The Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 2012 Tehachapi, California USA “Year of Faith” 2012-2013 Issue 30 FirstFruits “These were purchased as firstfruits for God and for the Lamb.” (See REVELATION 14:4)

Emmanuel “God-with-Us” - ISAIAH 7:14

“The Son of God presents Himself as the Bridegroom-Messiah come to seal the marriage of God with humanity; in a wondrous exchange of love, which begins in the Incarnation, comes to its summit of self-offering in the Passion, and is forever given as gift in the Eucharist.” - Verbi Sponsa, “Bride of the Word,” 4

Christmas at Prémontré: An allusion to the first profession at Prémontré and official founding of our Norbertine Order on Christmas night 1121. The Bethlehem scene includes, in the foreground, our holy fathers—St. Norbert (“Apostle of the Eucharist”) with his guardian angel and St. Augustine (“Doctor of Grace”). Surrounding the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus are (clockwise) St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, hovering angels, and other Norbertine Saints. (Artist: Caspar de Crayer, 1655, Averbode, ) “Cause of our Joy” “With the coming of the birthday of the Redeemer, the Church would bring us to the cave of Bethlehem and there teach that we must be born again and undergo a complete : that will only happen when we are intimately and vitally united to the Word of God made man and participate in His divine nature, to which we have been elevated.” - Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei, 155

Dear Parents, Confreres, Friends, Family and Benefactors, Laudetur Jesus Chrisus in æternum. Amen! “At the evening of life, you will be examined in love” [St. John of the Cross, “Sayings of Light and Love,” no. 57]. As St. Augustine came to know with every fiber of his being, it all comes down to Love. True Love. It was this Love that led the Son of God Himself to become the Babe of Bethlehem, so that banishing all fear from our hearts, He might draw us to Himself in Love. In a world so deeply wounded, where souls are being led away from Truth, it is only His Love than can heal us, unite us, transform us. When we are captured by His Love, when we have had a deep experience of His Love, we joyfully echo in our hearts the words of St. John: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.” Our life is changed forever. “Those who have truly encountered Christ are unable to keep silent about him” [Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Seminarians “Christ dwelt for nine months of the Venerable English College, December 3, 2012]. In this Year of Faith, may we all come to believe in and accept God’s in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb. Love: For in these words, the Christian comes to “express the fundamental decision of his life. Being Christian He dwells until the end of the ages is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new in the tabernacle of the Church’s faith. He will dwell forever horizon and a decisive direction” [Pope Benedict in the knowledge and love of each faithful soul.” XVI, Deus Caritas est, 1]. To all of you

- Bl. Isaac of Stella, Sermo 51 With profound gratitude for your who are making our ongoing spiritual and material support, convent expansion a reality: this FirstFruits shares with you the recent General Chapter of our Order, as well as reflections on our life as cloistered Norbertine canonesses. We also Thank you! include photos and an update about our convent expansion project, and a report on the results of our fund-raising efforts, with abundant thanksgiving to God and to you for helping us to reach the budget-goal for the project. Following in the footsteps of our holy father, St. Augustine, and all of the saints and holy souls who have gone before us, may our hearts burn with His Divine Love. “Just as a small fire can set a whole forest ablaze [cf. James 3:5], so the faithful testimony of a few can release the purifying and transforming power of God’s love so that it spreads like wildfire throughout a community or a nation. [L]et your hearts burn with love for Christ, for the Church and for the Mass” [Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Seminarians of the Venerable English College]. Prayerfully and gratefully in the Burning Heart of our Newborn King,

“The chief motivation for your sharing life together What does our convent expansion provide for us? is to live harmoniously in the house, and to have one heart and one soul seeking God.” • First and foremost, space for more holy vocations... - Opening chapter of the Rule of St. Augustine, I.2; see ACTS 4:32 the building, in combination with the existing renovated ranch house, provides living and working space for up to 48 sisters (that is, women who give themselves totally to God in lives of prayer and sacrifice, interceding for the needs of the Church and the world throughout the day and night, all for His honor and glory, and the salvation of souls) • Second, a healthy sleeping environment... the dormitories on the top floor replace the sisters’ three used, leaking, deteriorating and damaged modular trailers • Third, additional means of self-sufficiency... the expansion building contains two approved professional kitchens, enabling the sisters to sell their October 28, 2012 artisan cheeses to the public, and their specialty biscotti and jams at venues outside the convent ABOVE: Our most recent community photo taken in our newly constructed enclosed garden (or “garth”) beside a statue of our holy patron St. Joseph represented under his title “St Joseph, the Worker.” “THE purpose of our canonical, God-dedicated life is the radical engagement of our total human existence under the influence of the Holy Spirit to work in our inner life to become more and more uniform with our Master and Savior Jesus Christ, so that we can, like Him, give our life for others, for the confreres in our community, for the people in our Church and in our society.” From Fr. Abbot General Thomas Handgrätinger, Closing Remarks [Citing Conf. John Eudes Bamberger, Thomas Merton. Mönch und Kontemplativer] General Chapter 2012 International Meeting of the Norbertine Order Convened at St. Norbert’s College, De Pere, Wisconsin USA • July 22 - August 4, 2012

