Monastery of Our Lady and St. Bernard

Brownshill, Stroud GL6 8AL

Bernardine Cistercian Sisters

And is it true?  And is it true?
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue,
A baby in an ox’s stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea,
Become a Child for me?

And is it true?  For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and smelly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare-
That God was Man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine

Dear Friends,

This poem of John Betjeman seems to say it so well.  The real meaning of Christmas is not what all the presents, the Christmas trees, the pretty lights and the carolling are all about, and yet it sometimes gets lost in the rush and worry of it all. 

As I begin this letter it is the first Sunday of Advent. We lit the first candle of the Advent wreathe and sang:  “For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits, truly my hope is in you.”  In the midst of a world where material things seem to take over and yet where there is so much suffering, the great truth, that God became Man for us, should give us courage to wish each other many blessings and joy in this Christmas season.

So, a very Happy Christmas to you all, from each sister in the community here at Brownshill.  You and your families will all be very much in our prayer especially at Midnight Mass.

Last year we were already in the “deep mid-winter” of the carol and the snow and ice made getting around at Christmas a little difficult to say the least.  Several of our Christmas guests cancelled, unable to get down to the monastery and fearful that they may have got snowed in with us!

As I write this it is a lovely sunny day but still very cold. The Guesthouse and retreat work are going well with many individuals and groups taking advantage of and appreciating the comfortable facilities. We have just had the first Advent retreat, led by Sr. Mary Stephen, with a full house and we hope that the weather will hold for the second retreat. 

In Community we have had our times of joy but also of sadness.  Sr. Frances was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Her health changed rather drastically in late summer and she had 5 weeks in the local hospitals.  It soon became clear that she would always need professional nursing care that we would be unable to give here at the monastery and so in mid-October, Sr. Frances moved into Resthaven, a Nursing Home a short distance from us. It is situated in the beautiful Painswick valley and Sr. Frances, who has always delighted in nature, enjoys a lovely view from her bed.  We can get to see her easily as can the friends she has made in this area.  Resthaven has a homely, friendly atmosphere and there is a chapel, the Chapel of St Francis!   Sr. Frances is always welcoming, positive and takes an interest in everything that is happening.  But Christmas will be hard for her so we ask you to hold her especially in your prayer.

Another sadness was that Sr. Mary Philippa’s mother died in May at St Peter’s Residence in Lambeth where she had been for several years.  Sr. Mary Lucy and Sr. Elizabeth Mary went with Sr. Mary Philippa to the funeral and were given a lovely welcome by the Little Sisters of the Poor who run the nursing home. It was good to see so many of them who have been to Brownshill for their retreats. Two months later, S Mary Philippa’s Uncle Teddie died in the same nursing home.

There are lots of small joys in our community life and some bigger ones!  We are always ready for a celebration!  And so it will be in mid-December when we will celebrate the fact that Sr. Mary Lucy will be our first octogenarian!  But I cannot tell you about the actual celebration because this letter will need to be printed before then…... being 80 will be a shock to her system so please pray for her!

Another one who changed decades was our Chaplain, Fr Peter.  He had a lovely celebration here with his family in August. Those of us who were here were able to participate.  The other sisters were at the Mother House in Lille for the annual celebration of the Assumption which is traditionally the feast day of the Prioress General.

Sr. Mary Johanna’s family welcomed a new generation in May with the birth of her great nephew, Harry Samuel. As I write, Sr. Catherine is awaiting the arrival of her first great niece/nephew.

The exceptionally big joy this year was the Solemn Profession of our Sr. Mary Johanna in June.  The Profession Mass took place in our monastery in Hyning because all her family are in the north, but nearly all of us went up to join them.  It was a wonderful occasion, lovely to be together and, with her family and friends, to witness Sr. Mary Johanna committing herself to the Bernardine life forever.  Last weekend, on the feast of Christ the King, we welcomed, from afar, Jane Utting, who began her novitiate at Hyning.  So the Bernardines are still very much alive!

In October, Sr. Mary Philippa and Sr Marie Apolline went to the Cistercian monastery at Nunraw, in Scotland for a two week course on the Cistercian Fathers.  They thoroughly enjoyed being with other monks and nuns from the monasteries in the British Isles and Norway and it was a wonderful experience for our sister from the Congo. They feasted on the beauties of Scotland and were fortunate to visit  Lindisfarne and Melrose Abbey.  Sr. Marie Apolline took lots of photos so that they could share a little of their experience.

It is always a joy to have news from our sisters who are living in Viet Nam looking towards the possibility of making a foundation there.  The way of life there is so different and the Church so vibrant that their letters make gripping reading.

As I said earlier there are many other small joys that could be recounted including visits and news from so many past students, staff, Oblates and friends but I mustn’t allow this letter to get too long.  We did, of course enjoy the Royal Wedding in April and then watched the excellent DVDs: ‘Of Gods and Men’ and ‘The King’s Speech’. While many of you will have seen the latter, ‘Of Gods and Men’ won the ‘Grand Prix’ at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and follows the true story of the Cistercian monks martyred in Algeria. It gives a very powerful message and is well worth watching. And, as you are our friends, I will end by saying that we have joined the whole country in enjoying Downton Abbey!

On that note I will end by wishing you all once again all the blessings of the season and assuring you of the love and prayers of us all,