couldn’t be pulled off, the popularity of “The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns” and the beloved “nunnies” in each of the three religious communities has proved you wrong! One of the nunnies, as I believe online social media maven Sr. Helena Burns dubbed them, is so popular that the folks clamoring for another season are also interested in her having her own show (Sr. Beth Ann, Vocations Directress at The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in Chicago). Who would have thought that?

For starters, the five young ladies couldn’t have been more different; they were a delightful representation of godly young women with a wide range of backgrounds, talents, and, of course, personalities. This is exactly as it is in a religious community and the producers of the show did a fine job of selecting a vibrant group to follow over the six episodes (way too few!). They went on a six week journey visiting a total of three convents of different religious orders to give them a glimpse of whether they are ready to begin official discernment, the first step toward becoming a nun.

During their time they hear of others’ vocations stories, realize that women living together *is* really hard–one nun remarks that she’s “surprised there’s never been a murder”<g>–nuns actually take the time to disrobe from habits into swimsuits and go swimming to relax, blow off steam, exercise, and/or just have fun together. Of course, once back into their habits, they also have fun dancing and doing all the normal kind of things “normal” people do. But seeing a nun out of her habit was something they weren’t prepared for; I’m not sure any of us viewers were! 🙂

The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, the second convent they visited, is located in urban Chicago, quite different than the first Carmelite house in Germantown and the final community in Kentucky. At the Chicago house they take care of people with special needs, have a soup kitchen, and walk the downtown streets passing out bags of food to people who live in dire poverty. Once a week there’s a trip to the South Side Chicago markets to “beg” for food for those they care for, as part of their trusting in Divine Providence to meet the needs of their mission.

As Sr. Beth Ann responded to the question “how do you know if you have a vocation?” with her own answer, given to her from no less than–wait for it–Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta decades before: “You sit with Jesus in Adoration for 10 minutes a day for two weeks and let Him love your heart. Then you’ll know.”

I’ve had some communication with Christie Young, one of the young women who I was drawn to before the show began airing because of her use of social media and because she felt like, if I may say so, a bit of a kindred spirit. I’m old enough to be her mom but feel as young as she is because I too have a great passion for living as it’s so obvious Christie has. Her love for Our Lord is transparent and at times causes her deeply intense experiences that others don’t always “get”—perhaps because they have not her temperament nor personality nor charisms. The bottom line is that it appears God may be calling Christie to be His bride and she is radiant with expectation as any fiancée would be. She is not without her own issues to work out, as are we all, especially when seeking our vocations, but she’s quite open and honest.

Here’s a look at Christie’s story. She’s 27, born into a Catholic family and she still follows the traditional tenets of the Church, the only girl with several brothers. She’s been engaged but realized it wasn’t God’s plan for her life and laughingly jokes that she probably couldn’t not be in (chaste) relationships without the convent–not that she deliberately seeks them out, they just end up “happening”. She has a number of special interests and talents: writing (poetry, song lyrics, et al.); reading; being part of a country music band; having fun; and, I venture to say, generally loving being alive! She has a zest about her and has been discerning on and off for about nine years.

***Spoiler Alert***

If you have not finished the series then stop right now if you don’t want to know how things stood with each of the girls by the end.

Francesca is ready to continue living a life in the world but not of it for now, but has a strong connection to the Carmelites and had some of them over to her home to meet her family and is keeping in touch with them. She recently just got her own apartment; congrats, Francesca! Originally Stacey, who broke up with her boyfriend to pursue discernment, was conflicted and thought she’d try the Sisters of St. Mary of Providence with Christie but since the show was filmed last summer got engaged to her old boyfriend so she has found her vocation: marriage. Congrats to Stacey and her fiance! Eseni and Darnell are back together and are planning their own future, which I’m sure will be another beautiful vocation of marriage.

Claire requested and was accepted into planning to discern with the The Sisters of St. Joseph of Mercy in Kentucky as she knew while there that it was just the place for her. She is currently finishing her college degree in music. Finally, Christie decided to pursue her vocation as a nun and the series was filmed this summer and now she is now beginning initially as an aspirant and then move onto being a postulant with The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence today, the feast of St. Antony, Abbot (founder of monasticism); congrats, Christie!

P.S. The good sisters in Chicago have allowed her to enter before she paid off all her college loans so if you’d like to help pay off Christie’s debt you can do so online here:

https://www.crowdrise.com/Convent4Christie

You can also send it direct to the convent and and just let them know it’s to help pay off her debt.

