The Federation of Saint Scholastica, comprised of 17 Monasteries of
Benedictine Women, was established on February 25, 1922.

 Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

Dear Sisters,

A blessed Easter to you all in our Federation of St. Scholastica! The picture message above I received from my OSB friends in Zamora who I met in November 2019 when I was in Spain for a meeting of the AIM International Council meeting. If our everyday attitude could be one of astonishment (as suggested above) at the love poured out for us in the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate in such a spectacular way in this season – well, perhaps we would live more fully and full of love and joy. Let’s try it!

As we celebrated the Easter Vigil here in Cullman, I was once again enwrapped in the darkness outside before we lit the new fire and as we processed up the darkened stairs to our dark chapel, where only the candlelight showed us the way.  Then, as the chapel lights came on and the Gloria resounded, it all became so clear. Yes, Jesus is risen and that is always true. But we celebrate it in a renewed sense of faith at Easter. And we ask for our hearts to be transformed by that Love that plants in us saving grace.

For your pure enjoyment, I include below an Easter poem of Joyce Rupp, a Servite Sister who was a dear friend of Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB.  May we be able to lift up each other into “somersaults of hope,” as suggested by Joyce at the end of her poem.

With love (the astonishing kind!) and Easter joy,

Lynn McKenzie, OSB

Easter Joy

            Mary Magdalene and the other Mary

            Went quickly from the tomb,

            Fearful yet overjoyed  . . .           Matthew 28:8

Joy,

Come forth in us

like the Risen One

easily slipping

from the darkened tomb.

Come with Easter gladness,

robust power

easily pushing thick stone

from a tight enclosure.

Joy,

Come dance in us

like the Risen One

showing up unexpectedly.

Stir deadened grief,

startle sad eyes

into hopeful ones, 

Lift heavy curtains

of depression.

Emblazon your eastering 

on everyone.

Joy, 

Come go with us

like the Risen One

into everyday places.

Gladden hearts

that have given up.

Catapult the lonely

Into communities of kinship

and lift the downcast

into somersaults of hope.

Joyce Rupp – from My Soul Feels Lean – poems of loss and restoration

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