← Dominican Sisters Open Mic
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- [00:00]
A
Because love is where it's at. That will turn us on. Anything less than that will just keep sapping us until we're finally. Off they go. What are you doing? Because I ran into some of my friends and I said, well, I'm a. You know, I entered the convent. They're going, you a nun? No, I'm a sister. But in any case, you are so
- [00:22]
B
not a boring personality. I always have fun when I'm by you.
- [00:27]
A
I can't stand it if I'm boring. I do not tolerate boredom. But our life, life is full of adventure, and it's constant, and you don't know what the next moment's going to bring. I mean, yesterday at this time, I didn't know I was going to be doing this. And I love doing this.
- [00:42]
B
That's true. Hi and welcome to Dominican Sisters open Mic. My name is Sister Miriam, and we are sitting down with sisters in our community to have conversations about all things Dominican. And today I'm really excited because we have a very, very special guest, one of our four foundresses of our community, Sister Joseph Andrew. Sister, thank you so much for coming.
- [01:23]
A
Thank you. And I bet you say every member of our community is very special. But I'll take note.
- [01:29]
B
You are extra special. You founded our community in 1997.
- [01:34]
A
That's right.
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B
So we're coming up on 30 years, which is beautiful. And we are so grateful for the wisdom of our foundresses and your instruction
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A
and your Holy Spirit constantly leading us, the Holy Spirit, saints and angels. I think everybody up there had to do it. Yeah, they did.
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B
And just to see. Just to see the beautiful fruits that have come of it.
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A
Yeah.
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B
And I know there are many sacrifices, many things known only to our. Our Lord.
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A
That's right.
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B
But we give thanks. And so you are special on this show today. And I like to start by telling our listeners a little bit about your background. So you entered the convent. It was 55 years ago?
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A
I think so.
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B
Correct?
- [02:22]
A
Yeah, I think so. Yes.
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B
55 years ago. 1970.
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A
Yes. Doing my math.
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B
And you are from the great state of Tennessee?
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A
I am born and bred and. Yeah. Up in Tennessee. East Tennessee.
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B
East Tennessee, Yes. And I always also like to just say what, what you're certified to teach, since we're all teachers, and. And you've done many things beyond teaching. But what grades have you taught?
- [02:49]
A
Well, actually, Sister, I am a more of a high school teacher, but I've also taught grade school religion all the way through. Okay, then. And then high school, and then some in junior college, too. But my Favorites beside theology are all the different sciences. I love science.
- [03:10]
B
Me, too. I love teaching science. Yeah. I. I love listening to you talk about. There was one time you came to visit my classroom, actually, and I had freshman biology, and they were talking, we were learning about cells.
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A
Forgot about that.
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B
And you came in and you had all these interesting things.
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A
Love it, love it, love it.
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B
And it got me enthused. Enthused about. Yeah, about the beauty of our natural world.
- [03:35]
A
And, I mean, how can anybody not be interested in science when it's the visible expression of God's love for us? We carry it around. We can't get rid of it or we die. So I don't know how anybody wouldn't find science fascinating. And I think most students do. They also think it's. It's a lot to memorize, which I would agree with, but. But the fascination has to be there, I think. Yeah. And then the other is music. And I love music.
- [04:03]
B
And I wanted to mention you're the head organist of our community, and you're an organist. I've been trying. I'm a substitute for Sister Joseph Andrew. When you go away, I'm in the hot seat. And I'm always happy when you're back.
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A
And you do a beautiful job. You do. I do.
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B
I try. But I love hearing you play every time.
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A
Well, thank you.
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B
And I. I don't know if one day you. You knew I was spying on you.
- [04:32]
A
I have noticed you before. Turn around. I'm like, pay attention to the mask.
- [04:36]
B
I was turning around because I happened to be in a seat where I could potentially see your fingers, and I wanted to see what stops you had on.
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A
And I was.
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B
Sneak a little peek at the organ. I'm like, oh, oh. I'm looking, looking. And then I remember thinking to myself, oh, I probably couldn't do that anyway, but it's cool to see.
- [04:54]
A
I probably could again. I've been playing all my Life. You said 55 years, and I played 10 before that, at least, or 15, whatever it was, anyway. Yeah. So it's. And it just flows, which I think music should. You know, you can always tell if somebody's chomping away, you know, or if they're. They have it and you have it, too, which is why it just flows. And then the singing flows when the instruments fly. Anyway, I think it's a beautiful expression of what you can't always put words to, you know, and the heart and mind are raised to God. Hopefully. That's what we're certainly doing. Chapel. Yeah.
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B
Now, another role that you've had in our community is vocations director.
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A
You did.
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B
You've done that for many years over your religious life and helping young women discern if they have a vocation to be a sister or whether to marriage or to what kind of community.
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A
Exactly.
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B
And it seems like you've always enjoyed accompanying people in that. I do.
