New on the blogroll: Contemplative Horizons

Sister Hildegard, a contemplative nun attached to the Redemptoristine Nuns of New York, left a comment on a blog post about "A Nun's Story." (April 1, 2010). I appreciated an informed insider's view of contemporary monastic life.

Turns out, Sr. Hildegard writes a blog, Contemplative Horizon. The most recent posts, so far:

• "Holy Thursday"
  (April 1, 2010)
  • The Monastic Triduum
• "Retreat Report"
  (March 31, 2010)
  • A Good Retreat is a Gift from God
• "History of Holy Week Liturgy"
  (March 30, 2010)
  • Peek into an Earlier Time
• "Entering Holy Week"
  (March 29, 2010)
  • Holy Week: A Sacred Season

There's a range of topics there, from personal experience to a view of liturgical history. The "Retreat Report" included a 1157 x 1600 graphic of what I call a sampler made by Sr. Hildegard recently. That, and the post, gave me a new look at why people spent so much time illuminating manuscripts a few centuries back.

I've added Contemplative Horizon to this blog's Blogroll/Catholic Links, under (what else?) Blogs.

Incidentally, my hat's off to Sister Hildegard, who is following her vocation as a member of a religious order.

I've looked at monastic life from time to time - both before and after my conversion to the Catholic faith. There's a very real appeal to the discipline and focus involved. I also think I'd go nuts, trying to live that way.

No surprises there: With 20-20 hindsight, I realize I was called to the vocation of marriage since my early 20s, at least. Not everybody is suited for every vocation, but God doesn't make junk: the way I see it, the trick is to find out what He has in mind for each of us and then get with the program.

Anyway, Sr. Hildegard's blog impressed me. But then, I've always admired women in uniform.