MONDAY, July 12

Matthew 25:1-13. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet.

When I first entered the convent almost fifty years ago, one of our very old sisters died. In those days it was our custom to see the person who had died before the casket was closed and placed in our chapel for a night-long vigil preceding the requiem the next morning. When I looked at Sister Madeline's peaceful, serene face, the faith of her whole life seemed to shine from it. It spoke very powerfully to me. She seemed to be saying: "I was right all along. I gave my life to him because I loved him with all my heart. And he's coming for me now. Thanks be to God!"

The beauty of that radiant sister's face deepened and strengthened my own belief in the Lord I had come to serve. When they say religion is caught not taught, I think I know exactly what they mean. No one ever said in words to me quite so much about the joys of knowing, loving, and serving Christ as Sister Madeline's face did in death. I hope some day to tell her so and thank her. (2006)

Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Death....Blessed are they she finds doing your will. No second death can do them harm.

--Francis of Assisi

PRAY for the Diocese of Eau Claire (Province V, USA)

Ps 25 * 9, 15; Joshua 2:1-14; Romans 11:1-12

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Add Comment Preview