The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence

4200 N. Austin Ave.

Chicago, IL 60634

BREAKING NEWS: The show premiered in the U.K. today; a coincidence? I think not! 🙂

Please keep all these young women in your prayers. Becoming a nun is no easy task; neither is remaining one. But if it’s your calling, you won’t be satisfied with anything less. The most moving book I’ve ever read about religious sisters is the novel by Rumer Godden, In This House of Brede.

I highly recommend it as a follow up to the Lifetime tv series.

 

 

 

 

 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

18 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , ,

There are so many wonderful versions of this quintessential Advent hymn out there, translated from Latin into English in 1861, that’s it’s difficult to select which version of it I enjoy most as a modern hymn. However, today I discovered a new one and I believe it’s going to be a longtime favorite. The artist is a young man, Josh Wilson, who released this version two years ago but since I don’t usually listen to much CCM I missed it. It fuses the traditional tune with his own fresh take on the tempo, has the first stanzas in English and then the last one in Latin (okay, I admit I’m a sucker for Latin in a hymn!). The result is simply timeless. I particularly love the emphasis he places on the word “ransom” when singing about the Lord’s plans for Israel. If you’re interested in sampling and/or purchasing this track, here are the usual places:

What I found especially interesting as I was reading a little about the history of “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel” (had to work in a little more Latin there, don’t you know<g>) was that it’s simply a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons (today being day two, “O Lord & Ruler…”) that take us from the last week of Advent to the joy of Christmas Day in all its splendor, beginning the 12 Days of Christmas and all our other wonderful traditions.

So the next time you’re looking for some new Advent music to add to your collection, you might want to give this one a shot.

Book Review: Wreath, A Girl

08 Dec 2014 2 Comments

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

Wreath, A Girl is a story that rings true with the harsh reality of many teens’ lives these days. We have no idea how many people go to the extremes she did to live independently (viz., homeless and in poverty) under the radar of the System (which she assumed would have caused more problems than it would have solved). Having said that, anyone who is or knows or works with those who are homeless and living by their wits and trying to lay low will also appreciate this story on a personal level. For all of us, Wreath is a wonderfully developed character whose complexities are slowly revealed. Initially this seems to be a fairly straightforward profile of a teen girl caught up in the collateral damage of a single parent’s past poor choices. There’s also her own strong-willed, single-focused mindset to make sure that her future is not the mess her past has been–by not depending on others and thereby inadvertently getting entangled in their messes. However, it unfolds with various revelations as Wreath and others eventually realize we can’t function as fully human as we should without meaningful contact with community.

This book is a refreshing but sometimes difficult emotionally work that I believe will resonate with teens as well as adults. It throws light on themes that are relevant to all of us: loss, fear, trust issues, creativity, perseverance, hope, purpose, and ultimately the theme that encompasses all others, faith. In fact, after reading my Advance Reader Copy I was left with an intense desire to know what would happen next…so it was with great rejoicing that shortly after finishing the book I found out that Wreath’s story continues in a new novel coming out in 2015. As we Aggies say, “Whoop!”

Here are some of my favorite take away lines from the book.

Writing made her feel in control. She was not a hopeless girl…She was Wreath Willis, and if she took life a week at a time, she’d make it…

“Most people are happy to lend a hand,” Faye said quietly. “You have to let them.”

I was tickled pink–an expression of my East Texas upbringing–that Wreath named her journal and that things are not always as they appear. Everyone has a story at some point in their life yet we all assume that we’re the only ones wrestling with painful situations, whether we’re by ourselves or have a support system (perhaps one that we won’t acknowledge and/or let help us…God help us independent types!), and Wreath will change others’ lives in ways they could never imagine, just as we often do (with or without knowing it).

This book by Judy Christie, who has written many wonderful books both fiction and non-fiction, would make a great gift for a teen or any avid reader of realistic books that deal with contemporary issues in a unique way without making a big deal out of its Christian worldview but subtly using it to show us how God is always working behind the scenes, even for those who do not know Him yet. You can even sample the first chapter for free by going to the author’s website as you’ll see on the right side at the top of her page:

Home

Wreath, A Girl is available at amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJudy%20Christie

You can also find it as well from your favorite indie bookseller or possibly your favorite brick and mortar store; don’t forget your local library if buying a copy isn’t in your budget right now. Better yet, if they don’t already own it, request they purchase it! 🙂

Finally, here’s some lagniappe (“a little something extra”) for those of you who have already read the book or aren’t afraid of mild spoilers. Judy has graciously provided a downloadable “Behind the Scenes with Wreath, A Girl: A Chat with Author Judy Christie” here:

http://www.judychristie.com/books.html

Happy reading!