- [06:01]
A
I remember when I entered the convent and I was just in awe at God's goodness to me that at the age of 17, I really did believe and I'm. And I was right that I knew what God's will was. But I would have to say I prayed a lot about it, too. I was. I mean, I had a lot of fun. I was very extroverted, had a lot of fun. But I was also a serious child growing up because I just. I come from a beautiful family and God is number one and that's all there was to it. And that just resonated inside me. So I thought, whatever it is you have me, you made me to do my best. Way back home to heaven to you is all I want. And I was taught by the Dominican sisters and I love them. And that great big rosary that we have, you know, the 15 mysteries of the rosary. So when sister would walk down the aisle, and many times she was walking down my aisle because I wasn't exactly the best behaved child. But at any rate, that's another story. But she would go kind of fast and the rosary would, you know, kind of fly out and I would lean over for it to touch. Sister's rosary. Oh, my gosh. It's such as rosary touch me. I just was in seventh heaven and I thought, someday I'm going to get one of those. And I think that really was the beginning of my saying, I do want to be a Dominican sister. I just loved it. I love.
- [07:25]
B
From a young age you had that.
- [07:27]
A
I did. I really did. And again, so I frequently, when I'm saying that when I was in high school, I really loved the guys a lot more than the girls. I had a lot more guy friends. They're just such a good balance for us and funny and goofy and, you know, so. But when I entered the convent and then came back dressed as a postulant, you know, which is a very different. Different than you would wear them. Yeah. They go, what are you doing? Because I ran into some of my friends and I said, well, I'm a, you know, entered the convent. They're going, you a nun? No, I'm a sister. But in any case, they were. You always Liked all the guys. And I said, oh, I did, but I wasn't going to marry any of y'. All. I mean, I was going to marry God. So that's my vocation.
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B
So when you were growing up, did you feel close to the Lord, would you say, in your life, did you?
- [08:21]
A
You know, I think God has spoiled me. Probably very few people would say this, and God deals with us each uniquely to get us closer to him. But yes, I have never not felt close to Christ. I'm not saying I'm a good prayer necessarily. I get distracted probably more than most people do, and fidgety and all the above. But as for just walking and feeling him close, I've always had that, that presence. I've always felt that even when I was doing the wrong thing, I'd go, just close your eyes because I'm going to have some fun now. That I've never not felt that or known that he's right, right. Present with me. Yeah.
- [09:08]
B
So now you've, we mentioned you've been a sister 55 years. What would you say is something that you love about being a sister?
- [09:20]
A
I think you already hit it, Sister Miriam, when you said, have you always known the presence of God, the world? And we know this even from teaching, but we're teaching, we're teaching young people or we're teaching old people, it doesn't matter. We're teaching people and they have an immortal soul. And so I plug into that, you know, um, but if I were out in the dog eat dog world, I, I wouldn't do well because I would very quickly lose interest in what I considered a lesser goal. You know, I mean, obviously if I had to have money and I had to, and I was, you know, helping a husband with our children and all that, then that would obviously have to keep my interest. But I just, I would have to say my religious vocation always has Christ front and center and, and that means a lot to me. And I remember one time giving a talk about vocations at Harvard University and these young people were sitting there and they said, what is, what is the best and what is the worst thing about your vote? Your religious vocation is, as I saw it, and I immediately knew the best, since that's what you asked for. The best was waking up at night and knowing my spouse will always be beside me, he is always with me and I never have to worry or, you know, I never have to go and find a phone and wonder if he's on the phone, is he going to come home from work Tonight, is he going to be safe? What's going to go on? Is he happy? Is he okay? Is there something I can do to. My spouse is God. And I just have to love him more and more and bring that love to the world. So in so many ways, I would say it's the depth of spiritual peace. Now, that doesn't always mean that life isn't hard. And mine has certainly had plenty of crosses and trials and difficulties. But through it all, he doesn't move or go away or disappear or forget
- [11:26]
B
me, you know, Sister, what would you say to someone who might think being a sister is boring?
- [11:33]
A
Oh, my gosh. I would say they haven't the first clue. I can name a lot of boring things. I'm a person who has no tolerance for boredom, which is why I always got me into trouble.
- [11:42]
B
And you are so not a boring personality. I always have fun when I'm by you.
- [11:48]
A
I can't stand it if I'm boring. I do not tolerate boredom. But our life is full of adventure and it's constant, and you don't know what the next moment's gonna bring. I mean, yesterday at this time, I didn't know I was going to be doing this, and I love this. But it's like, sure, whatever. Because that's where, first of all, the graces are. And in that I find such a interior freedom and joy. Yeah, Yeah.
- [12:17]
B
I think we have a variety of viewers, and I was thinking about maybe someone who is just starting out in the spiritual life. What advice would you give to somebody?
- [12:29]
A
Why.
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B
Why they should seek God?
