Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois

October 2011 

Steps
Discerning your path in life
Benedictine Sister Rita Cain

Sister Rita Cain enjoys a meal with her Sisters in the dining room of St. Mary Monastery. 

 

Saying Yes to the Holy Spirit:  

One Sister's Vocation Advice        


Sr. Rita Cain entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1950. Although she has enjoyed a variety of ministries, her main call - as with all Benedictines - has been to seek God together with her Sisters. We asked Sr. Rita to offer some wisdom from her own vocation experience.

When did you first consider religious life?

My family was very religious, and I really attribute my vocation to that. God was always an integral part of our life. We had catechism after Sunday Mass, which was where I first met the Benedictine Sisters. I met them again in 6th grade at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Ivesdale, Ill. Then, it was off to St. Mary's Academy in Nauvoo for boarding school.

I loved the Benedictine Sisters. They were always pleasant. They obviously loved their students and the students' families. They developed relationships with us and our families.

So you really got to know them as a student?

They helped me understand how important following your call is. I got up early to go to Mass with them. I went to Holy Hour. It gradually dawned on me that if this is so important, it would be best to make it my life.

I remember one of my first visits home to my family was when my sister's baby was sick. I took a Benedictine medal with me and pinned it onto his sleeper. I told my sister, "This will be my first miracle." She looked at me and said, "Your first? I have them every day!"

That's the kind of family I grew up in. We were dependent upon God for everything always.

You've been a Benedictine Sister for 61 years. That's a long time!

It sure is! I'm firmly convinced it's the power of the Holy Spirit that I'm here. Vocations are acts of God. God called me. What I did was say Yes.

Can you help others understand the difference between Benedictine monasticism and apostolic orders?

A priest said to me, "You Benedictines are different.  You seem very satisfied with your simple, prayerful lives together."

He's right. We are satisfied. We go out into the world, but come home to our own community. We pray together, take our meals together, enjoy time together. Many apostolic orders don't do that. Apostolic sisters often live apart from one another.

What would you say to an inquirer?
We're having a Benedictine Weekend Experience next weekend. Come see for yourself! Pray with us. Immerse yourself in the life for a while. Stay open to the Holy Spirit ... and say Yes to the nudge to find out more!

 
Blessed Mother on the grounds of St Mary Monastery
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Benedictine Sisters
Is Our Benedictine Community for You?  

We live a balanced life of prayer, work and leisure, together.

We go out for ministry - to teach, serve in parishes, work in social service agencies - but we come home for prayer, meals Holy waterand leisure. That is, we pray 4 times daily together, we take our meals together, we enjoy quiet time and companionship together. And for those who work in administration or our retreat center, we work together too!

If you are drawn both to outside ministry and contemplation, and if you are drawn to monastic life in community, please contact us.


We welcome your questions!

To learn more about our prayerful and joyful way of life in community, reply to this email!  
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Join us for a weekend this Autumn or Winter!  


Want to try out life as a Benedictine? Visit us during a Benedictine Weekend Experience
Oct. 14-16 or Dec. 9-11 ... or make arrangements with us to visit at another time if these dates
don't work.

You'll pray, dine, and enjoy leisure time with us. You'll learn about our life. You'll stroll
the grounds and have time for silent reflection.

It's a great chance to try out Benedictine monastic life for a limited amount of time.  

Reply to this email for more information ... and visit our Web site at www.smmsisters.org!