Dear friends,

I begin this greeting on the Feast of the Solemnity of Pentecost, elated to reflect on the joys of the Gospel through the lens of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Those of you in Chicagoland may already know that our chaplain, Father Becket Franks, OSB, attended St. Augustine Seminary High School at the same time as Pope Leo - then simply “Bob.” In fact, his yearbook is fondly signed by him.

On Easter, I vividly recall Father Becket challenging us to “Easter” - to live out the Good News of the Resurrection, just as Mary of Magdala and the Apostles did after the Resurrection and Pentecost. It struck me how Pope Francis lived that very challenge when, despite illness, he rose from his bed on Easter Day to proclaim that Jesus’s life, death, and Resurrection offer us the gift of salvation. What a profound gift Pope Francis has been to the Church and to the world - and now, what a gift we have in Pope Leo. Their Christian witness calls us to walk in peace, serve with love, and care deeply for the world entrusted to us.

The fifty days of Easter assure us that Jesus truly died and rose again, and that the Holy Spirit now dwells among us, guiding and sustaining our lives. The teachings of Pope Francis and now Pope Leo continue to spread this living message of hope and transformation.

And yet, we find ourselves in a world marked by deep religious and political division. The messages of Pope Francis, Pope Leo, and other faith leaders are sometimes seen as conflicting with Church tradition or the teachings of Jesus. This, too, echoes Christ’s experience. He lived in a divided world, where His message was often in tension with prevailing religious and social norms. His claim to be the Son of God was too radical for many - and ultimately led to His crucifixion.

But the story did not end there. After encountering the risen Christ, the Apostle Paul gave his life to proclaiming the Easter message and ultimately died for it. Early Christian martyrs were also put to death for their unwavering faith in Jesus’s teachings. We, too, are called to proclaim and live this truth with courage.

There are good and faithful people on all sides of the religious and political spectrum. I, for one, live in a Benedictine faith community, and my own journey - shaped by my education at Loyola University and its grounding in Vatican II theology - continues to be nurtured by the teachings of Popes John XXIII and Francis, and now I am deeply hopeful and energized to see Pope Leo XIV continue in their footsteps.

As Pope Leo reminds us:
"The Spirit inspires the contemplative dimension of life that rejects self-assertion, complaining, rivalry, and the temptation to control consciences and resources."
The Holy Spirit changes the world - because the Holy Spirit changes hearts.

Jesus is Risen. Indeed, He is Risen!
His message continues to open hearts around the world.

May visiting the PAX AETERNA statue and walking in the footsteps of Mary, our Mother, bring blessings and lead us all to live as true children of God.

Sister Mary Bratrsovsky, OSB
Prioress

Cell Phone: (630) 750-6010 or mbratrsovsky@shmlisle.org