1947 Chronicles (13 ): A Fence and Some Fresh Air
“About this same time, a few curious incidents occurred...”
As the workmen continued to prepare the inside of the chapel, carpenters worked diligently to build the fence that would mark the boundaries of the enclosure, thus establishing the cloister grounds. It was a day of rejoicing when the sisters were at last able to walk outdoors freely and enjoy the beauty of springtime.
Sisters walk in the monastery yard
“As the workmen constantly needed advice and direction in constructing the choir and erecting the grilles both being things about which they were totally unfamiliar, Reverend Mother was permitted by the Bishop to go outside each day, accompanied by another Sister, to supervise the work that was being done. Upon Mother’s return at the end of a long busy day, we would cluster about her, eager to hear how the work on the barns had progressed. Reverend Mother assured us that she hoped it would be finished by Our Lady’s Assumption, August fifteenth.
“Pews for the chapel had been given to the Sisters by St. Mary’s in Branford and it was decided that an old carved altar railing, which had been found in one of the barns, would do nicely in the sanctuary, while a discarded manttelpiece was being built into an Exposition Throne for the monstrance. When the Throne was completed and set up above the altar, Reverend Mother herself painted it with a green and gold design. This work required Mother to stand on a high ladder in an uncomfortable position for many hours, but she did not stop until the work was completed, not even for the very light repast which she usually took in the evening.
Sheep in the monastery yard
“As the work on the chapel continued, we all had a share in the wonderful privilege and adventure of putting up a new home for God. When the workmen had departed for the day, we (with the Bishop’s permission) crossed the tiny open court which separated the buildings in order to sandpaper pews, paint the stalls, and min-wax the walls, until it became too dark to see.
“About this same time, a few curious incidents occurred: Reverend Mother miraculously, it seemed, escaped serious injury when a window fell on her – her head and face emerged through the broken glass without a scratch. A few days later, during the early hours of the morning, we were awakened from sleep by a loud crash. Hurrying out to the dormitory, we discovered that Reverend Mother’s heavy cell door, which was without hinges, had fallen over her cot, striking a wash-stand and upsetting the pitcher of water all over the floor. Amidst this incident, Reverend Mother was unhurt and we found her little statuette of Our Lady of Grace, which had been on the wash-stand, lying face down on her cot. Our Lady’s arms were outstretched as if to protect Mother from harm.
“On the twenty-ninth of May the cloister fence was finally completed, and we were able to take our first walk in the open air in more than four months. Jokingly, the carpenters remarked that they were going to stand two miles off and listen when we came out. If they had done so, they would have heard us singing a fervent Te Deum as we strolled slowly over to the novices’ garden. This space was a shady grassy plot at the farthest end of the garden where Father Moore had planted ten young fruit trees and erected a rustic seat for us. Here, we rested, talking and laughing, relishing both the fresh, fragrant air and the ice-cream pops provided by Father Moore for the occasion.
“When we had finished the pops, we inspected the rest of the garden and found much to delight us: There were all kinds of wild flowers growing in the tall grass. Father Moore had planted many rose bushes that would soon be in full bloom, and a bed of fifty choice strawberry plants just opposite the novices’ garden. The wide driveway that led from the big gate to the back door of the monastery was flanked on one side by tall iris plants and an old apple tree covered with fragrant pink and white blossoms. We visited St. Dominic’s Mound, a small elevated plot of ground surrounded and shaded by immense pine trees. Here could be seen a magnificent view of the wooded hills of Connecticut and, as we walked back to the Monastery, dusk was falling – it was time for the bells to ring for Matins.”
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