ABOVE, RIGHT: Francis Cardinal George was the principal celebrant of the opening Mass Photo Courtesy of St. Norbert’s Abbey

What is a General Chapter? The General Chapter is the supreme governing authority of the Norbertine Order, serving as both a fraternal and a juridical forum. It convenes every six years, gathering prelates (abbots) and delegates from the various houses of Norbertines worldwide, for the principal purpose of giving expression to and promoting “the bond of charity, the unity and the charismatic vitality of the entire Order” [Constitutions of the of Prémontré, n. 186]. Bl. Hugh of Fosses, St. Norbert’s successor as abbot of Premontre, chose this structure as the means of unifying into one Norbertine Order the various houses of canons that St. Norbert had founded. Seeking to ensure unity of direction in the Order and fidelity to the charism of St. Norbert, while safeguarding the autonomy and particular emphases of each canonry, he chose to model the structure of our Order after the “the middle way” of Citeaux’s Charter of Charity. Bl. Hugh convened the first General Chapter in 1128, only seven years after the first profession at Premontre on Christmas 1121, attended by the abbots of the first six foundations.

LEFT: The General Chapter participants meet in the “aula.” CENTER: Mother Mary Augustine and Sr. Mary John Paul with our Pater Abbas Eugene Hayes, Abbot of St. Michael’s Abbey, Orange, and (left to right) Fr. Ambrose, Fr. Alphonsus Mary, our Provost, and Fr. Stephen, as well as with Fr. Roman Vanasse, O. Praem. of DePere, and Fr. Martin, also of Orange.

(1) (2) (3) Recent Visits from Our International Confreres and Consoeurs

(1) Sr. Roberta, Mother Hermana, Mother General, and Sr. Akvina from the Slovak congregation of active sisters (2) Sr. Alberta, Prioress, and Sr. Augustina, Novice Mistress, (4) from the canonry of Doksany, Czech Republic (3) Fr. Dominique from Sant’Antimo, Italy (right), with our Fr. Theodore from St. Michael’s Abbey, Orange (4) From left to right: Fr. Abbot Bruno, and Fr. Prior Benoit, both of the Abbey of Leffe, Belgium; Fr. Berthold of the Abbey of Geras, Austria; our Fr. Martin from St. Michael’s Abbey, Orange; Fr. Abbot Paul, Abbot Emeritus of Tongerlo, Belgium; and Fr. Hugues, Sub-Prior, also of Leffe, Belgium The Norbertine Propositum: To follow Christ radically by renouncing property and matrimony, dedicating ourselves to our churches by profession of the vows, in order that we might live the Vita Apostolica in fraternal communion, following in the footsteps of our holy Fathers Augustine and Norbert. “ Dear Friends, — cf. Constitutions of the Canonesses Regular of the Order of Prémontré, n. 19 The Church becomes visible in many ways: in charitable action, in mission projects, in the personal apostolate that every Christian must carry out in his own walk of life. However, the place in which she is fully experienced as Church is in the liturgy; it is the act in which we believe that God enters our reality and we can encounter Him, we can touch Him. It is the act in which we come into contact with God: He comes to us and we are illuminated by Him.” [Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, October 3, 2012]

What is the Sacred Liturgy? The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the Sacred Liturgy is “a participation in Christ’s own prayer addressed to the Father in the Holy Spirit,” [n. 1073] and the Second Vatican Council declared that the Sacred Liturgy is the “the summit towards which the Church’s action tends and at the same time the source from which comes all her strength” [Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10]. Always our Head and High Priest, Christ continues His work of praise on earth through His Mystical Body, the Church, first and foremost in her public worship of the Sacred Liturgy. In the Holy Mass, His saving sacrifice is truly made present, and the whole day is caught up in this worship by means of the seven canoncial hours of the Divine Office, using the very words God Himself gave us in the inspired psalms. The Liturgy is the highest and most efficacious prayer [cf. SC, 7], then, for its heart is the sacrifice that saved us, and it is the prayer not merely of individuals, but of the whole Church together with her Divine Bridegroom, Who always merits to be heard. Those to whom the Church has entrusted this task act as her ambassadors before the throne of God, speaking in the name of the Church and her Spouse, glorifying Him and presenting to Him the needs of all. Through this mission, an abundance of graces is poured out upon the whole world.

