Reflection for the Vigil of Perpetual Monastic Profession
Barbara Smith, OSB
April 26, 2008

by Irene Nowell, OSB

If you look at your worship aid tomorrow, you will see three small birds resting on the vine that is Christ. Those on the South side can look up at the window and see them now. But what you cannot see are two other little creatures that have already flown up into glory. Their names are Peewee and Herman. About a year and a half ago, Sister Barbara rescued a female Imperial Moth who was in trouble. Barbara took care of her until she laid her eggs and died. Then, like a good mother, Barbara took care of the young, whom she named Peewee and Herman. She researched what they needed and created a little nursery for them so they would be safe. She watched them through the caterpillar and cocoon stage, arranged for food when they needed it, light and darkness to simulate their life in the wild. But ironically she was gone when they emerged as full-grown beautiful moths and completed their life cycle.

For a time Barbara had to confine Peewee and Herman. They escaped one day and were making their little caterpillar way down the steps when one of our workmen spied them and warned Barbara to take them back to their tiny home where Peewee and Herman could be free to grow. Their confinement was really their freedom.

In tonight’s reading, St. Paul says, “You are called to freedom.” But he adds that this is freedom under the law, freedom to love. Tomorrow morning, Barbara, you are making a lifetime commitment to live as a Benedictine woman in this monastic house with this community of sisters. To some this may seem to be a limitation on your freedom, a kind of confinement. But in fact it is a call to freedom, freedom to live according to the Rule of Benedict, according to the gospel.
Through your monastic profession you are committing yourself to

• a freedom of heart and will,
• a freedom to love and serve,
• a freedom to be alone and to be in community,
• a freedom to love God,
...to love your sisters in community
...to love your family and friends
...to love those to whom you minister.

Living in freedom is not always easy, as you know. The little birds are sitting on the cross and looking up at the cross. But you have the pledge of your sisters to support you, to love you, and to challenge and encourage you on the way, until, like Peewee and Herman, you break free of the limitations of this life and fly into eternal glory. Or as Benedict puts it, we will run together the way of God’s commandments with the unspeakable sweetness of love until Christ brings us all together to everlasting life.