Sister Judith Presents Fellin Lecture

Sister Judith Sutera, OSB, delivered the 25th Mary L. Fellin Lecture at Benedictine College, exploring Benedictine values of prayer, hospitality, and humility. She emphasized the timeless wisdom of monastic life and urged listeners to discern God’s voice, embrace community, and take small, faithful steps toward the future.

The 25th Mary L. Fellin Lecture was presented at Benedictine College (BC) on October 13, 2024, by Sister Judith Sutera, OSB.

Sister Judith’s presentation was entitled “Benedictines and the Single Ray of Light: Past, Present, Future.” She described how the Benedictine values of prayer, hospitality, and humility have allowed Benedictine communities to thrive for more than 1500 years.

Sister Judith affirmed that “the word of God is everywhere,” particularly in liturgical prayer. She remarked that the psalms, which are the basis of Benedictine prayer, embody the human condition and were the prayers of Jesus himself. Benedictines also practice lectio divina, a form of sacred prayer that involves a meditative and reflective reading of Scripture that encourages us to listen for the voice of God and act on it.

The practice of hospitality, according to St. Benedict, calls us to see Christ in everyone we encounter. Sister Judith commented, “Even in the people that are the hardest to love — even in the most difficult people — what might I hear that comes from God?” She also noted that,

“a nimble community needs to be ready to feed whoever is at the door, and we know who is at the door by listening to and discerning about whatever the world is calling out to us.”

Humility keeps Benedictine communities healthy by providing a reality check as we consider whether we are listening to our own desires or the desires of God. Sister Judith remarked that humility is the “center of monastic theology” because it keeps us focused on God.

As she considered Benedictine life in our rapidly changing world, Sister Judith asked, “What is it that we can preserve and witness to be relevant in the future?” Ultimately, on a practical level, she suggested that “The most we can do, to be the best people we can be, is to put one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing.”

L.-R.: Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, Daniel Zavage (a BC student government representative), and Sister Judith Sutera

The Mary L. Fellin Lecture Series was established in 1997 by the family of Sister Jo Ann Fellin, longtime BC professor, to promote reflection and discussion through academic presentations by women. Sister Judith, the third local woman to be chosen for the honor, was an ideal choice to carry on this tradition, as she is a monastic scholar, author of numerous books, editor of the academic journal Magistra, teacher of novitiate courses, retreat leader, director for lay oblates, and recipient of the American Benedictine Academy’s “Egregia” Life Achievement Award.