Sr. Jacinta: It is a privilege and a joy to hold on to the Catholic roots by a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice with the traditional liturgy and “tried and tested” way of life found in the Benedictine rule. When Our Lord was preaching the Good News He had His mother and the holy women to care for Him and offer Him refreshment and solace in a world against Him. So many discouraged and over-worked priests come here and just from a place of silence with their meals and rooms taken care and being able to come to the offices chanted in choir by us, they take courage to start again, knowing they have a group of prayer warriors aiding their efforts behind the scenes.
REGINA: Is tradition attractive to young people today, or is it mostly seen as a bit eccentric and out of touch with modern life?
Mother Abbess Cecilia: The Extraordinary Form of the Mass is an integral part of our community’s liturgical life, and indeed that of our whole spirituality. Through it, we experience with an unmatched clarity the tremendous role of the priest as mediator in offering the Sacrifice of Our Lord on the altar to the Heavenly Father.
This use of the Latin Mass, as well as a very traditional religious life (the habit, strict schedule, fasting, etc) is what has drawn many young women to our Order. We are receiving eleven candidates this month, another two wait to join our new foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, and six have asked to join here next year.
REGINA: Wow!
Mother Abbess Cecilia: Are we a “sign of the times?” Well, I would have to say, yes, because this is where you see growth in the Church at large. Communities that are faithful to traditional religious life as well as the teachings of the Church are growing by leaps and bounds. The Latin Masses I have been to are all packed with young people and children. This is truly the work of the Holy Spirit!
Sr. Emmanuel: Tradition is extremely attractive to young people today. When I first discovered the Latin Mass, in college, I became enamoured with Tradition. It contained so many beautiful elements that pierced my soul and wounded my heart. The beauty of the chant, the order of the ceremonies, the reverence of the gestures all left a profound impression upon me. They all combined together and presented a complete picture, one that contrasted drastically with the modern world. Here was something real, something that spoke of a higher reality, something that could bring me as close as possible to God. Young people want to be able to find God in the midst of this noisy culture, and they find Him in the silence and beauty of tradition.
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