SANTERO FRIEND of ST. FRANCIS

Soul of  Mary

While I have been doing my work on saints and images, I have been drawn to the work of a well-known Santero in New Mexico, named Arturo-Francisco Olivas, SFO. Last November I came across a site that said he was retiring from his teaching due to a brain tumor. I immediately put him on my prayer list. Then during Lent of this year I found a site that was linked to Caring Bridge (to keep friends of terminally ill people informed). It was being kept up by his long time friend, Christopher Gibson.  I was so moved that I wrote a short note saying we were praying for Arturo. Even though the site stated that due to the volume of mail received, Arturo was not able to answer, I received an immediate reply from Arturo himself thanking us for the prayers. This arrived on Good Friday, after a very difficult Lent for us, due to illnesses, losses, etc. His selfless reply put my groanings into perspective.

As this coming weekend is the Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe where Arturo will be selling about 40 of his retablos, I would like to do this blog about him and his art. He is one of more than 350 Hispanic artists showing traditional artwork at the juried market.

St. Agatha

Diagnosed last year with lung cancer that spread to his brain and spine, Arturo decided to retire from over 30 years of teaching to devote his energy to his art. His doctors gave him 8 to12 months to live, but those with much faith know that sometimes the Lord has other ideas. "My doctor tells me my cancer is incurable and as long as my chemo keeps the cancer at bay my goal is to extend my life and to make me as comfortable as possible. My faith tells me anything is possible".

St. Joseph

After radiation treatment, Arturo is now on a daily chemo pill which has not only shrunk the tumors but the cancer has not spread. Though the treatment leaves him debilitated and often sick, it does not seem to have slowed him down from his art, love of gardening, and small trips he takes around his beloved New Mexico.

Like myself Arturo was raised in Southern California and also like me had a father who loved to sketch (and he also loves Mexican food).

St. Pascal (patron of cooks)

Arturo-Francisco was admitted to the Third Order of St. Francis in September of 2007. As a Franciscan brother he combines his vocation to teach and to paint the santos with his call to follow in the foot steps of St. Francis in imitating Christ Jesus.

St. Francis of Assisi

Arturo himself wrote just this week: as a secular Franciscan it means to be an extension of Christ in the world, principally by using my God-given gifts and abilities in the midst of society and not behind the walls of a friary or convent. And so I teach, I garden and I paint retablos.

But my Franciscan vocation must be lived most directly in the relationship I have with God and with the relationships I have with people: family, friends, my Franciscan community, colleagues and associates, benefactors, my neighbors, strangers and enemies. I am meditating on this reality in a very particular way because yesterday my Franciscan community elected me as their Servant-Minister (in former times the position would have been something akin to a "Superior").

The election was a surprise, totally unexpected considering my name had been proposed in the weeks leading to yesterday's election and then withdrawn due to concerns about my health. My selection was particularly meaningful because it comes as a response to my prayer for guidance in what to do now that I am retired, what do I do now to serve. And considering yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday (the gospel) I am reminded of the privilege and responsibilities of  being a "good shepherd" to and with my community.

The Most Holy Trinity

So, as in the past I ask for your continued prayers especially for guidance in my new position. As minister, my term lasts 3  years. I jokingly turned to a colleague when my election was announced and asked, does this mean I have at least 3 more years to live? Only God knows, of course. This new position is an opportunity for grace, for myself and for others. I pray I won't miss the opportunity!

Soon Arturo will celebrate his 54 birthday and his one year
 anniversary of  "new life" with cancer.  We pray that he lives
for many years as he continues to share his God-given gifts with all.

Our Lady of the Rosary

 Those we ask to intercede for Arturo-Francisco:

St. Catherine of  Siena

 

St. Therese of Lisieux

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Infant of Prague

ANGELS in HIDDEN PLACES

Last Thursday we had a thunder/lightening storm of a magnitude no one can remember, here or anywhere else: three solid hours of pounding, never moving from over our heads. Many later reported they thought the end was at hand!  Many were left without power, including our guests. Mother Mary Grace heard what sounded like a huge explosion in the woods.

The next day, about 18 hours after the stormed abated, we received a call from one of our volunteer fireman. He said that they were in the woods putting out a brush fire and had it in control. A tree has exploded from a lightening strike.

Photo of  lightening strike over monastery property taken at Friday Harbor by Jeff  Daviscourt

A neighbor, some distance away, smelled smoke and called the fire department but no one could find the source of the fire. They then called our local island airlines to see if a plane would be taking off soon. Fortunately, one was and the fire was spotted and quickly extinguished.

We all said a thank you to the Angels we knew were watching over us, as well as alert friends.

A few days later, Mother Prioress hiked into the woods to see the fire site, returning with the smallest piece of the tree she could find. It is amazing to see. Not only was the bark taken but  about 3 inches of the tree, as if it had been sliced lengthwise by some artist. At present we have it in chapel as a reminder of the forces of Mother Nature and our Angels who protect us!

OUR LAST MOTHER DIES

Today was the burial of Mother Dilecta's mother who went to the Lord June 10.
She was 91 and the last of our mothers to die. Born in Colorado, she was a teacher for many years. Mr. P. is still alive and at 91 golfs every Thursday. He calls it his "Holy Day of Obligation".

MD  with nephew Justin

When they retired in 1980 they moved from the Los Angeles area (where they settled in 1946) to a small beach town north of San Luis Obispo. In her "free time" she recorded textbooks for the blind and taught adults to read through a literacy program. "Bobbie" is survived by three children, six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. Quite a legacy!