- [12:32]
A
Oh, gosh, that's a great question. Everyone needs to seek God at the level that they are. For those that maybe don't believe in God or don't think that they do. Again, the science. Check out your own body. How did that come into being? We all know the biology behind reproduction, but the fact of the matter is only God could produce that life. And I can. I know a lot of people who wish they had larger families or even had children. And that doesn't seem to be the divine plan. And somehow God is in everything. The crosses and the joys. And so I think depending where a person is spiritually, they need to. To pick it up and keep going. We can all find it's more prevalent visibly in our world many, many times. But the evil, you know, look at the website. 1. One glance at any of the news you want to watch. I mean, you know, and there's always so much suffering and. And really a presence of evil that sometimes people Bring to each other and. And it can really get you down. And I think we have a lot of anxiety and depression. About a fourth of all you American people ages, they go like four all the way through. Young people and old people both have. About a fourth of the population of those ages are depressed. The other ages a little bit less, but not much. And I think it's because you're staring at yourself too much. That's depressing. Quit looking at yourself and look at God. Let him use you. And it goes back to Adam and Eve. What was their sin? They quit looking at him. They started staring at themselves. Well, down they go. So I just think wherever a person may be, they need to open their heart more and more to God. How to do that? Just start. Start thinking about him. Give him some particular time of day. You know, if it's five minutes, if it's driving in the car, if it's turning on one of our many, many opportunities that we have on open, like media something plug into. Plug into the lives of saints and really good people who endured cross as much heavier than we have and yet made it for love of God and love of each other. Because love is where it's at. That will turn us on. Anything less than that will just keep sapping us until we're finally off. It's got to be. And who is love personified as God? So we need that relationship wherever we may be. Begin it a new and give it time. And with any friendship, if you give time to friends, you'll. You'll have friends. And if you don't, you'll have yourself. And good luck with that.
- [15:38]
B
How. What does God's voice sound like? I mean, how can. What is that like for somebody? They're looking for more God. They want to hear his voice. I mean, is. It's maybe not booming down on them, but what are the ways that God might touch somebody?
- [15:55]
A
That's a beautiful question. I think my answer to that is he's so unique with every single person. So everybody would probably answer it a little bit differently. But as long as they have an answer, that's good. If they don't have an answer, that's a problem. And they need to find his voice, as you said. And you do that again by praying and giving him time. I would say, how does he speak in my heart? I have one word for it, desire. And it's not desire for myself necessarily. I mean, that would be like wanting something. But desire just captures your heart. And I really, I desire it. I equals I am willing to sacrifice for this, I must have this or my life will be incomplete. And so I think God does that. He shows us sometimes it's not as pervasive or as fiery within, and other times it is. But I. I just think. And the other thing when we walk with him is the peace that pervades. And this world doesn't have a lot of peace. There's. You wish you could give it to everyone. The whole world would change instantly. But the only way you're going to get peace is to open to God and love him and know he loves you. You can't love someone really that doesn't love you back. Not. You can't grow in that love very deeply. You can tread water in it. And then eventually it's like, what. You know, there's just no point. But God loves us infinitely. And the more we tune into that, the more we desire. That's that word again. To love him also, because I want more of him. Yeah, I can't get enough. He's infinite. Yeah. Can't get enough.
- [17:57]
B
And Sister, I love that you are so passionate and energetic about. About sharing about God's love. You go out and you speak and you're invited all over creation, as you say, traveling. Why don't. Could you tell us a little bit about what. What you've been doing these last few years for our community?
- [18:20]
A
So for the last several years, since the Eucharistic year, since the Jubilee year, and even certainly before that too, and continuing, I love to go and speak about the things that are deepest in my heart. I want everybody to love them. If I love them. I want everybody to have that. You know, it's like joy. You know, you have joy when you have to run and tell somebody about it. You're going to pop if you keep it to your side. You just can't. And that's pretty much the obedience we, you know, one of our vows in religious life that Mother Monteveritas has given me, it's just go out on the world wherever and. And talk about God, talk about the things of our faith, talk about the things that turn people on interiorly. You know, we're all about the things that turn us on exterior. Well, how about the things that turn me on interiorly that give me a meaning for my life when exteriorly things don't look necessarily that good. But interiorly, I'm very much alive and I'm growing and growing. And so ultimately it always is going to be God. So the talks that I give might be the feminine genius, which I always couple with the masculine genius. The gifts God has given us that we did nothing to deserve, we didn't ask for. We just have them in abundance by his creative love. And then certainly the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and confession. And then the Blessed Mother, she loved him the most perfectly. If I have any sense, and I really want to love God, I'm going to watch her and say, how did you do it, Mary? And she. She loves us with a maternal love again, like her son. She's always with us, you know? And you, you just feel warmed by that maternal embrace that doesn't want anything back except just love my son. Just love my son.
- [20:24]
B
You know, Sister, I've had the blessing of hearing some of your talks here and there. I always. I always love it. One of the themes that I've heard you speak on is the paradox between joy and suffering.
