Long pleasant day of Cleveland consecrated life exploring. Overall message resounds of humility, simplicity, and maturity. The communities visited include: The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and O.F.M.s at St Paul’s Shrine, Mercedarians at St Rocco, the Jesuits at the Jesuit Retreat House, and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. All were hospitable, generous in opening their lives to the public. Maturity just absolutely centers as my concentration. Nothing spectacular. Nothing dramatic. St Mary Thomas, the world renowned artist Poor Clare sister, embodied the concept perfectly. I met her, touring her studio, speaking with her, taking her picture. I did not include my first photo. I snapped the picture as she suddenly decided to fix her habit in order to ensure her appearance was perfect. I love the St Damiano cross in the background. In the photo of her adjusting her wardrobe, she bends over enough to show the entire cross. It is an interesting photo. I posted this one as it captures the radiance of her face. She is a religious doing marvelous things within humility, maturity and simplicity, profoundly exercising faith, hope, charity, and the blessings of the Holy Spirit. I was startled to discover she is mentally sharp, articulate, and completely in possession of her mental faculties. Behind cloistered boundaries, she appears old, frail, and physically struggling. In person, she is full of life. She conducted a half hour lecture in the church. Unfortunately, I missed her words. The Mercedarians at St Rocco, a brother community to the order I enjoy celebrating mass with at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, provided a humble explanation of their order from an engaging brother. A genuine younger man devoted to his order and vocation. A remarkable feature of the day was an authenticity in conversation, exploring Catholic faith with mature interest, The Mercedarian brother told of the history of St Rocco, an Italian Parrish. The burgeoning Italian community determined the necessity of a Catholic church. Funds were raised by a priest none were really familiar with. Questions arouse. The answer equated to the priest disappearing with all the money. Truth would be revealed the man was never a priest. The Jesuit retreat center provided a biographical video on the life of St Ignatius. However due to too much time spent at St Paul’s we were running behind schedule. We could not tour the grounds, cutting the visit off prematurely. The final tour was the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, special in regards to my companion for the day Carol’s intimacy with the community. She attended a Catholic school, St Bartholomew’s, run by the sisters, an extended childhood filled with memories and stories of deceased sisters. The attending sisters enthusiastically shared memories and reflections. Carol cares for the grounds of the community, the sisters identifying her as the Flower Woman. The day ended with the discovery of a small single standing Marian chapel upon the grounds. The posted Mary statue, the High Way Mary, stands centered in the chapel. It was quite a discovery. The chapel is open twenty-four seven, absolutely calling for a return visit and Rosary prayers. A lay associate fell into natural conversation with us, walking with us through out the tour. Sitting in the chapel, she shared her life with us. Simple honest conversation. No delusional spiritual directing. No pontificating. No attempting to convince one another of spiritual superiority, or extreme knowledge of the church. No deranged attempts at impressing one another. No name dropping. Simple mature adults exchanging faith, hope, and charity. She would continue with us outside to the grounds, resting in the Marian chapel with us, pulling out her Rosary beads with us.
Highway Mary in the Sisters of the Incarnate Word Marian chapel.
Sister Mary Thomas
A painting, oil on acrylic, from Sister Mary Thomas’ studio.