What is a Canoness Regular? Canons and canonesses regular are members of religious communities to whom Holy Mother Church has particularly entrusted the public and solemn celebration of her own prayer, the Sacred Liturgy. We follow Christ especially St. Augustine presents his Rule to St. Norbert, accompanied by Our Lady, in His work of glorifying who holds the white habit of our Norbertine Order the Father, lending our voices to Him and to His “At f ixed hours of the day and night, entire Mystical Body, so they assemble in the sacred temple, not merely to chant the Divine Office What do you do all day? that Heaven’s eternal without modulation ... but to sing the whole of it ‘viva et rotunda voce’ - in canticle may resound also lifelike, molded tones - according to the very ancient Gregorian melodies of Our horarium on earth. For this purpose, their choir books... How should God Who is so merciful, fail to grant the (or Schedule) we dedicate ourselves at prayers of those who thus raise their voices to Him in behalf of the Church 12:00 am Midnight prayer (Matins) profession to an individual and of sinners who need conversion?” [Pope Pius XI, 1924, Umbratilem] 6:00 am Morning prayer (Lauds) & Angelus 6:30 am Martyrology & Chapter church of our Order. 7:15 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament The term “regular” & Mid-morning prayer (Terce) comes from the Latin word 8:20 am Benediction 8:30 am The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for rule, “regula,” and is 10:00 am Work, Class, or Study applied to canons and 11:45 am Mid-day prayer (Sext), Angelus & Rosary canonesses who follow 1:00 pm Mid-afternoon prayer (None) 1:30 pm Grand Silence - prayer, rest, exercise, etc. the Rule of St. Augustine, 2:30 pm Work, Class, or Study unlike “secular canons,” 5:15 pm Evening prayer (Vespers) & Angelus who do not profess the 5:45 pm Lectio Divina religious vow of poverty. 6:30 pm Supper, follwed by Recreation 8:00 pm Night prayer (Compline) Canonical orders are also 9:00 pm “Lights Out” noted for their orientation toward the apostolate. Choir photo taken the First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2012 “Seven times a day I praise you for your just decrees...” [PSALM 119:164] Virgin Most Faithful The Norbertine Propositum: To follow Christ radically by renouncing property and matrimony, dedicating ourselves to our churches by profession of the vows, in order that we might live the Vita Apostolica in fraternal communion, following in the footsteps of our holy Fathers Augustine and Norbert. — cf. Constitutions of the Canonesses Regular of the Order of Prémontré, n. 19 Why the cloister?... & What about the Apostolic Life? A similar question might be: why the heart? We can’t see it, and its quiet beating generally goes unnoticed. We can’t use it to nurse the sick, to teach the young...yet we all know that the moment it stops pumping blood throughout the body, all other activity ceases. It is hidden away deep inside our body precisely to protect and preserve its indispensible function. So it is with the cloister, which seeks to protect and preserve the hidden yet indispensible work of prayer and sacrifice that constitutes the soul of the apostolate, by means of which the invisible and yet vital graces are pumped to every member of the Mystical Body in all corners of the world, sustaining the work of the , the preacher, the teacher and nurse. The grill, the enclosure, the silence and separation from the noise and activity of the world all exist to foster the radical pursuit of union with the Beloved, the Divine Spouse, and in this union we in turn find ourselves opened ever more fully to the needs and hopes of all our brothers and sisters. This life of sacrifice and prayer, especially liturgical prayer, is our apostolate: tremendously powerful, hidden and interior though it be! We could speak of the public nature of our liturgies, in which the faithful are invited to come and be formed and transformed by Christ, of the apsotolate of our guesthouse, in which souls are invited to come away for a while and rest in their God, of the ministry of corresponding with those who ask for our prayers, but to focus on particular works would be to miss the point. Pope John Paul II said, “As an expression of pure love which is worth more than any work, the contemplative life generates an extraordinary apostolic and missionary effectiveness” [Vita Consecrata, 59]. And who can discount the witness of a life lived totally for God, so completely fulfilled and confident in His love that walls cannot contain it nor silence mute it: a life that pierces already by faith through the heavens to the invisible realities, crying out that union with God is both the true happiness and the eternal destiny of everyone who will accept His love?

—“ Archbishop We Charlesall Chaput,need O.F.M. repentance, Cap., “Renewing the Churchand and we Her MIssion all inneed a Year of Faith,”conversion.” November 16, 2012

May we have the courage to allow ourselves to be transformed ever more and more by the love of God, Who first loved us while we were enemies, and called us out of our sins to be united in love to Himself and our neighbor. We are glad to be able to share with you this inspiring letter of one soul’s repentance and conversion, passed on to us by our friend Mr. “X”.

St. Augustine presents his Rule to St. Norbert, accompanied by Our Lady, Dear Mr. “X”, who holds the white habit of our Norbertine Order My name is Joe. I have been thinking about you for some years now because of something I did well over 30 years ago. I have always been a liar and a thief, as well as many other unsavory things, and finally, the Truth has caught up with me and I am attempting to put dark things into the light. I have lived as a wretched soul, seeing people as means to my own ends and doing so with such deceitful sweetness that I have fooled most people who know me into thinking What do you do all day? that I am a “good guy.” This happens to not be the case. Our horarium I don’t remember the date, just that it was in the 70’s. I was prowling around your neighborhood at some god- (or Schedule) forsaken hour and I opened your car door and stole a bag with camera equipment in it. I don’t remember exactly what 12:00 am Midnight prayer (Matins) was in it, just some black boxes, lenses perhaps, flashes and I don’t know what else. Maybe you remember exactly what 6:00 am Morning prayer (Lauds) & Angelus was in it. I didn’t need it, and I didn’t want it. I was just a self-centered, self-gratifying kid bringing down the moral 6:30 am Martyrology & Chapter value of your neighborhood. 7:15 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament I am a day late and a dollar short. If I were to make amends for such a senseless criminal act, the time to do that & Mid-morning prayer (Terce) 8:20 am Benediction would have been many decades ago. Such is the nature of my cowardice. I don’t know if this is even possible, but I write 8:30 am The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to you today to confess to what I have done to you, to tell you that I am so very sorry for violating your private property 10:00 am Work, Class, or Study and stealing from you, that I am thoroughly ashamed of myself, to beg for your forgiveness, and to ask you if there is any 11:45 am Mid-day prayer (Sext), Angelus & Rosary

Photo by R. Belcher Photo way that I can make amends for such a disrespectful act from so long ago. 1:00 pm Mid-afternoon prayer (None) 1:30 pm Grand Silence - prayer, rest, exercise, etc. I don’t know what to do except to apologize for what I have done and to tell you that I couldn’t be more ashamed 2:30 pm Work, Class, or Study of myself. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I would be eternally grateful, and if not, I completely understand 5:15 pm Evening prayer (Vespers) & Angelus and hope you will let me make it up to you materially. You deserve restitution and to know that I am sincerely ashamed 5:45 pm Lectio Divina and humiliated by the awareness of the truth of my actions. 6:30 pm Supper, follwed by Recreation 8:00 pm Night prayer (Compline) I think I have tracked down your phone number and I will give you a call at some point to see if you have thought 9:00 pm “Lights Out” of a way that I can make it up to you or to let you give me a piece of your mind for this offense from so long ago. Or perhaps, I will send you my email address. You and your family remain in my prayers, Mr. “X”. “Seven times a day I praise you for your just decrees...” Sincerely, Joe [PSALM 119:164] “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.” [PSALM 136:1] “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labor.” Our Convent Expansion [cf. PSALM 127:1] Project Funding Update/Report

Dear Family, Friends, & Benefactors,

Thank you for helping us We are blessed to share with you this funding update/report for our convent expansion project. to meet our budget-goal of Official fund-raising for the project began after the $3.0M $3 Million ! groundbreaking and blessing on March 30, 2012, at which our Bishop, His Excellency Armando X. Ochoa, presided. Remaining faithful to our vocation, Your donations during 2012 of over $1.3M, we engaged in efforts consistent with our cloistered $2.0M combined with your prior donations way of life, including appeals in our May and August and income earned by the Sisters 2012 FirstFruits newsletters, grant proposals and (total previously-reserved funds of $1.7M) inquiries, introducing PayPal to our website, and $1.0M helped us reach our budget-goal of $3M. individual e-mails and letters, putting our trust in May God reward you! Divine Providence to provide what we really need. PHOTO by R. BELCHER Three significant donations received in October, including an anonymous gift of $600,000, enabled PHOTO by TRICORP HEARN us to give “NTP” (notice to proceed) for Phases II and In addition to her herding III of the building, just as the deadlines approached. duties, Additionally, we received a $300,000 grant from the our puppy “Winnie” Dan Murphy Foundation (Los Angeles) in November, inspects the which will enable us to complete the building, as plans and the progress of the well as other project-related needs such as retaining building ! walls, fire department requirements for the access road/driveway and parking areas, wall and floor finishes, and furniture, fixtures and equipment (and september 7, 2012 additional cheese aging room requirements which existing converted were not anticipated). We are deeply grateful for such our two modular dormitories ranch house expressions of love and confidence in our cloistered Norbertine way of life.