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A
Yes, yes.
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B
And so I wanted to go into that a little bit because I wanted our listeners to be able to hear some of your thoughts and your points, which is a fruit of a lot of prayer time for you. I know how much you put into that prepping, reading, praying. But it's. It's so crazy that someone, even in a time of suffering, could still have the experience of joy in their lives. And. And our Lord makes this possible. But could you give us, like, top three sort of points on.
- [21:14]
A
I don't think in terms of numbers. I've never been good in math. I hated it from fourth grade on. But I can give you a few thoughts that I'm full of. But any rate, it's kind of what you, you just said. Someone in the midst of suffering can. Can have joy. I would say you can't have joy without suffering. Now, that's pretty strong. Yes, but it is true, because we live in a world where everyone would say, oh, I want to be happy. I want to be happy. And that's beautiful. We all want to be happy. But happiness, as the world would see it, is very shallow. I want you to give me what I want from you. I want you to give me what I want. I want you to put me on his pedestal. I want to be the one who gets all the glory and gets the money and gets the. I just. I want everybody to fall at my feet, and I'll be. I won't be joyful, but I'll be happy. So there's a superficiality that can be present. And as we look at the world and the smiling faces everywhere and all that, and I think they're cute. I use them all the time. I mean, my whole emails are exclamation points and smiley faces. But I'm just saying, if there isn't something behind dissipates until it's gone very quickly. And what would be the thing that would, that would stop happiness? Suffering comes in and you're not getting the attention and you're not getting the paycheck and you're not getting the job you wanted and you're not. The kids are acting terrible and you're this and you're that and you just can't. And then you'd say, oh, I'm miserable. I am. You know, as we said, I'm depressed. I'm. I'm whatever. I may be anything but happy, but. But if you turn it around and you see the opportunities that suffering gives us to go deeper and deeper, you're amazed your own heart is so deep. You never knew that until you were asked to suffer. Until that you thought, oh, I love like everybody else does. And then you kind of go on to the next topic because it doesn't grab you deeply enough. But suffering is the common denominator of all of us who really desire God. He will bring us. And yes, we know happiness, we know a lot of happiness, but when the suffering comes, we have something interiorly by which we are able to grab ahold of it and say, in the face of sorrow, you may be real, but you are not going to possess me. I will deal with you and maintain that through faith. God has reason. And then quickly another aspect of our interior comes to the fore, and that's a freedom from the sorrow to a certain extent that I would say equals the joy. And so those two are paradoxes. Because people think they're opposites. No, they go hand in hand. And so they really blend together to make authentic joy through the acceptance of authentic suffering done. Because we know God is at work within my heart and he will somehow, even though it's I. I can't see it at the present moment, I believe he will bring it all to completion. And when it's done, I'm a different person. And I'm a person that possesses joy to a much deeper degree than I ever thought happiness was possible.
- [25:08]
B
Sister, that's beautiful. I.
- [25:11]
A
So are you. My goodness.
- [25:15]
B
Did you know that the Sisters of Mary offer more than just this podcast? Our apostolate, called Open Light Media, offers a wide variety of resources for faith formation, virtue education and catechesis development. One of the programs that we're really excited to be able to offer is called Raised in Grace. It's the only Catholic social emotional learning program that explicitly integrates faith with modern neuroscience. Raised in Grace is for both adults and children, and it invites them to participate in their own neurodevelopment with strategies based on cutting edge neuroscience. To learn more about race and grace and Open Light media, please visit openlightmedia.com or click the link on this description where faith meets learning. You'll find us at openlight Media. Do you have any practical tips? If someone is going through a cross, a difficulty in their lives, what might they do?
