THE GREEN CATHEDRAL

 Many of the Dominicans of Sparkill are BIG baseball fans.  At some point during the summer they host a party in the refectory between the New York branch and the St. Louis branch of Sisters to cheer for either the Yankees or the Cardinals.

With the World Series coming at the end of this month, things are getting interesting despite baseball being a leisurely game with no time clock.  It is a scared time which parallels time with God.  

Like Mass, the devotees, gather together just to be and watch the game unfold.  With the excitement of going to a game, we escape from the daily mundane and encounter one another in new ways: we enter this beautiful green ‘cathedral’ with its high walls and sit in ‘pews.’ All pay close attention to the mystery unfolding before them: the ‘sermon’ of the announcer, the beauty of the miraculous catch, the suspense of stealing home base....  In the Seventh all join in to stretch, do the ‘wave,’ and if you are lucky, you may be caught on the Kiss Cam! In the Eighth, everyone sings ‘Sweet Caroline,’ and partakes in the ‘ritual meal’ of hot dogs and beer.

At the World Series, two teams will ‘fight the good fight,’ but only one will win.

Cheering for your team is like praying: hoping no one is injured and trusting your team will get back home in the face of the trials of running the good race.  It’s as St. Paul said, ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run, then, that you may win.’ ^{1 Cor. 9:24.}  

As in baseball and the game of life, we learn humility when failure is accepted as an opportunity to grow.  Patience and grace under pressure is key.  Team playing is essential.  Praying, cheering for one another, singing a song of praise lifts all to a better way of being.  We, at the end of our World Series, having ‘Fought the good fight of faith, will take hold of eternal life, to which we have been called.’ ^{1 Tim. 6:12}     
Let us run then, so that when we get to Green Cathedral for all eternity, we can really ‘Play Ball!’

Reflection given to Associates MIRRORS OF LOVE

 It all began when Ven. Maria Celeste Crostarosa received a revelation while she was still a novice to

 “Stamp on your spirit the resemblance of Christ’s life.   (To) be on earth a living portrait of God’s beloved Son.  (To) carry Him about as the life of your heart and the goal of her existence.” 

“This instruction was like a polished mirror into which Celeste was to gaze continually at the dazzling light of the Divine Son/sun.”

 Celeste was called to be for the world a Mirror of God’s Love.

As Nuns and Associates, we too are called to fix our gaze on the Son and, as if gazing in a mirror, seeing not only the splendor of His Being but to see in ourselves a living reflection of God’s eternal love. To be a Viva Memoria, a Living Memory, so that “The Redeemer is able today to accomplish His work of salvation in us and through us.”  ^{Const. 5}    For, “The more we strive to live the love of Christ, the more the thoughts and feelings of Christ will fill our spirit and our heart, the more we will become His faithful images.”  ^Const.6

Like a double exposure of a photograph, one superimposed on the other, we endeavor “To be a Viva Memoria of Jesus so that he might find himself in you, and you recognize yourself in Him, your God.”  ^{Flor. 6}

Blessed Celeste made herself pliable in the hand of God allowing God to mold her into the image of the Son.   As St. Irenaeus said: “It is not you that shapes God.  It is God that shapes you.  If then you are the work of God, await the hand of the Artist who does all things in due season.  Offer God your heart, soft and pliable, and keep the form in which the Artist has fashioned you.  Let your clay be moist lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of God’s fingers.”

Today, we reflect on your commitment to become Christ’s perfect image.   This sounds like a tall order, but this is why you yearly renew your commitment to the Hand of the Artist so your heart can be formed in these changing times into an ever-present image of Christ.   This transformation is a life-long process.  It is never done.

Jesus said to Celeste then, and says to us now, “Enter into my divine heart and live there every day of your life as a true portrait of me.”  ^{Flor. 5.} This kind of prayer opens the heart to “be true witnesses of the love of Him who is our beginning and our End, our Way and our Life.” ^{Const. 5}   By our mirroring Jesus, God reaches out to all humankind through us.  We become the hands, the feet, the words, the prayer of Jesus.

But how?  Enter into our own heart in quiet prayer.   A simple way to pray is to just breathe: inhale “Je-” exhale “sus.” Jesus’ breath becomes our breath flowing in and out of our lungs.  

September 14^th   is the Exaltation of the Cross. It is also the anniversary of when, in 1755, Bl. Celeste breathed her last and was fully united with her Beloved in heaven.  As “an echo of Christ’s will.” ^{Flor. 64} on the Cross, Bl. Celeste also experienced the “glory of participation in the joy of union in the Divine Work.” ^{Flor. 129}

Celeste had an example of joyful participation in Christ’s work in the Blessed Mother. “By His sacred and divine love, Jesus wished to remain over Mary’s heart like a seal imprinted on her will that His Mother may be a genuine portrait of His Divinity.”  ^{Exercise of Love, December 31}

Celeste exclaimed, “My Lady, I find the true resemblance of Jesus in you.  You are the Original Portrait of Jesus. O my Mother, you are a pure crystal which sparkles most clearly in the Son/sun.”    ^{Flor 11, Dec 30}      

Celeste prays, “Mother of Love: through your intercession, engrave on my heart the Live Image of Jesus.” ^{Exercise of Love, December 31}

Celeste describes Jesus as the mirror of the Father. She says, “I no longer saw myself, but I saw You in my very self and myself transformed into You, my Most Pure Love.” She encourages us to look into this Mirror of Love, the Son, saying, “Be pure of heart and look upon the Father with the fixed gaze of love.”

Like Bl. Celeste, we are called to transformation. As we gaze at God’s mirror, Jesus, let us become mirrors of Jesus also, mirrors of God’s love for the world.  

SISTER PAULA SCHMIDT, OSsR July 2, 1930-july 10, 2026

 

Our Sister Paula Schmidt, OSsR, entered heaven on July 10, 2026 at the age of 96. She was born in Grand Rapids and was the fourth of six brothers and sisters.  

Here are some stories Sister Paula told about when she was little:

Paula was three years old when her brother Tom was born.  Her father told her that her mother received a note from God and that she was to go downtown to get the baby.  Paula was a bright child – she wanted to see God’s handwriting!  She was sorely disappointed when it was not saved.

When Paula was learning her prayers, she thought that as boys said “Amen!”
and girls should say, “A-women!”     An early feminist in the making! 

At one of Paula’s early visits to the confessional, Paula told the priest she
had committed adultery.  He said “Excuse me?  When did you do that,”
‘Oh,’ she replied, ‘When I was trying to act and think like an adult.’

In 1950, she left college on Easter Saturday to enter the Redemptoristine Nuns in Toronto, Canada. The nuns striking red, white and blue habit symbolizes God’s abundant mercy and pure love. This set them apart, not only visually, but the contemplative monastic charism spoke to this young woman’s heart who took the name Sister Mary Peter
of Jesus at her first profession on May 3, 1952. Five years later, she, with five other sisters, went the first foundation of Redemptoristines in the US on the property of Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY. 

Sister Paula was an avid reader of spiritual books and the Commonweal magazine, as well as novels.  She enjoyed studying the writing of our Foundress, Bl. M. Celeste Crostarosa and St. Alphonsus Liguori and sharing the charism.  She also had a strong competitive side, whether playing table tennis or Scrabble.  

A great letter writer, Sister Paula corresponded for many years with a man imprisoned and, with a circle of friends, helped gain his release in 2018 after 30 years of incarceration.       

Sister Paula’s quiet, steady presence at meetings was a source of wisdom at many a Redemptoristine General Assembly in Italy.  But most important to her was her life 

of prayer to which she dedicated many long hours. She was especially devoted to the Holy Redeemer and Our Mother of Perpetual Help in remembering her family, friends and the world in prayer.  Sister Paula died as she lived: a woman of great faith.

When we got the news that she had passed,
we opened Paula’s tote bag that still contained her birthday helium balloon and it escaped, taking flight up to the ceiling.  What a wonderful sign that our Sister made to heaven.

Eternal light shine upon her. 
May she rest in peace.
Amen.

 On this third Sunday of July, we Redemptoristines, along with our Redemptorist priests, brothers and associates around the world, celebrate
the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer.  The official name of the Redemptoristines is actually the Order
of the Most Holy Redeemer.

This feast celebrates the mystery of our salvation:  God the Father gives the Son, born of the Virgin Mary, to become the living image of God’s own Love and by the Love of the Son who, in giving Himself for us, restores us to our original dignity.   This abundant outpouring of love is revealed today in our Redemptorist family by our witnessing, through prayer and mission, to Christ’s life of love for the salvation of the world.

Twice this past weekend, I had the opportunity to witness reflections of God’s Love. The first was my nephew’s  wedding to his beautiful bride.  They looked at each other with such love as they were united together in a life of love:  ‘…to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, all the days of my life.’ 

