Fern's decorations and St. Colette's promise of Spring

Statue of St. Colette
with promise of Spring!

Although we are usually about 10 to 20 years behind the so-called cutting edge of technology, our Poor Clare Monastery is generally equipped with modern equipment.  We have heating and cooling systems, we use washing machines, dryers and ironers in our laundry, we have sewing machines and sergers in our sewing department, computers and printers for correspondence, internet access for information, ovens and stoves in our kitchen areas.  But what we do not have are dishwashing machines and garbage disposals.  We are the dishwashers and the young novitiate sisters are the garbage disposal experts!

Taking out the garbage is a fine art that is constantly being refined by young creative minds and is carefully passed down to the newcomers soon after they arrive.  They take charge of the various garbage bins where refuse is sorted into compost, items to be burned, items to be recycled and everything else unworthy of these categories to be relegated to the county pick up trash bins.  After dinner, when we “do the dishes”, the novitiate begin “scratching” (monastic code for getting the first food off the dishes) and at a certain point the novice mistress announces, “Garbage lady may go”.  The appointed sister then begins the process:  compost goes to the compost pile, burning goes to the incinerator (homemade brick edifice by the compost pile), recycling and trash go to the waiting bins by the enclosure garden gate.  Most of this procedure involves going outside and some of it down and up a hill.  Winter time often involves donning appropriate winter wear, but Virginian winter is usually mild with an occasional snow which melts quickly.  Not this year.

Winter storm “Fern” decorated our grounds with a bit of snow and mostly a mist of freezing rain that covered everything from the smallest pine needle to every inch of road and roof.  When the sun shone, it was glorious.  The world was made of shining crystal and we exulted over the wonders of God’s creation in the spirit of our Holy Father St. Francis.  But then the constant freezing temperatures refroze the sun melted ice day after day and especially night after night until the world was encased in solid, ironlike planes of slick ice.  The novitiate sanitation department exhausted their creative resources negotiating the treacherous conditions.  A ten minute job turned into 45 minutes.  Finally a plea to higher authorities “Can we put the garbage in plastic bags and leave at the bottom of the steps?”  Request granted.  I am happy to announce that conditions have improved and garbage detail has returned to some normalcy!

We are grateful  to God that all in all, we have been dealt mercifully compared to the sufferings of many in our country these past few weeks.  Our heating system collapsed in a few places, but it is on the way to being repaired and we did not lose electrical power at all.  The ice is really melting now.  It is supposed to be in the 50’s on Tuesday!  Time to get out to the garden!  Spring will come!  It always does.

We celebrated the feast of St. Colette yesterday.  By her reform in the 15 century, she ushered in a new springtime for our Order.  We pray that through her prayers, you also will experience the warmth of God’s eternal love in your life, melting all the cold and ice of sorrow from your hearts.

Here are some views of Fern's outdoor decorations: