Winter 2012 T H E B E N E D I C T I N E S O F M A R Y, Q U E E N O F A P O S T L E S. Christmas dinner with Bishop Finn.

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1 PAX Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus 8005 NW 316TH STREET GOWER, MO At Ephesus Winter 2012 T H E B E N E D I C T I N E S O F M A R Y, Q U E E N O F A P O S T L E S Dear Family, Friends and Benefactors, We pray that the Merciful Lord is granting you His choicest graces in this New Year! The Sisters here at Ephesus are still counting all the blessings that the past year, as well as the start of 2012 have brought us. A Merry little Christmas 2011 with two new postulants and a candidate: Sr. JoAnna, Margaret Mary, and Sr. Gina. Christmas dinner with Bishop Finn. Christmas is always a very happy season in the quiet of the monastery, apart from the bustle of the outside world and concentrated upon the birth of the Christ Child. We welcomed the little Babe with great joy amidst the glorious chants and hymns of Midnight Mass, where we especially remembered you and all of your intentions in our prayers, entrusting them to the Sacred Child. Our sleepy eyes quickly came to life just a few hours later as we beheld our candidates, Gina and JoAnna, in their black dresses for the first time. At the early morning Dawn Mass, they officially became postulants upon receiving the newly blessed Miraculous Medals, and are now called Sister Gina and Sister JoAnna. As we gratefully received the Christ Child into our hearts, so we also gratefully received these young women to further their discernment among us. It is so good to see the short black veils of postulants around the house once more. May God grant them Perseverance, which was whispered to both by each Sister while giving her an encouraging embrace.

2 After the third Mass of Christmas, the Day Mass, the Sisters prepared a festive meal that was enjoyed in the company of our own Bishop Finn. Afterwards, we went downstairs to the sewing room turned music hall, for some merry entertainment with a variety of musical instruments and songs. The twelve days of Christmas continued with much festivity, but also with plenty of time for silence and prayer. The precious drawings that ornament this newsletter were created by our Sister Columba, who took up her watercolors to illustrate how we take the Christ Child wherever we go, and in all of our occupations. On the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6 th, Sister Grace of the Merciful Face of Jesus renewed her first vows. One week later, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we received another candidate. Margaret Mary Montag comes from Iowa, and will observe our life for several more weeks before becoming a Postulant. After reciting her newly composed poem, Sister Wilhelmina presents it to Bishop Finn.

3 Four novices prostrated before the Chapter on February 10th, petitioning to make their First Vows. The Holy Rule was held out to each of them, with the words Behold the Rule under which you choose to serve, if you wish to observe it, say so. Otherwise, freely depart. Sr. Assumpta, Sr. Jean-Marie, Sr. Columba and Sr. Philomena have all chosen to serve under the Rule of our Holy Father St. Benedict, and are looking forward to making their vows in April. May God grant them perseverance as well! The House of Ephesus still hums with Sisters sewing a variety of vestments and linens for the glory of the altar. We are preparing for the busiest season of the year, as spring and summer ordinations approach. We have had the privilege of welcoming a great many priests and seminarians for days of recollection and retreat. St. Benedict tells us to welcome all guests as Christ, but how much more is this true of the alter Christus. We hope that they find within our walls a haven of rest and prayer. May the Lord grant many more worthy laborers in His vineyard! We are continuing to work on our grounds, slowly but surely. A local excavator took advantage of one of the warmest and driest Missouri winters ever, and was able to finish the work he had begun in the fall. An eleven year old tradition: Sr. Emmanuel uncovers the Christ Child before the procession in to Midnight Mass. The reception of two new postulants on Christmas morning.

4 He transformed our very dilapidated and leaky pond, which was more like a swampy jungle, into quite a crater, as you can see in these pictures. If the weather decides to take a turn and bring us some snow or rain, our eight-foot deep pond should fill up in no time. Sr. Tarcisia labors in our jungle of a pond as it appeared last Summer... Though we are separated from the world, we do keep up on the news, and it is clear that the battle for religious liberty is raging on in our country, and all over the world. These attacks on religious freedom only intensify our prayers. We do not leave the world to escape from it; rather, we are assuming an even greater responsibility. Fidelity to our way of life promises the freedom of the Sons of God, but with that liberty of Spirit, we must all the more vigorously devote ourselves to sacrifice and prayer. The world around us awaits the spring, and the renewal of authentic Christian Life. So do we, as contemplatives, seek the tranquility of order first in our own souls by the grace of His Redemption. A local excavator cleared it... We are so grateful for your generous support and I humbly ask you to continue, as our need is still great. Each day at Chapter, I read your intentions aloud to the Sisters, and we are genuinely touched by the loving and faithful confidence you show by entrusting them to us. Know that we incessantly bring them and all of you to the Heart of our Immaculate Mother. In His Merciful Heart, Mother Cecilia, OSB Prioress, and Sisters... and family and friends came to cut firewood. Now we wait for snow or rain!

5 Right: One of several hand embroidered Our Lady of Guadalupe motifs that have been commissioned Below: Sr. Columba, Sr. JoAnna and Sr. Mary Josefa busily work to finish a new altar cloth before Christmas. Sr. Agnes proudly displays her freshly made cheese. The Cellarer s Wish List -Still hoping for a used riding lawn mower and chipper/shredder... -Stamps are always welcome! The Conclusion of Mary s Silence from The Virtues of Mary by Fr. L. Lanzoni It has been said that silence is the language of angels, who communicate with one another without the sound of words. Perhaps it is even better said that silence is the language of meditative souls that continually hold converse with God. God treats us, His creatures, with great reverence. Therefore, while we speak, He is silent. When we are still, he speaks and raises us to those supernatural thoughts and affections and heavenly colloquies which are granted only in solitude and silence. Now she who had clothed the Word of God assuredly did not care to divert herself with the talk of men, but loved to be silent, that she might converse in her heart with that Word, Who when He no longer tarried in her womb remained in her soul. O how the voice of man must have grated on Mary's ear, accustomed as she was to the soft ineffable whisperings of the Word in her soul! How often she must have said within herself, "I will hearken to what the Lord God will say in me, for He will speak of peace!" (Ps. 84:9, Eccles. 3:7)

6 BENEDICTINES OF MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus 8005 NW 316th St. Gower, MO How often Sacred Scripture uses the expression: he walked with God to make us realize the brightness and beauty of a life truly consecrated to God. But we too look at Him, and it is His countenance we see, the Face of Love, and we are no longer afraid. No more need we turn away our gaze as we must needs do, did not Our Blessed Lady liberate us from all fear and strengthen us in our trust. We look at God s gaze, and that of the soul meet and merge in an eternal union. A Carthusian