- [26:21]
A
I think. I think, well, again, I can go through so many things in my mind, but one thing that I think is very important is you really need to pray. Some crosses other people can't exactly help us with. Some are so interior that only God can get that deep inside to really help us carry it. And we see that all the time. And people who suddenly lose loved ones or they were watching somebody they love suffer so much. I remember watching my parents. They both died of cancer, but my mother, four kinds of cancers for 10 years, in chemo constantly, and. And yet she was a free person, laying in her hospital bed, not being able to move with her rosary in her hand. And I knew she was so one with God that just looking at her, I thought, I'm in the presence of someone who's going home to heaven. She's a saint. And I learned so much. And I remember one time saying, mom, you have the graces to suffer like you are. I don't feel like I have the graces to suffer watching you. And she just looked at me and those steady blue eyes of hers, and I thought, okay, Mom, I know what you're saying. Yes, you do. And if you don't, it's not God's fault. Yours. Open up. Open up. I'm. I'm doing this. You have to do yours with. With such a tenderness and love. But she was a very strong realist, which I needed because I can always be very romantic about an idea. And she'd go, prove it to me. And I'd go, oh, gosh, I hadn't really thought about it from that. And then when I. If I did it or did it relatively well, she'd go, now you can talk about that. Because, yes, you have reason behind some of this. You have. You have a deep faith to go with what you know is true. And again, truth is just such an important aspect of this whole thing. So I think really analyze the suffering and do that prayerfully. Is there something you can do about that, you know, so pray first. Is there something I can do? And if I really can't, a third thing that I think is beautiful and God made us this way, is to share the suffering with someone you trust. We can't always carry our crosses, you know, in the Stations of the Cross, Simon was asked to help Jesus carry his. I think that was to say, don't think you can do it on your own. There are some crosses that are going to be so heavy. But I believe Simon glanced at Christ's face and all of a sudden realize, I'm the blessed one, that I get to help you carry it. And so I think the other side of that same coin is we're giving someone else an opportunity to. To learn how to suffer and to realize suffering is not going to do us in. It is another way, a difficult way that it will lead to Christ if we keep following him. And so I think those are the three things I would say, oh, you got me into numbers. Pray first and keep praying like crazy. And sometimes I can't come up with beautiful prayers. I just say, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Joseph. And I think that's what a child would do for a parent. My mom. My mom, you know, I. I need this. I want this. This means everything to me. And personally, I think it's a beautiful prayer, and I do that a lot. So pray however you pray best and most authentically with your own heart to God. And then the second is share it with someone that you trust, knowing and maybe that, you know, I got them inverted, that I'm doing everything I can to make this into a better situation or bring it to resolution or just accept it, you know, and if it's something that has to do with forgiveness, which I think 90% of our problems do, I think that forgiveness is a key to finding acceptance. Mainly because if I am willing to forgive, and that's hard, that's hard for all of us to do. But if I have prayed myself too forgiving, and I can express that forgiving to the person that I've had whatever disagreement with or felt very used by, or whatever the situation, it frees me from their response. And their response sometimes is, oh, thank you. It's been bothering me too, oh, wow, that's beautiful. Or, well, it's about time that you did, because you're the one that was the cause of it, in which case anger flares up. But again with that true forgiveness, it's like, oh, well, I'll pray for you. Because, I mean, you don't say it necessarily, but it's really their problem because you've let go of the problem. And I think a lot of suffering has to do with holding on and not letting go, not trusting that God's going to work through this. So I think that's another whole aspect.
- [32:11]
B
I think for me, one thing that's been helpful in the past is inviting Our lady into it. And you mentioned, you know, call on Jesus, Mary, Joseph, we have the saints. But I remember before I entered the comment, I was unwell, feeling unwell for a while, and I actually started praying the rosary for the first time during that time.
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A
Wow.
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B
Because I hadn't been in the habit of praying the rosary, and I. And I didn't actually remember how to pray the rosary. I rummaged through my drawers and I found a pamphlet that explained how to pray it.
- [32:49]
A
Sister, that is beautiful.
- [32:50]
B
Yeah. And I started just praying the rosary because it was almost like I didn't know how to pray or the best way to pray.
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A
Beautiful.
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B
But when I just prayed my rosary, I felt that it was in Our Lady's hands and that she was accompanying me. Beautiful. And I really did fall in love with the Lord in a deeper way during that time. And I felt his closeness, the Lord's closeness to me. And it's amazing how in those times of suffering.
- [33:22]
A
That's a beautiful example.
- [33:24]
B
Lord, we're. We're crying out to him.
- [33:27]
A
Yes, yes.
- [33:28]
B
And we see our need for him and we want to invite him into it. And. And in many cases, we might really feel close to him in those times.
- [33:40]
A
That's a beautiful example. Something else I was thinking of, too, and that. That says it's so much better. But I just have to add every once in a while. And again at church, part of it's your own personality. So I might get so upset with something that I just keep yelling at God, like, are you paying attention to me? You know, it's in your ballpark. You have to do something. You have to do something. And that can dissipate some of my energy, which I usually have plenty of when it comes to something that's very emotional for me. And sometimes I just think I hear him laughing, going, oh, you know, when you finally calm down, I'll take care of your problem. But this is kind of. Of fun to watch because it's just, be real before God. Be real. I think when people think of prayer, they have this stick figure kneeling down, and I don't know what they're doing.
- [34:35]
B
Like, perfection. Some sort of perfection.
- [34:38]
A
Yeah, yeah. Like there's only one way to pray. Prayer is friendship. And every moment is a different aspect of that beautiful friendship. And you're open to all the different aspects. And again, through the suffering to the resurrection. Your story was beautiful. Thank you.
- [35:01]
B
Thanks, Sister. Yeah, we're. We're getting close to the end here. I like to ask the sisters if you have any final thought you'd like to share, words of encouragement for our listeners about the spiritual life or about anything that comes to you at this moment. What do you want to say?
