Contemplative Communities profile two - On the north side of Minneapolis, a small but vibrant community of Visitation Sisters practices the discipline of contemplative prayer — and opens their doors to neighbors and visitors who want to do the same. The groundbreaking effort, now just over a quarter-century old, expresses the Visitation mission in an active, practical presence among the vulnerable and marginalized. “Being among these people, the people who come to pray with us, has made such a great difference in the relationships we have with them. We have the privilege of being able to support them in prayer and friendship, sharing our spirituality with them,” said Sr. Katherine Mullin, who moved here 14 years ago.

Column - Although the recent apostolic investigation of sisters focused on active congregations, American bishops have not always been happy to have the non-controversial contemplative congregations located within their dioceses. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, church leaders found themselves in need of religious communities dedicated to active apostolates and willing to establish schools and hospitals in order to meet the material and spiritual needs of the many Catholics who were poor and uneducated. In addition, they worried that contemplative nuns would be forced to depend on contributions from willing Catholics to support themselves, money that could better be spent in other places.

"Each one, teach one."

GSR Today - Sometimes it's the dropping of an almost casual reference that really brings something home to you. That's what happened when I read Ana Zivkovic's Friday blog for Caritas.

Contemplative Communities profile one - On the Lititz Pike just outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, traffic thunders in a constant stream, pouring off one of the highways that merge nearby. In a parking lot set back from the road, a red brick building and 1950s-vintage chapel sit side-by-side, unremarkable in an area still notable for religious observance. Two signs with the word “monastery” on them give the visitor an indication that this is the home of the Cloistered Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary, who have been a presence here since 1952. Their mission is not only a special devotion to the rosary, but a commitment to incorporate the needs of the world into their prayers.

Contemplative Communities series introduction - They live on islands and in forests, behind churches on busy highways and among working-class homes on urban streets. Obedient to a discipline of prayer almost as old as Christianity itself, contemplative nuns in the United States may seldom visit the world that bustles outside their doors — but are often called first for prayer when there is a personal or global tragedy. Who are contemplatives in the United States? This week, Global Sisters Report takes a closer look at contemplative communities in a six-part series.

"When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."

As I sat and reflected on the few days the pope spent in the United States, with all that he did and shared, and the two days, in particular, that we were treated to his presence in Philadelphia, I couldn’t believe how significant the time had been. Seeing him go was like the Ascension; I was sad, but I also knew that what I’d experienced wasn’t over. Francis left a spirit that needs to be kept alive.

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”