Growing in Wisdom
What joy: an afternoon with sisters to discuss being wise! I had been invited by Mary Stommes, oblate director and oblate of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, to speak at one of our quarterly Oblate Sundays about my involvement in the two-year Growing in Wisdom program offered by a consortium of Canadian retreat houses.
Fashioned after a program on aging and spirituality conceived by Father Ron Rolheiser of the Oblate School of Theology in Texas, our Canadian program immersed us in the theology, research and experience of aging as people of faith. The program was challenging, fun and rich as we faced our aging bodies and minds and learned about “radical discipleship,” among other topics.
I was eager to share with the oblates, and also eager to hear from the many sisters whom I know to be wise women. Many of them are now at Saint Scholastica Convent, the sisters’ retirement community, so I asked if I might offer my presentation there. Granted! In addition, I had heartfelt discussions with sisters during my four-day visit at the monastery. Behind all the logistics lies a critical question for Benedictines: How does the Rule guide us in becoming “radical disciples” as we grapple with our own aging and seek God’s face continually?
Radical discipleship in our later years includes:
- Moving from control to surrender.
- Shifting focus from our roles in life to the deepening of our souls.
- Trading active engagement for passive acceptance.
- Crafting how we will be remembered.
- Recognizing that our egos diminish as we gain a larger picture of our contributions to the whole of creation.
We practice these elements by building our legacy (Will I be remembered as being bitter, irrelevant or wise?), forgiving ourselves and others, grieving our losses, blessing others, and carrying the tensions of the community.
As we explored these five elements/practices in more detail and discussed various aspects over cookies in Saint Scholastica Convent’s lounge, it was clearly a topic of interest. “We don’t talk about this stuff with each other—and we need to,” commented one sister. We talked about letting go, mourning our losses, feeling vulnerable, still grappling with ego. We identified examples of blessing others and carrying the tensions of the community. Sisters found the Rule rich in guidance: surrender our lives, let go, deepen our souls, avoid grumbling, honor the elders, remain engaged in community, live for the benefit of all.
Our time together felt like a springboard to growing in wisdom. Perhaps there is an opening for book studies, further seminars or intentional discussions on being radical disciples under the guidance of St. Benedict and to the glory of God. Let’s begin.
Margi Hollingshead, OblSB
This article was featured on page 22 in the fall 2024 issue of Call magazine.
Photo: Margi presenting at Oblate Sunday.