Poem by Mother Mary Monica, O.P.

Part 2 of 3: Mother Knows Best

Part 2 of 3: Mother Knows Best

This excerpt from Mother Monica’s Rhymed Narration of our Foundation tells of the rush to prepare the new foundation for the bishop’s approval of the enclosure. The first few weeks were packed with cleaning, tiling, plumbing, and more, all directed by Mother Mary of Jesus Crucified. All of this was to prepare the way for the day when the bishop would give his blessing for our sisters to formally begin our hidden life of adoration.

And so for three weeks, both early and late,
We labored to meet a certain set date
When the Bishop would come the enclosure to bless,
And we would then have a Mother and Prioress.

We moved cartons in and moved them out;
When we didn’t do that we moved them about.
There was just no place to put everything,
And the Salve Procession was a six foot ring.

We laid linoleum on the floors,
And ate between the kitchen doors,
And whenever we got around to pray,
‘Twas oftener night instead of day.

Our Mother’s hands were always full,
Measuring inches and feet to the rule –
Directing men who couldn’t quite place
A bathtub and sink on just the same space.

At an angle no plumber would ever admit,
An elbow piece they had to fit –
Their language said, “Couldn’t be done.”
When down, the water sure did run.

But the sills of the barn were eaten away,
And men shook their heads day after day.
“Couldn’t be done,” was the flat report,
But Mother had friends in the Heavenly Court.

But the moment we longed and looked for most,
Was the moment when God in His little white Host
Would be enthroned with us in a fitting place,
And His adorers could kneel before His Face.

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