- [35:21]
A
Thank you, Sister. I think what we were just talking about is something that's always been on my mind and heart in teaching and dealing with the young women who are trying to find out God's plan for them in life and giving talks. And I just go back to something very simple. Just be real before God and let God be God, because you're not. And I think that dissipates a lot of false illusions. It brings us an interior freedom by which we can then be joyful. You know, doesn't always take immediate care of all of our problems, but it puts him in his hands. I'm not God. You are. You can do it. And then on other days when you're just so happy because you have this spiritual joy bubbling up, you can infuse that, you know, in an easier manner. But it's not something we should ever lose because of suffering or misunderstandings or anything that would come to us. We should really never lose our spiritual joy, which really is based on that relationship with God. So if. If someone is like, well, I don't really have that. How do I get it? Talk to him like you and anybody else you want to get to know, listen to him and trust. A lot of trust. And if it's someone who says, well, if you knew my life, you wouldn't think that I even deserved a relationship with him or whatever they might think. God is pure mercy. That's why he died for us. But I can only open that mercy inside me when I recognize I'm a sinner and that he's. He will forgive me. And so, again, for us Catholics, we have the beautiful sacrament of confession, which I think I need to go to every single day, but that beautiful sacrament. And then for those that don't have that sacrament, they have to do it in the way that they most understand before God. I'm admitting I'm a sinner. I'm not perfect. I have done wrong things. I'm still doing wrong things. But make me better. But I will only get that if I know how to love you more. So teach me your love, and then I will give mine back. Love me to where I know it's you, and I will love you back.
- [37:58]
B
Sister, I. I think sometimes people might think that sisters might be perfect, or we have it all down. And just to encourage our viewers, we're there with you in All Saints. We need God's mercy, too. We go to confession. We have that blessing. We receive the sacraments, going to Mass daily. But we need our Lord's mercy. We need to work on virtue. We're working on our prayer lives, and we're on a journey, a pilgrimage to our heavenly home.
- [38:29]
A
Yes.
- [38:29]
B
And so we're right there with. With all we are.
- [38:33]
A
That's where we're supposed to be. That's where we are.
- [38:37]
B
Sister, are you ready for speed round?
- [38:40]
A
Oh, speed round. I like fast things.
- [38:44]
B
I think this is up your alley.
- [38:46]
A
This won't be boring at all.
- [38:49]
B
What is your favorite liturgical season, and why?
- [38:53]
A
My favorite liturgical season? Well, I can think of two. Immediately. Christmas is probably everybody's favorite because there's just so much lightness and happiness and lights and music, and if we live it well, the gift of self to another. And that's what it's all about. Jesus giving himself to us in Bethlehem, and then us giving to others. And we need to do that spiritually because, again, it feeds into everything we've been saying about joy. And who doesn't like a little baby? Oh, my gosh. And look at a baby and. And think, you know, Jesus was a baby. I mean, the Son of God. That's just absolutely incredible. But then the one that the Church would say is. Is the most important, certainly is, is the week of Holy Week, Passion time, and then the resurrection. That love is so eternal and infinite that what no other human being could have been begun to give to anyone else. And we think we love deeply. He gave, gave, gave, gave all the way. And then, as if that wasn't enough, right before he died, he was caught. He wanted to stay with us, but he wanted to go home to His Father. So he gives us the Eucharist. So he stays and he goes back to His Father. So in the Eucharist, he is right there with us. So there's no doubt. If I picked one day, I would probably say Holy Thursday.
- [40:31]
B
Oh, really?
- [40:33]
A
Yes, because I get the Eucharist. We all do. He's right there forever. I mean, you know, as long as this world lasts. Body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. In the Eucharist, he gave us the priesthood And I wouldn't be a very good Catholic without the priest. I mean, I wouldn't have the sacraments. And they became the first bishops also. I mean, this is just loaded. And then he really did teach us, because right after that, he goes out to his passion that the gift of love will take. And I want it to everything I am in my life, and I will give it back through him. And so it's like a culmination of everything I've ever wanted. Yeah. Heaven.
- [41:21]
B
Sister. Beautiful. Okay, this one is less sublime. But do you. Do you have a hobby?
- [41:29]
A
I would have to say music. When I was three and a half years old, my parents plopped me on that piano bench and I had been playing ever since. So. Yeah. Because again, and I mentioned this very briefly, it's a way of expressing the depths of oneself without having to use words, words, words, and. And saying, no, that's exactly. Let me find another word. Let me try to. And you never feel like you hit the nail on the head when it's something that means so much. But music can express it. And I. I do. It just. It's kind of. I've always been fascinated that you can close your eyes and you. You can't. You don't even have to move, and yet you can hear beautiful music. It's like, it's. It's such a different kind of a gift that can elevate us, bring us into a high. Spiritual high or whatever kind of high, I suppose, depending on the music, or into a depth, you know, and we can. We can decide, what do I need now? I might need to be lifted out of the sorrow, or I might need to quiet and try to go into prayer.