With God’s grace, we hope that the building will be ready for occupancy mid-February, if the weather “garth” continues to be mild, for which we are also grateful.

joists above basement

september 22, 2012 Bethany the three modular trailers which have served as guest house our two dormitories and novitiate since 2000 existing converted ranch house

the expansion building “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.” [PSALM 136:1] “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labor.” [cf. PSALM 127:1] “Daisy” our cow

Recent Developments september 7, 2012 Mid-November, we received additional requirements from the government agency for our milk barn and milk house (not included in our budget-goal); we are awaiting further specifications and an estimated cost. These requirements will not affect the completion of our convent expansion building or its occupancy, but they will preclude the production of our farmstead and artisan cheeses, an important element of our efforts toward self-sufficiency, until they can be met. Sisters tour the structure We join you in giving thanks to God, who never disappoints those who put their trust in Him, october 3, 2012 and we ask your continued prayers for us and our future endeavors, including the purchase of our land (for which we will still need to raise money), the next step in our efforts toward increased self-sustainability.

septic system Donations via Check or PayPal trusses Your tax-deductible* monetary gift, of whatever amount, will continue to october 10, 2012 make a difference in our lives, or perhaps you know someone who may be interested:

1. Make checks to: “Norbertine Sisters” (Memo: “Expansion & Land Fund”) 2. Donate via PayPal on our website: www.norbertinesisters.org for on-line credit card donations to our building expansion/land project.

* We are a 510(c)(3) religious non-profit organization. stairwell

november 11, 2012 october 23, 2012

roofing

the expansion building is “dried -in” (waterproof !) enclosed garden (or “garth”) THE Norbertine Canonry OF THE BETHLEHEM PRIORY OF ST. Joseph NON PROFIT 17831 Water Canyon Road U.S. Postage Tehachapi, CA 93561-7686 USA PAID Please provide Bakersfield, CA us your e-mail Permit #110 address to help us save on printing costs by permitting us to send you our newsletters and other correspondence by e-mail. Divine Providence arranges for an unexpected donation Thank you! of stained glass. Deo gratias!

Sacred Vestments “... in the face of the widespread need Thank You! If you are interested in purchasing to get away from the daily routine our vestments made by the sisters May God reward you all of sprawling urban areas in search of (BELOW), please contact us at: for your ongoing support (661) 823-1066 or places conducive to silence and meditation, e-mail at [email protected] monasteries of contemplative life offer themselves of our annual Christmas as ‘oases’ in which human beings, pilgrims on wreath fundraiser. earth, can draw more easily from the wellsprings Our best year ever... of the Spirit and quench their thirst along the over 1160 sold! way. Thus, these apparently useless places are on the contrary indispensible, like the green ‘lungs’ of a city: they do everyone good, even those who do not visit them and may not even know of their existence.” [Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Message November 19, 2006]

- Bethany Guest House - Sharing with you the Norbertine charism of prayer and hospitality The Norbertine Sisters’ For parents visiting Monastery Gift Shop from afar, for those discerning religious vocations, for anyone seeking After relocating a time of our four hives, more intense prayer and solitude...it’s for you. (Day visits and overnight stays are possible.) our bees are once again Call now to schedule your visit and for details producing (weather, dress, etc.): (661) 823-1066 honey. We wrap them in black tar paper to absorb the sun’s heat and Welcome to our gift shop. Our hours are: 10:00-11:30am & 2:30-5:00pm every day help defend except Friday, when we close at 4:15 p.m. them against Our inventory includes religious goods & books; our cold home-made biscotti, jam, honey, & apothecary items; winters. aprons, baptismal baby blankets; Our pack & dried flower, calligraphy & other greeting cards. of Great Ask about our gift certificates Pyrenees & prayer enrollment cards. go on their afternoon promenade.

To find out more about our cloistered contemplative Norbertine way of life, to make prayer requests, to find out about our vestments, gift shop inventory and hours, or Bethany Guest House, you are welcome to phone (661) 823-1066 or use our email accounts: [email protected] or [email protected]. (If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your message, please resend it or call.) Also, please kindly assist us in updating our address and email database by sending us your current information! Please check www.norbertinesisters.org for the downloadable version of this newsletter in color. Thank you to all who make this newsletter possible! References are available upon request.

May God reward you for helping to build this first North American foundation of Norbertine canonesses!