Cheese Nun Et Varia

[genesisweavers]

To find Mother Jerome's obit: go to the RL splash page...at the bottom of the page you will see 'site map' ... click on that. When the site map comes up go to Abbey History and Mother Jerome's obit is listed there.

Once when I was at the Abbey I saw these books of poems by Muska Nagel. I asked the lay volunteer at the desk who Muska Nagel is and she said in her European accent - That's Muddah Jahome (the second syllable is sort of gutteral). So I told Mother Jadwiga I found Mother Jerome's poems and her pen name. And I asked her if she thought I needed a 'Nom de Loom'...(since I'm a weaver!)

[gloriagurl]

[quote name='genesisweavers' post='1493953' date='Apr 6 2008, 09:40 PM']Did you know that the staions of the cross in the lower monastery were hand carved by Mother Placid? And also - Mother Jerome was a very knowledgable natural dyer. She once told me she would hang hanks of yarn on the fire escape to test their light fastness. If you have never read the obituary for Mother Jerome it's somewhere on their web site. The Abbey is definitely filled with intriguing women but Mother Jerome takes the cake. SHE WAS A PRINCESS![/quote]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Mother Jerome was AMAZING and yes, I agree with (oh gosh was it perpetualove or Sr. Praxedes - it was sister I think) the most amazing part is that she entered RL at 50 years of age...I never heard anyone PEEP that she might have come to retire, or that she did not contribute in her MANY years there - can you imagine RL without her? I'm sure they can't.

Yes, I knew about the stations of the cross in the lower monastery. Mother Placid's artwork is outstanding....as is Mother Placid's PERSONHOOD.

I looked again for Mother Jerome's obituary and couldn't find it but it was AWESOME. SHE was awesome - thanks for reminding me that she was a princess - I had forgotten that part of her life story.

I had the rare privilege of attending Lady Abbess' funeral - what an outstanding, holy tribute it was. WHAT DIGNITY - from the viewing of her body, to the Mass of Resurrection to her burial (which guests could participate in with the nuns if they wished - and I do mean PARTICIPATE, as in help cover her grave with earth) and repast it was an absolute FEAST for the heart and soul....not to mention the repast was a culinary feast par extraordinaire.

If I can find my copy of the little program the nuns put together in Lady Abbess's honor, I'll post some of the quotes - they are so wise, and practical - and of course, Benedictine to the MAX.

As for taking the cake....gee that would be a real contest over at RL...but you're probably right - a PRINCESS...wow, reminds me of St. Elizabeth of Hungary - wasn't she a QUEEN and a Poor Clare?

And then of course there is the happy little bread baker (I think I baked about 100 loaves of bread with her for Christmas one year)Mother Dorcas (which I think means gazelle) was the FIRST - the very FIRST female gastroenterologist in the entire US....she also entered later in life, later I think even than Mother Jerome though I can't swear to that, I had very little time to chat with her with all that breadmaking, she runs that bakery like a surgical suite..I was surprised she didn't make me wear a MASK.

Oh well, enough reminiscing..it's WAY past the time for me to retire.

Pax

[jkaands]

Y'all won't believe this, but I visited RL in the spring of 1957!!!! After my first year of college. I talked to a young postulant who was a friend of the two women I was traveling with. The postulant, whose name I don't remember, was very happy there. In order to enter, she had to raise a dowry of $1000. a significant sum in those days, which she did handily by selling encyclopedias door-to-door--yes, times have changed. We rose at midnight to watch and hear the nuns chant--yes, one did kiss the floor after she made a mistake (which we couldn't hear). The postulant had a good voice. I wonder who she 'became". It was beautiful and I was quite overwhelmed...

[gloriagurl]

[quote name='jkaands' post='1505192' date='Apr 21 2008, 12:39 AM']Y'all won't believe this, but I visited RL in the spring of 1957!!!! After my first year of college. I talked to a young postulant who was a friend of the two women I was traveling with. The postulant, whose name I don't remember, was very happy there. In order to enter, she had to raise a dowry of $1000. a significant sum in those days, which she did handily by selling encyclopedias door-to-door--yes, times have changed. We rose at midnight to watch and hear the nuns chant--yes, one did kiss the floor after she made a mistake (which we couldn't hear). The postulant had a good voice. I wonder who she 'became". It was beautiful and I was quite overwhelmed...[/quote]

WOW.....1957....I'd have loved to see RL back then. It's nice to "dream" about who that postulant might be now. I could see her selling encyclopedia door to door....

Maybe Sr. Praxedes or EWIE or John (I think it's John??) knows who did that to earn their dowry...lots of stories are told while one works or visits with the nuns.

I think Benedictines are the best story tellers - though I'm biased for sure and I know all communities have their history.

Pax

[cartermia]

Really good thread and this should truly be bumped.