“What is holy? Let me suggest to you that holiness is not what you think it is. In theological terms we talk about holiness as being ‘set apart’ - set apart for God. Even that, however, is a misunderstanding of the word. The actual root word is hool with a “w” placed at the beginning, and it literally means “whole.” The simple duty of us all becomes nothing more, nothing less than becoming whole. Holiness is the process by which we integrate the loose threads of our life into a whole tapestry of beauty and divine grace. This is a creative task for the entirety of our lives. The Good News is that we can set aside all the to-do lists of things that we think are required for reaching some standard of moral and spiritual perfection, and open ourselves instead to the invitation and creative possibility of becoming whole in God.”
At our deans’ meeting before the Tucson Oblate year began, we decided that in February we would consider the subject of HOLINESS. It seems particularly appropriate, since Ash Wednesday comes along on February 17, and Lent is a graced time in which we usually look for ways in which to make our lives a little more holy, even if we might shy away from the word as being too pious. February 10 is the Feast of St. Scholastica, and if you have read the current Spirit&Life magazine you have seen what her holiness looked like.
Workshop of interest to all Oblates: Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine, the author of “St. Benedict’s Toolbox,” will give a one-day workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, May 1, in Phoenix, and I’ll enclose a registration form with the mailed letters. The fee of $50 includes a continental breakfast and lunch. There will be a description and registration form on the Oblate website by the first of the month, together with the more readable version of this newsletter. See http://www.benedictineoblates.com/resources.php . You can print this form out and mail it. (If your computer does strange things to formatting of the newsletter, that’s a better place to read it anytime.) I could send it as a WORD attachment or PDF file, but I know some people may be spooked by attachments.
Another workshop: sponsored by our Contemplative Prayer Group – March 19-20 at the monastery, “Jonah and the 4 Mantras.” You can download the flyer at http://tucsonmonastery.com/pdf/JonahMantras.pdf
Book recommendation: “The Oblate Life,” edited by Gerald Holdaway. This book was published in 2008, but I just discovered it. It’s a hard cover, 322 page collection of essays, mostly by Benedictine Oblates, but including some by noted writers on monastic spirituality, e.g. Michael Casey, Kathleen Norris and Rowan Williams. It costs about $30 ($20 from Amazon) and is a worthy companion for The Benedictine Handbook, which it matches.
Cont TUCSON: Next meeting Sunday, February 21, 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:15) Candidates meet at 1:30.
In preparation for this meeting please consider these reflection questions, and we will share in small groups after a presentation on Holiness by Mila Aroskar and Roger Pierce.
1. Name three of your own “practices” that demonstrate respect for our environment and nature.
2. Develop two or three principles or ideas for our AZ legislators to use as they develop environmental policies that reflect a “holy” respect for the most vulnerable or least advantaged in our region related to healthy air, food, and water.
At our January 17 meeting Patty Williams came with her Power Point projection and enthusiastic commentary on her experience at the Second World Congress in Rome. It was the next best thing to being there in person. It was also good to have four people from Phoenix and four from Prescott with us. Thanks again, Patty, for all you prepared for us.
The Oblates have made a donation of $100 to PIH (Partners in Health), a medical group that has worked in Haiti for the last 20 years, training local medical personnel and setting up clinics. We also agreed to donate $100 to A.I.M. to help four monasteries in Africa, one of which is Tororo, where I served for nine months in 1980, and where Sr. Gertrude Kebaraza, OSB, who is staying at our Tucson monastery for a year, comes from. Whatever is collected in the kitty at our February meeting will go towards that.
Wednesday, February 10, is the Feast of St. Scholastica, and we have invited the monks from Holy Trinity (St. David) and Erlach (Sonoita) monasteries to join us. For that reason, Mass is at 11:00 am. Vespers will be at 5:30 pm.
Our Contemplative Prayer group is sponsoring a workshop March 19 7-9 pm, and March 20, 9 am – 3 pm, entitled “Jonah and the 4 Mantras,” by Suzanne Stabile. You can find more details and print out the flyer at http://tucsonmonastery.com/pdf/JonahMantras.pdf .
As some of you know, Oblate Vicky Sutton’s brother, Dick Haase died from a heart attack very suddenly January 22. Vicky does not have email, but her address is 8110 E. Speedway Blvd., Apt. 3123, Tucson, AZ 85710-1790.
Joanne Moses, formerly a Tucson Oblate Dean, sent a personal update that will be of interest. As many know, Joanne moved to Benson and transferred her affiliation to Holy Trinity Monastery, which was closer. She wrote the following: “Shortly after that Father Benedict asked me to teach him some of the things I was doing with grant writing. He invited me to go to Tonga and help the charity he established there. He wants to start a vocational school for post high school students and high school dropouts. When he found out that I have a Ph.D. in educational administration, one thing led to another. To make a long story short, I will be going to Tonga with him in March on a two-year visa that we both hope will lead to dual citizenship and a permanent move. ‘God works in wondrous ways...’ Please keep me in your prayers and also please commend the project to the Oblate Community in Tucson.”
PRESCOTT: Next meeting Sunday, February 14, 2:00-4:00 pm, St. Anthony Claret Room, Sacred Heart Church.
The Prescott group continues to grow, with fourteen attending the January meeting. The group raised $1300 for the Tucson monastery “Preserving Our Heritage” campaign, through donations and the sale of Joan Terwilliger’s art works. In March Rebecca Riviere will coordinate a day retreat on her book, Mountain Top Prayer.
After a sharing on “Prayer” from “Seeds of Faith,” Candidates Angie Lawson and Mary Jean Gallo made their Oblations
For more information, contact Nancy Hinshaw at (928) 445-1271
PHOENIX CENTRAL: Next meeting Saturday, February 13, 9:30 a.m. at Mary Gibson’s home
Mary Gibson writes: The Phoenix Central Oblates met at Mary Gibson's home on January 9.
Patty Williams gave her great presentation. The Oblates will meet at Mary Gibson's home on Saturday, February 13 with prayer beginning at 9:30. The address is 3615 E Colter. Blessings!
For more information call Mary Gibson at (602) 954-8408.
PHOENIX EAST VALLEY: Next Meeting Saturday, February 27, 9:30 to noon, Park Regency Health Center
Nancy Kaib writes: The East Valley Oblates met on January 23. We began our year-long study of the Psalms. If the first two lessons, which we heard, are any indication we will learn a lot before the year is out. Our February meeting will be held in Park Regency Health Center where Ann Dinkelman, one of our group, is living. The Center will evidence great hospitality for us by providing us with a nice room and coffee and Danish. We hope to meet there once or twice a year to give Ann a chance to join us. We will meet on Saturday, February 27, 9:30 to noon.
For more information call Nancy Kaib, 480-883-8025.
Another quote on holiness from a favorite author of mine, Madeleine L’Engle:
The marvelous thing is that this holiness is nothing we can earn. We don’t become holy by acquiring merit badges and Brownie points. It has nothing to do with virtue or job descriptions or morality. It is nothing we can do, in this do-it-yourself world. It is gift, sheer gift, waiting there to be recognized and received. We do not have to be qualified to be holy. We do not have to be qualified to be whole, or healed.” [Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, pg. 57.]
For Lent, if you wrote your own personal Rule of Life last Lent, this is the time to review it realistically and revise it as seems wise. For others, may I suggest ongoing reflection on what it means to be holy – what “shape” that takes in your personal life, interiorly and exteriorly.
May you become more HEALED and WHOLE this Lent! Blessings, Sr. Lenora, OSB
Renee Miller, Episcopal priest, writer, conference speaker. Quoted on explorefaith.org What is holiness?