- [42:40]
B
Sister, our liturgies at the Mother House really are so beautiful. And I know you've been a part of our formation in music over the years and making sure we have time for choir, learning how to sing, practicing, doing sacred music, making it beautiful. And that's a gift for us. And I did want to let the listeners know that our music is available for free on the Torch app.
- [43:04]
A
Yes.
- [43:05]
B
And you were a part of recording those CDs, a big part of it. So that's a great resource for people if they do want to encounter the Lord's and beauty through music. We have that available.
- [43:19]
A
Yes. And that's necessary to us. I just think sometimes I want to say, oh, chill out and put on some good soft music and just kind of get in touch with who you really are and who God really is, and things will go smoother.
- [43:34]
B
All right, what's your favorite game at the moment?
- [43:38]
A
I like anything that's, that's fast and competitive. How's that, Sister?
- [43:42]
B
I know I've been your partner. I love being your partner. You're a little bit more of a risk taker than me.
- [43:49]
A
Strong risk taker, but I like it. But then we blend well because then you'll pull back a little bit. And many times we win because between the super speed and a little bit more prudent, measured time or of competitiveness, we balance. We do.
- [44:07]
B
I think, you know me, if I'm making a big, a big bid, you know, I must have, I must have really good hand.
- [44:13]
A
Something's going on. Yeah, yeah. So I'll back off because it's like your turn to shine. Otherwise, if I'm making a big, big. I may or may not have it.
- [44:21]
B
But you do, Sister. It's always fun playing with you. What is a book that has impacted your spiritual life besides the Bible that you would recommend?
- [44:33]
A
You know, there are so many books. I'm going to say two. One of them is the Confessions of St. Augustine. A sinner who was not who. Whose humility enabled him through the centuries to pronounce to the world, I'm a sinner, but look what God can do with me and did with him. So The Confessions of St. Augustine get to every one of us on a philosophical, psychological, spiritual, human level. In every level, he talks about who we are, all of us, and obviously very particularly himself, but we find ourselves right there with him. And then a second is a very simple book, very different from that one. And it's the name of it is I Believe in Love. And it's where the editor actually would be, a French priest whose name is Father John and I can't speak French. This southern accent doesn't do it. You say, but if you look up, I believe in love. And I think it's even on Amazon. It's really St Teresa of the Child, Jesus's words. Put in a, some of them in a little bit more modern day language or taken a little bit further, you could take just one quote a day and think about it for that day. And then another quote. One of our sisters one time tapped them all up, cut them out, put them in a box. And every day she would just pick out a different quote and she used her daily meditation and, and those are that, that, that potent. Of course you could do that with the Bible too. But you said besides the bible, so. And St. Teresa is one of the greatest saints. So many folks have called her one of the greatest. Greatest. Died at 24 years old, a mystic and became a doctor of the church. And a very simple, beautiful. When you read it, it's like, I could do that and I think do that.
- [46:28]
B
It's also fitting for our conversation on joy and suffering. Suffering, since she has so much to say about suffering. And I think when I read her words was the first time I realized that suffering could be used for good. To be able to unite it with Christ and. And to use it as a prayer is so beautiful. So St Therese would be a great.
- [46:51]
A
She would be a great saint to start reading her autobiography or this. I believe in love. Yeah.
- [46:58]
B
All right, Sister, what is your favorite title of Our lady and why? I think you're gonna have trouble with this one.
- [47:06]
A
I was gonna say, I have to honestly say I have no favorite title. If I had to say anything, I guess I would say mother Mama. I mean, she's my mom. But if I were to pick an apparition, I would say wherever she goes, that's where I want to go. So it she. She chooses and I'm right with her. So I can't really say that I have an, you know, favorite without saying why. I would also have the others as favorites. So I knew this was going to
- [47:39]
B
be hard for you.
- [47:42]
A
That's a great question. Yeah.
- [47:44]
B
What age group do you most enjoy teaching and why?
- [47:47]
A
Oh, that's neat. I love. So I said I'm mainly a high school teacher, but I want to go back to the two years that I taught full time grade school. I taught all of the grades at different times, bits and pieces, so to speak. But full time fifth grade because they're so idealistic.
- [48:07]
B
Oh, you would.
- [48:08]
A
I love fifth grade. They have so much energy. I tend to have a lot of energy. They get in interested in everything. I'm interested in everything. You can. Which is why maybe I'm not always the best fifth grade teacher because we just have so much fun that I can forget. Oh, yeah. Now you got to still and do something that's kind of boring. But I love fifth grade. And then the other are sophomores in high school because people stare at the freshman who's the new class. They don't know anything. They're trying to figure everything out, let somebody else, you know, take care of them. And then the juniors are looking forward to their classroom and they're going to be seniors, so they're already past the midpoint of high school. And then the seniors are half out the door already anyway. But nobody's watching the little sophomores, and they're like fifth graders in high school. They're idealistic, they're happy, they're interested in everything. If you pay them interest when a lot of other people are getting interest and they're not really staring at the sophomores, they'll follow you to the moon and back. Love it. Love it.