“Infamy”

07 Dec 2014 2 Comments

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

Today is one of this country’s days of infamy. I know of no one who doesn’t look at this day as a complete tragedy. A lifelong friend of mine, Cole Bennett, in the contemporary folk band Jamison Priest, wrote a song about it and sings the lead vocals for this track. I believe he has captured perfectly the essence of how the effects of what happened that day lingered on and impacted all of us, some much more personally than others, in a myriad of ways large and small. If you’re intrigued by the opportunity to hear a beautifully poignant ballad about an event that changed so much for so many, then this is, in my opinion, just what you should listen to today.

It’s available for previewing/purchase here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jamisonpriest2

At any rate, we can all stop for a moment and say a prayer for all those who lost their lives and their loved ones as well; a price paid we’ll never fully comprehend.

P.S. The lyrics are available for those of you who may not wish to purchase the song–although I must warn you, you are missing out on something one-of-a-kind–on the band’s website. Click music, then lyrics & stories, and you’ll find “Infamy” near the bottom of the page:

http://www.jamisonpriest.com/

A Simple Life

02 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

My Faith in Rural Living is Restored

Every year our little town, population of 700 and something, puts up its ancient but nonetheless comforting Merry Christmas lights in front of our tiny downtown’s train tracks. Of course they go up right after Thanksgiving–which is way too early for my celebrating Advent before Christmas preference–so I just try to remember to rejoice that we actually live somewhere that keeps Christ in Christmas! In previous years I always remembered the various aging Christmas decorations around town going up at the same time, so it was much to my dismay that there was no life size Nativity scene next to our town’s quaint gazebo, which, unlike everything else around town, is of quite recent vintage. I felt really let down and considered talking to our mayor, a neighbor, about its absence.

But then, voila! As I drove home in the dark last night my eyes were drawn to it in all its lit up glory and there was great rejoicing; I actually burst out into Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” (This no doubt would have mortified or at the very least annoyed The Teen but probably amused The Husband, who has withstood my quirks for almost a quarter of a century.) Ahh, the balance of celebrating Advent in a society that begins the Christmas frenzy earlier every year was restored with this simple return of the most special family to ever live, the Holy Family.

As Bilbo says in the movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring,

“It is no small thing to live a simple life.”

Ten Advents

01 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

Today is the first Monday in the first week of Advent. It also marks the tenth anniversary of having an Advent wreath and special family prayers. Individually I’ve pursued a variety of readings but have almost always spent Advent with Fr. Groeschel’s book for this liturgical season, and for very good reason, as I think as his words always seem fresh and tailored to that particular year’s needs. For example, here’s an excerpt for this day:

“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

Advent must remind us of that possibility [the world with God’s grace and the promise of salvation]. I could cry when I think of all the decent people who live without hope. Christians must pray for these people, that they would experience Advent—literally the time of His coming in their own lives. [emphasis mine]

Behold, He Comes: Meditations On the Incarnation: Daily Reading from Advent to Epiphany, Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.

This year also marks a change from our traditional wreath with tapers to an antiqued bronze wrought iron votive holder (minus the glass holders or votives, of course) that I found at a thrift store. I have no idea if it was ever intended to be a wall hanging Advent candle holder but decided it went well with our first Advent minus a coffee table, as using the dining table in the past was always cramped–and besides, we eat more meals in the living room than at the dining table (not that I’m proud of that, but it is what it is…). This more stark and yet beautiful in its own unique way holder of our Advent candles reminds me once again that our Savior really did come to save the whole world–in all its diversity–and how sad it must make Him when those who’ve been given a good introduction to Him turn–or perhaps just drift–away. Thankfully, He’s always just a prayer away.

P.S. A very blessed Advent to Fr. Groeschel, R.I.P., as this year he now spends it in the best possible place!

Rock the Present Moment

24 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags:

After re-reading this post from a couple of years ago, I could not help but think of my dear friend Katie. She and Susan B. are the two women in my life who have always done the best job of living fully in the present moment. So to Katie and Sue and all who have this down far better than me (a large group of folks indeed, I imagine!)–and for all of us present moment wannabes–I say, “Rock on!”

http://www.conversiondiary.com/2012/03/rock-the-present-moment.html

C.S. Lewis’ promotion day–RIP

22 Nov 2014 2 Comments

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

On this the day of C.S. Lewis’ departure from these Shadowlands to Heaven–where he is experiencing “the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before” [The Last Battle]–I’d like to re-share the other favorite quote of mine.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of–throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Requiescat in pace, Professor Lewis. Looking forward to meeting you one day, “Further up and further in!”

