#monasticposting

To a Wreath of Snow, by Emily Brontë.

Winter has a very multifaceted meaning to me. It can symbolise the termination, the transformation where we shed the coats of the old and remain bare until the new coats of spring envelope us. The snow would hit kiersau first, they should be moving with the change of season but alas, they do not change and this is evident across act 1 and 2. While the townsfolk and peasants visually change, all the monks and nuns at Kiersau remain as they were.

The reason for the Brontë poem is that the speaker is a female character whom Emily shared with her sister, said character is describing how she watches the snow while trapped in a prison. Gernot is far from a prisoner, he is extremely wealthy, a landlord and is living very comfortably in the Abbey. But one could say he's trapped and limited by his own tunnel vision.

But even so, the snow still falls on Kiersau. The seasons will have their way and will change, showing there's transformatory hope for even those who try to resist it. Change happens, and even if you don't want it, you can't help but admit it's quite beautiful.

More details under the cut

I may never be a sister

I dont quite have the qualifications.

I love my fashion, I love my style. I love studying science. I love my lover. I love being the maker of my own schedule.

I am too disobedient, too unruly, too comfortable. I own too much and I am too sentimental to my things.

It could be that... this may not be the life for me.

Perhaps I must face the fact that I could never be mature enough to be a sister. Perhaps I have too much pride in my sense of style. Too much romance in my heart.

But

Perhaps I don't have to be a sister to show devotion. I may not be able to live THE monastic life. However, perhaps I can try my best in this life to do what I can do to be closer to the Lord. If it is my vocation then God will continue to lead the way but if it is not then God will not put it in my pathway. I will continue to do what I can do.

Perhaps it is so that I do not need to be a sister to show my devotion to the Lord

But rather that if there are things that encapsulate my values as a Catholic and showcase my relationship with Christ then to them I shall attend to.

The Veil

something so simple, yet so beautiful that when I wear it I can feel myself change. That the reminder that I am the Lord's is ever present. It changes the way I feel inside and changes how I reflect my values out into the world. I notice that when I veil, I am more of a representative to my faith to the world a therefore need to act as such.

I know that we should always act in this way. I know that this should always be the virtue of a Christian; to represent the love of Christ, and show God's love. However, we are not immune from sin and the temptations of anger and impatience are ever present. The veil is a reminder to me, to better and always choose God above all else.

There are so many Christians in this world who forget, who fail to give and spread God's love and God's peace. I know I have failed at this mission. The best I can do is do my best to always keep Christ at the forefront of my mind so that I fail less. The veil does this for me. I am more at peace with it on.