- [49:13]
B
If you could have dinner with any saint, who would it be? And what would you ask them?
- [49:19]
A
Oh, my goodness. If I could have dinner with any saint besides my parents, I do believe they're in heaven. I would choose St. Joseph. Now, that's part of my religious name. He has been with me as a child, and I think of him when I think of prayer because St. Joseph said nothing in the Bible. You can give me a great old big Bible. And he's. There's nothing that he said. But to me, he picked me when I was a little child because I just. I remember Sister Barbara said, if you only had one vase of flowers, would you give them to Mary or Joseph? And I sat there in a quandary thinking, oh, my gosh, that wouldn't be fair to leave either of them out. So I said I would find another vase, and I divided the flowers in two, and I grew to both. Well, that wasn't Sister Barbara's. What she wanted. She wanted you'd give them to Mary because Joseph would want you to. And I was looking at the statue of Mary in our classroom, and I said, and you would want him to get some, too. I know you would. And then I thought, well, if people are going to leave that St. Joseph, and there's nothing about him, you know, I mean, he doesn't say anything in the Bible, St. Joseph, I'm going to be your friend and we're going to be buddies. And I think at that point, point he kind of claimed to me, as I was saying, when you pray, you establish the friendship, you establish a relationship. And I said, St. Joseph, you will always be very special to me, and we're going to become better and better and better friends.
- [50:42]
B
I didn't know that, Sister. I KNEW you loved St. Joseph, but I didn't know about that connection that happened.
- [50:48]
A
And as I got a little older and started thinking about religious Life, I said, St. Joseph, if it all works out, because, you know, things don't always work out, but if it works out, works out and I can earn the combat right after high school as soon as I possibly could, I'm going to take your name. And every time you call my name, it's A thank you to St. Joseph.
- [51:06]
B
Wow.
- [51:06]
A
And so I want to sit down by him, and I just want to watch him. I just want to grin while he's eating and looking at me. I just imagine big, dark eyes that just penetrate your soul. I go see how much I love you. Can you. Can you see it inside me? You know, and his big, strong hands and the tenderness, somehow, that they exuded when they held the Christ child and they loved Mary and they. They worked in the. Everything about St. Joseph thrills me. I love St. Joseph. He is my buddy.
- [51:39]
B
Okay, this is the last one, Sister.
- [51:41]
A
Oh, this is too much fun.
- [51:42]
B
I know, I know. But that's okay. We can have you come back.
- [51:48]
A
Thank you.
- [51:48]
B
To be limited to. To one podcast, we have other topics we can discuss.
- [51:53]
A
Okay.
- [51:53]
B
Name an activity that brings you peace and refreshes your spirit.
- [51:58]
A
Oh, that's Nate. An activity that brings me peace and refreshes. You're not going to believe this, but I would say sitting. Okay, two. Two things come to mind. Either sitting still in the chapel, because it goes so much against my nature, and when I finally get to a certain level of stillness and quietness, which can take a little while, with me, it's like this. This is who I am in a very different way than the way I usually express myself. But, yeah, a stillness. And then the other is talking to people, just like what we're doing. And just. Of course, I've been doing all the talking, but many times I let them talk and just getting into their lives and what makes them tick and, you know, how do they love God in a. In a way that's. That's unique to them, that. That. That I wish I had also, because we're all unique in our love and in particular, in our love of God. So to hear them talking, to get inside their lives brings me. It also excites me a lot. So I'm not sure it would be the peace and quiet that the prayer does, but.
- [53:09]
B
But it's refreshing to you.
- [53:10]
A
It's very refreshing to me. Yeah.
- [53:13]
B
Very well, Sister, I want to thank you because it's always fun to be with you, but you're.
- [53:20]
A
You're. You're the perfect one to do this, Sister. I'm grateful to what you were saying.
- [53:25]
B
I enjoy being able to sit down with people and find out more about them and.
- [53:31]
A
And all these people just love you, Sister. And I'm glad they do. They should. You're just good.
- [53:38]
B
Well, Sister, we hope to have you back. We can talk. Talk about more things and just know that how grateful all of our sisters are to you for what you've done in founding our sisters and your example in the religious life. And we love you. We're praying for you.
- [53:55]
A
Thank you. Need it.
- [53:56]
B
And I want to let our viewers know that Sister Joseph Andrew actually did a series of podcast conversations and they're called the truth shall shut up, the truth shall set you free. Those are all posted on YouTube and we'll put the link in the description. You would love hearing more of her conversations with various guests that she had over some years, so check those out. And the other thing that we mentioned, we do have our music available for free on our app, Torch, and so if you would like to check that out, you can go there. And if there's anyone you know that you feel might benefit from our conversation today, please pass along this podcast and know that we're praying for you. We're praying for your loved ones and we pray for the Lord to bless you and keep you, and may Jesus be with you. God bless and have a great day. Sam.