June 8, 2013
Dear ones,
We had the most wonderful community day for Cathy’s Profession. What we do in these circumstances is to descend upon the kitchen and pitch in together to prepare the meal for next day as far as we can ahead. So on the Profession Day we are free to concentrate on the Big Spiritual Event without getting caught up in the lunch. It’s a wee bit crowded but much fun.
Actually, it’s hard to convey what this kind of day is like. It is so joyous, so fun, so human and deeply spiritual all at once. Of course, as our prioress stresses in her talks, it is in the ordinary and the daily that we find the spiritual wonders of our faith. The joys and challenges of all that can seem un-dramatic weave for us a pattern of love and self-surrender that fulfill our promises to God and God’s to us.
We had several practices of the ceremony, which helped everything go smoothly on the day itself. Mass was at 10:00 AM, with Cathy’s family represented by her mom, her older sister and the sister’s husband—from Korea. They had got in late the night before, but were full of energy and love. Rita made corsages for Cathy (given after the ceremony) and her mother (who wore the most beautiful Korean native dress you can imagine.)
Father David came from our monastery in Utah to offer the Mass. Explaining what a Father Immediate is becomes a bit too complicated to attempt. If you are a Cistercian and know, you will be at peace. If you are not a Cistercian and don’t know, my cloudy description will not help. But we are grateful for the prayers and spiritual presence of our brothers that he brings from his monastery in Utah. And we are sure that he enjoyed himself and this milestone in the life of his sisters.
The ceremony itself, which we followed in booklets whose cover Cathy had designed and executed herself, was so nicely accomplished. She sang the SUSCIPE with a gentle treble tone. (Receive me, Oh Lord, according to your promise and I shall live, and do not disappoint me in my hope.) Vicki presided at the ceremony itself, and we all went up, after Cathy had become truly our sister forever, and gave her the Pax with Great Enthusiasm. Then she went to give the Pax to her family and the dear friends who had come to help us celebrate.
Our Brothers from the tiny monastery of Erlac down the road, and Sr Lupita from our friends the Benedictines in town, joined us in Choir. We did almost everything right, amazingly, with only the few tiny glitches that make a day perfect
We all enjoyed the celebratory dinner together with the loveliest decorated refectory. (Thank you, Kate) The color scheme was blue. With little pots of mums and pinks on the tables.
The weather has been marvelous, sunny (of course) but not too hot. We are promised a good deal of summer before the monsoon really checks in on the feast of John the Baptist. For now, please offer your thanks to God for our newly Professed and her long life as a Cistercian lost in the mystery of an almighty love.