The Oblate News Magazine of the Oblates of Saint John’s Abbey February 2021 Volume 65 Number 1 At the request of Abbot John, Father Nathanael Hauser OSB embarked on the creation of a triptych whose cen- tral panel is of the Virgin and Child. Abbot John asked that the Virgin re- call Our Lady of Guadalupe. The work is 8’ high, hung directly above the abbot’s throne in the Abbey Church, holding our gaze through the Advent and Christmas season. Following are notes from Father Nathanael on his creative process of the Our Lady of Guadalupe icon: I wanted to know as much as possible in a short time about the Guadalupe image, so I turned to Fr. Francisco Schulte OSB for help. My deep thanks to him for sharing the wealth of his knowledge about Our Lady of Gua- dalupe. There was much to learn! My first thought in planning the piece was to adapt the icon of our Lady of the Sign, which is an Advent/ Christmas icon. Then I thought of using the pose of the Mabon Madonna. But the more I looked at the image, the less either idea seemed to work. The miraculous image is from 1531 and, the more I studied it, the more it became apparent that our Lady chose to depict herself in the pictorial style of the age. That makes sense: this was the way people expected to see a portrait, just as we expect to see a photograph. This was the style of the Italian Renaissance--Maryʹs face reminds me of some of Botticelliʹs paintings in particular. However, being an iconographer by training, my painting turned out to be more like an icon than a Botticelli! During the persecutions of the 1920ʹs-30ʹs in Mexico, the image was hidden for five years to protect it from de- struction. Unfortunately, during this time somebody decided to ʺtouch upʺ the face and painted over it! Photos pages 6 & 7; article continued pg 8 Message from Abbot John Klassen, OSB and Oblate Director Father Michael, OSB To be made in God’s image is to be made vulnerable. I make it a point to greet one of my brother monks most mornings -- Father We live on a tiny planet in a Mel Taylor. Originally from vast universe and we believe Ireland, he speaks with a that a creating, redeeming wonderful Irish brogue. God in our time and on our When I greet him, he al- small planet sent Jesus Christ, ways starts by saying, the unique Son of God, the “Good morning, child of Word of God in the flesh, to God.” I like that! be born of Mary. We believe that Jesus is the very face of I’m taking up this practice God on earth, embodying God’s love for us. He lived, too. When I see a Bennie or Johnnie walking died and rose again so that we might live with a new around campus, and especially if they look a little heart, a new mind, and a new strength. down, I’ll smile with my eyes (because of my mask), and say “Good morning, child of God.” What does this newness look like? Lessons from COVID-19 may help us see. And that person usually lights up a bit. 1. Stop! Receive the day, a day we get to live just once, To be a daughter, a son, a child of God: what an to receive its graces and its heartaches just once. To amazing source for our personal identity. How we live as new people, we must be intentional and decide often view ourselves could just be limited to what to live each day as a new day. Just once. we browse and consume on our screens, what we eat and drink, what we wear, what we purchase. 2. Stop! Recognize all human beings as persons. I used This identity is superficial and fleeting in nature. to resent TSA and other airport security. Then one day I realized that we ask them to do the impossible, Jesus speaks about another identity, all the time, in for very little money. If I claim to be a disciple of Je- the gospels. This identity is that each of us is infi- sus, I must be sincerely kind and treat them with nitely loved as a child of God -- a woman who loses kindly zeal, respect and care, as Jesus would. a coin and lights a lamp to find it; a shepherd who 3. Stop! Recognize the unsurpassable value of child- loses a sheep and roams about the countryside to hood, a value that does not come from their future find it; a father who loses a son and is always look- lives; it is intrinsic. A fundamental clue to under- ing down the road for his son’s return. standing the reign of God, the child stands at the cen- These stories aren’t ultimately about things and ter of attention in the Gospels. Let the little children people being lost; these stories are about things and come to me, Jesus says, for the reign of God belongs people being found. The God that Jesus teaches us to such as these (Lk 18.16). about doesn’t give up until everything that was lost Jesus is consistently inclusive, always choosing mercy is found. This God simply doesn’t give up. Ever. over judgment. He chooses compassion over harsh If you’re lost, you might say, “God, why do you law. Incarnation testifies that God is inclusiveness, care for me? I am not worth much.” If you’re a lost mercy, and compassion. We are created in this very sheep, you may say, “Why do you care about me? image, made to behave like God. You have 99 others. Leave me alone. I’m not worth To live this way will inevitably show us how vulnera- searching for. Why are you searching for me?” Be- ble we can be, made in God’s own image. To be made cause, God says, “You are mine. You are mine. You in God’s image is to be made vulnerable. belong to me, child of God!” 2 Oblate and Mayor Her husband, Paul, held the Bible her father had re- stressful mo- ceived at his Confirmation in 1936. With her left ments, I felt a hand on the Bible she raised her right hand for the genuine peace Oath of Office, and Oblate Bobbie Osterberg is now throughout the also Mayor Osterberg of the City of Alexandria MN. eight months. In her words: “It feels right and I’m comfortable in Voter turnout the role. The transition between the outgoing Mayor was 80% with and me was uneventful. She was kind, patient, gra- 64% of the voters cious and a good mentor. In December 2019 our approving my Mayor had announced she would not run for re- job application.” election and I was expecting 2020 to be my last year Bobbie expects in public service as a member of the City Council. that holding this “After a total of 10 years on the Council, running for position will be Mayor was not even a consideration. It was time for like that of the Cellarer of her community. She calls it other people to participate in the leadership of the the ICE guiding principle. Integrity-Commitment- community. And then came the message straight out Engagement. Her address to the community called of lectio: It is not right to refuse what you’re called to upon all residents to consider the Lou Holtz and JFK do when you’ve been given the gifts to do the job. abbreviated versions of Saint Benedict’s Rule. “Do the right thing, do the best you can and always show “The last decades have been a layering on of profes- people you care” and “Look beyond yourself.” The sional and spiritual experiences and formation. The Mayor and Council are nonpartisan. They are free to campaign was a not-to-be-missed spiritual journey. make the best decisions for the community. Everything was provided before I even knew it was needed. Not wanting nor worrying about anything. Surely our oblate community will hold Mayor Bob- So good to let go and let God and see how the jour- bie in prayer as she serves the 14,000 members of her ney would end. While the campaign certainly had its community during the next four years. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Knight of Saint Gregory In 2008, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference appointed Doctor Griffiths chief executive officer of Pope Francis has the NCEC in Canberra. Returning to Adelaide in appointed Oblate 2013 to retire, he has held a variety of leadership po- Bill Griffiths as a sitions on parish, school and social service govern- Knight of the Or- ance and management boards. der of Saint Grego- ry the Great. The Doctor Griffiths’ other major contribution to the life Order of Saint of the Church in Australia has been through liturgy Gregory the Great and music. He chairs the National Liturgical Council is one of the high- and is on other boards as well. est awards for lay Locally, he has been organist at St. Mary’s Cathedral Oblate Bill Griffiths people, bestowed in Darwin and in the Cathedral Parish in Adelaide. on Catholic men A person of deep faith, Bill is an oblate of Saint and women deemed to have made a significant con- John’s Abbey and has attended numerous oblate re- tribution to the Catholic Church. treats and events in Collegeville over the years.