The second was when I visited my friend in the nursing home.  At one point her husband passed by the window where we were sitting and she looked with such love at the door then: expectant, waiting.  He appeared at the threshold with the same look of love. A redemptive love that said, ‘I am here for you, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish you all the days of my life.’ 

By loving as God does, Jesus, the visible image of God, restores us to our original dignity.  These two couples reveal to each other, and to us, the Life of Love that restores us, unites us, redeems us.  

                                                                                                 First published 7/2019

       One hundred sixty years ago, Pope Pius IX put into the hands of the Redemptorists the ancient icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to make her known throughout the world. Since then, this icon of great veneration and fame for its miracles has been treasured in every corner of the world in countless churches, shrines and homes.

    As we gaze into the gentle, welcoming eyes of Mary, we find encouragement to ask her to intercede for us in all our needs.  As the late Pope Frances said, “She is the Mama who takes us by the hand toward Jesus.”     Let us take her hand.

We join you in praying the novena June 18-26 in honor of our Mother of Perpetual Help for all your special intentions.  May she hold you close to her heart and present all your special petitions and thanksgivings to her Beloved Son.  And may our Generous God grant you abundant blessings of health in mind, body and spirit.

          NOVENA PRAYER

Holy Mary, help all in distress, encourage the fainthearted, console
the sorrowful, be the advocate of all the clergy and religious, strengthen family life, bring peace to our world, intercede for all God’s holy people;
let all feel your aid who implore your Perpetual Help.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.   That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us your Mother Mary, whose miraculous image we venerate, to be our Mother ever ready to help us, grant we pray, that we who earnestly implore her aid may deserve to enjoy perpetually the fruit of your redemption. You who live and reign for ever and ever.  Amen.

We will celebrate Mass in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Mass on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 11:30 am with Redemptorist Fr. Kevin MacDonald in the chapel of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, NY.

All are welcome.

ALLELUIA! 

We are half way through the Easter Season and awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Many people associate their receiving the Holy Spirit at Confirmation as some sort of graduation.  In reality, it is the beginning of a life-long adventurous journey to unity with the Trinity. By the way we live our Spirit-filled lives, open to the changing signs of our times, we daily draw closer to our loving God in our words and actions.  Our Foundress, Blessed Celeste Crostarosa, put it this way: “God unites you to the Blessed Trinity in a way that God lives in a human person and a human person lives in God  with the life of Godself.” 

We are invited at Pentecost, and Confirmation, to join in the dance of the Trinity.  It is an eternal dance of union with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Here we join hands and move in a circular motion with the Trinity: giving, receiving, indwelling.  Weaving together the gifts, graces and fruits we have received from God with the guiding inner spirit of love, we offer to others respect, goodness and mercy for the salvation of all humanity.  Then we shall dance with Triune God and one another. 

                                                                                    ALLELUIA!

 Holy Saturday ~ Rhubarb

Excerpt from Sr. Moira Quinn’s presentation: The Flowers and Saints of Lent.

After Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus’ body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin.  The women who had come from Galilee with Jesus followed behind, and saw the tomb and the way in which his body was laid. They returned to town and pre-pared spices and perfumed oils. And then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.  ^{Luke 23:53-56}

What was Jesus’ experience in the tomb?  The Apostles’ Creed declares that Christ ‘... descended into hell; (and) on the third day rose again from the dead.’

Look, the Victor over death, Jesus, clasps the first hand he sees, Joseph, his earthly

father.  And right behind Joseph is John the Baptist, his cousin and faithful forerunner and proclaimer of the Lamb of God. Between them, I believe is Mary’s aunt Elizabeth, John’s mother, the first one to recognize Mary as ‘Mother of my Lord.’ Following them are a multitude of holy souls redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice. And with them, all those ready to hear the Word of God and begin new life in Christ.  ‘For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.’ ^{1 Peter 3:18-20a}

I paired this solemn day with Rhubarb.   Rhubarb was known by the ancient Greeks for its medicinal powers.  It is at once a symbol of warding off of evil AND reawakening and new beginnings.  After a barren winter, to see the quickly growing blood-red rhubarb stalks with its new yellow leaves emerge from the cold ground reminds one of the Passion of Christ and the Easter candle that banish the darkness.  Rhubarb could be thought of as an allegory of the time between Jesus’ death and resurrection.  A symbol of hope and healing while silence covers the earth on this solemn day.