Of Gifts & Givers–and no, this isn’t a holiday post…

22 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

Whilst jamming out to “Sing, Sing, Sing”—which we always play at LEAST twice in a row in this house, as it’s mandatory, the Man of the House reminded me that Gene Krupa’s seriously pulse-pounding drumming was the influence behind a drummer whose music I first heard during my tweens in the mid 70s (gasp), Peter Criss, a.k.a. The Catman. This was courtesy of a family member who had taken up drumming (hi Mike!) and ever since high school I always loved Criss’ song “Beth”—especially playing it on the piano. As I got older my tastes in music eventually included hard rock and metal in high school, on top of all the other beloved genres I had already come to know and love, in great part to the delightfully eclectic tastes of my parents (thanks Da’ & Mom!). I continued to embrace pop, rock, jazz, classical, big band, military & patriotic marches, some opera & operetta, hymns (traditional/folk/contemporary), soundtrack scores (a major fave!), some country and CCM, plus now there was new wave. Then during my freshman year of college I found artists who defy genre to me (e.g., Steve Taylor & Bruce Cockburn). Thanks to my brain I’ve probably left something out–oh yeah, Dean Martin, Harry Connick, Jr. and their contemporaries for starters–but you get the drift. My interests were and continue to be as diverse as my ADHD brain (for which I usually thank the Good Lord for having because it’s allowed life to be anything but boring).

So, that brings me to the topic of this PSA: Gene Krupa is why Peter Criss is such an awesome drummer. As he himself said about Krupa:

He is the reason I play drums today. I love big bands. When I hear the word drums, I think Gene Krupa. He was a pioneer. He brought the drums up front. He was my idol. I got to talk to him and he really liked me. He gave me lessons for about six months...
He was great to take the time out to teach me. He once said to me, “You got it kid, You really got it.
I’ve never seen anyone who wants it so bad, so I’ll take the time out to teach you.”
Today when I do a drum solo I have that Drum Boogie Sound and nobody uses it.
The kids go wild but it’s not original. I’m doing something that was done in 1935.

So, just remember, ladies and gents, musicians, artists, writers, homemakers, gardeners, architects–to name but a few–and creatives of all types draw their inspiration from the most unlikely (to us) places, but God gives the gifts and whether or not the person using them recognizes that, He, The Creator and Ultimate Artist, is always the giver of gifts and we should seek to discover ours—if we don’t already know them—and use them, as they weren’t given for us but for the world, as unlikely as that often seems to us because we can’t see them as good enough to share. As one scared artist to others, STOP THAT! Let’s just press on the best we can and see what happens. After all, allowing ourselves to be the conduit by producing our work is what matters. After that whatever happens is really none of our concern. (Easy to say, hard to live; I know!)

Our Lady of Czestochowa

26 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

by Sabryna in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

On this her feast day here is a wonderful piece in honor of Jesus’ mother from a favorite writer of mine, Hilaire Belloc.

Ballade to Our Lady of Czestochowa

Lady and Queen and Mystery manifold
And very Regent of the untroubled sky,
Whom in a dream St Hilda did behold
And heard a woodland music passing by:
You shall receive me when the clouds are high
With evening and the sheep attain the fold.
This is the faith that I have held and hold,
And this is that in which I mean to die.

Steep are the seas and savaging and cold
In broken waters terrible to try;
And vast against the winter night the wold,
And harbourless for any sail to lie.
But you shall lead me to the lights, and I
Shall hymn you in a harbour story told.
This is the faith that I have held and hold,
And this is that in which I mean to die.

Help of the half-defeated, House of Gold,
Shrine of the Sword, and Tower of Ivory;
Splendour apart, supreme and aureoled,
The Battler’s vision and the World’s reply.
You shall restore me, O my last Ally,
To vengeance and the glories of the bold.
This is the faith that I have held and hold,
And this is that in which I mean to die.

Envoi
Prince of the degradations, bought and sold,
These verses, written in your crumbling sty,
Proclaim the faith that I have held and hold
And publish that in which I mean to die.

Hilaire Belloc (emphasis mine)

And one last parting happy thought from this delightful man…

Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!

Have a blessed day whether or not this tribute to Mary is meaningful to you, for without her we wouldn’t have Our Lord and Savior–and therefore no eternal life. Besides, between now and eternal life is the daily life He wants us to have in the here and now, one day at a time, where He gives us this day our daily bread and His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.

Go with God!

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