By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--November 22, 2023
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On the Eve of this Thanksgiving, Canada Free Press had intended to be well on our way to the Saint Benedict Center, where we were invited guests, but due to circumstances in which we now find ourselves, are unable to make the trip.
The Center, a monastery in beautiful Still River, Massachusetts, has been an important part of our lives ever since a dear Catholic priest friend first told us about the ‘Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’, who own, and operate it.
All of our beautiful Rosaries, handmade by Center sisters that we sent for, for ourselves and gave to several friends for Christmas after having them blessed by priests when still living in Ontario, came from the Center.
Their live-streamed Christmas Eve Midnight Latin Mass is an epic tribute to the celebration of the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We cherish and continue to go back to a photograph of the nuns walking through the snow to Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, long after each Christmas has come and gone.
This is how the dear Sisters and Brothers describe their monastery in an online ‘About Us’ page:
“Saint Benedict Center” is the name of our monastery, and reflects our active religious life of prayer and work.
“The scenic town of Harvard, Massachusetts, provides the perfect surroundings for our life. An oasis of peace and prayer, Saint Benedict Center is its own little world unknown to many who pass by on Route 110. Boasting of 12 buildings on 100 acres, our monastery has truly been blessed by Our Lady… as a dear friend once stated: “She truly walks the halls of this beloved establishment.”
“Many young families, in searching for the Traditional Mass, have discovered this hidden gem, and assist regularly at Mass and the many events that take place throughout the year. For those who truly make it “the Center” of their lives, the blessings of Our Lady become quite evident. Even the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who own, operate and maintain Saint Benedict Center, feel truly blessed to be able to live in a place so dear to Our Lady.
“Saint Benedict Center is open to the public. The Chapel is open for visits throughout the day, and all are welcome to participate in events as seen in our monthly bulletin. Come and see for yourself!
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“The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Saint Benedict Center is a traditional, active Order re-founded by Brother Hugh MacIsaac in 1976, in the spirit of Father Leonard Feeney. The community of Brothers and the community of Sisters live True Devotion to Mary, and consecrate themselves daily using the formula written by Saint Louis Marie De Montfort in his classic treatise. Our monastery is called Saint Benedict Center to reflect our life of work and prayer. We are a Public Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts.
“The Brothers, and Sisters Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, live a community life united by their total consecration to Mary, give all their goods, both interior and exterior, without exception, for the greater glory of God. This total consecration to Mary as formulated by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort in his book True Devotion to Mary, is the driving force behind the spiritual life of the Brothers, whether they are praying, working, studying, or teaching, all is done “in, with and for” the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the salvation of souls. It is not so much about what they do, rather for whom they do it.
“In a spirit of total giving, each day is centered around prayer, starting with meditation, rosary and the Tridentine Liturgy. The actual work of the Brothers and Sisters while missionary in nature, encompasses a gamut of skills ranging from the intellectual to the manual.
“Fortifying their outward work with the strength of an interior life, the Brothers are trained in many fields. Teaching, conducting a marching band, writing, filming, or publishing and printing our evangelizing tool, Whereas the Sisters fortifying their outward labor with the driving force of an interior life, the Sisters are skilled in many fields. Their spirit of contemplation goes beyond the chapel walls and accompanies them in everything they do: teaching, typesetting, writing, or creating graphic art for our evangelizing tool, From the Housetops magazine, constitute only a part of their work.
“Skilled craftsmen, like their model, Saint Joseph, the Brothers are masters in woodworking and building, auto mechanics, landscaping, book binding and masonry.The Sisters daily activities such as cooking, gardening, sewing or taking care of the chickens, are spiritualized because, unlike worldly labor, every job is united to their prayer life, giving glory to God in all they do.
“Wearing a simple but traditional full black habit, the Sisters witness to the world a life hidden in Christ, rejecting the vanities and allurements of materialism.
“Aspiring to be Christ’s Eternal Bride, the Sisters live a life of chastity and self-denial that is diametrically opposed to our impure society where self-gratification and immorality are the norm. Obeying the will of Christ in the rule of the order and voice of superiors they submit their freedom to the yoke of humility and dependence on God.”
Meanwhile, a teeming rain is lashing my house windows as I write this, with weather reports predicting that the sun will return about noon tomorrow. In in my mind’s eye, Brian and I are in our car, making our way to Still River.
But all sadness about not being able to make it there, dissipates when we realize that we are, in effect, already there in spirit.
Wishing A God-Blessed Thanksgiving for anyone reading this!
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