Like all of our mothers she left us values, a love of learning and a hope for future generations, especially in our caring for others less fortunate than ourselves. It is fitting that she died on the vigil of the feast of Corpus Christi, as she had a discernment and concern for various weaknesses and illnesses. Mother Dilecta's mother had a great attraction to Archbishop Fulton Sheen (as did my own mother- though unlike Mrs. P. she never converted).

MD & Bella

Mother Dilecta, who is the monastery poet (a published one)  wrote this final tribute to her mom:

        Morning Meditation
            (for Mom and Claire)

    So now, pale-brown cow
        last evening
        my very first source of milk
        died-
        May her dwelling
        be in peace in a land
        flowing with milk & honey
        as I finish milking
        this last, long-flowing teat
        I've long called
           "The Everlasting".

(NB.  see photo of Claire in earlier BLOG
    and BLOG (March 22) about Archbishop Sheen

SYMBOLS (Continued)



Peggy Woods

The HERON was a symbol of Christ on the Mount of Olives.



Barry Moser



   The STORK, returning every spring, symbolized Christ in
 His Resurrection.

The CRANE represented renewal and Christ resurrected.







Malcolm Greensmith

 The SWALLOW, a harbinger of spring, also stands for the Resurrection.












The BLUEBIRD and BLUEJAY denote spiritual joy and contentedness.



Floy Zittin











Mark Kelso



 The PHEASANT denotes a spiritual seeker.





                                          
                                                      


Floy Zittin

   The OWL is synonymous with wisdom and  virtue.















Kimberly Parsons (11th Grade, N.C.)



The RAVEN, noted for its intelligence, is emblematic of penance and the solitary lives of hermits and the monks of the desert, such as Sts. Benedict and Paul the Hermit (also fed by ravens).

St. Vincent- A.T. Ribot (1891)

 St. Vincent of Saragossa's body was protected by ravens from  other animals, after his martyrdom.

BIRDS as RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

BIRDS have long been a symbol of the soul as they fly free of the earth-bound body seeking the heavens.
They represent a passage between the physical world and the spiritual.

The DOVE is the most depicted bird in religious art as it represents the Holy Spirit, and is usually seen in the Baptism of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

In the Old Testament (especially in the Canticle of Canticles) it stood for purity and innocence.

In the story of Noah and the flood, it represented peace.
Many saints are depicted with the dove, such as Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila and the Benedictine Pope, Gregory the Great.


St. Gregory the Great



The PEACOCK was believed to be incorruptible, so represented immortality.

The EAGLE, reputed to have the power of looking directly at the sun, was a symbol of Christ gazing on the brightness of God the Father. St. John the Evangelist's symbol is the eagle.

Mike Beeman

　






 The SPARROW represents the love of God for even the "least" among us. Twelve sparrows can represent the twelve Apostles.



Early Christians, noting that the NIGHTINGALE sang with increasing joy as the dawn approached, made this bird the symbol of the holy joy of the righteous Christian soul, singing in the darkness of this world.



Nightingales- Tina Bone





Stephen Filarsky



 A white DUCK swimming with swans or other water birds often symbolized the spread of Christianity among the heathens.



V. Crivelli- Madonna & Child with goldfinch (detail)





The GOLDFINCH frequently appeared in pictures of the Christ Child.

It became associated with His Incarnation.

Because of its fondness for thistles and thorns it has also come to represent the Passion of the Lord.



One of my favorite bird artists, Floy Zittin











CROWS and CHILDREN

How many of you know that a MURDER of CROWS is what one calls a group of crows?
My Island 4-H group has been studying crows for their birding project this year. In years past they did a general study, such as migration, where birds eat, or habitat. This year they decided to study one species and after they learned what a group of crows is called they decided this would make a great "eye-catching" display for the county fair.

PBS did a documentary a few years ago entitled "A Murder of Crows". It was interesting to find that one of the foremost researchers in the world in the study of the corvoidae family (which includes ravens, jays and magpies) is at the University of Washington. The kids decided that they would set up their own scientific study and watch the crows each Friday and Saturday when they came to bird. When the study started in January we still had the pigs and the kids would watch as the crows came to eat any left over food after the pigs ate. Sometimes it was boring, sometimes fun. Several of the group want to be scientists or archaeologists so for these 11 and 12 year olds it was a study in patience and perseverance. They found that even a fun job takes work.

From the movie we learned that crows are as intelligent as dolphins, elephants, chimps, and pigs. They have 250 unique vocalizations with two distinct dialects: one for family and the other for community. They can recognize the faces of humans, memorize garbage routes, and know when traffic lights are red.

From their own study the kids learned that crows have a scout crow (even after the pigs were slaughtered one crow would wait and then go get the others), they can tell time, and the male would eat and then take food to the female on her nest.
They studied myths of Native Americans and found that in the 20th & 21st Centuries, crows feature more often in stories than ravens did in the past.

Studying birds shows the kids many aspects of nature and their connectedness to us.

 Like the larger raven, the symbolic crow is associated with the sun, longevity, beginnings, death, change, bad luck, prophecy, and Christian solitude.

 Chagall- Song of Songs

Christians consider the crow an emblem of the Virgin Mary. The words, "I am dark, but lovely...because the sun has tanned me," are believed to mean that the light or love of God has so shown upon her that she is burned and purified as if by a mighty sun or fire (Song 1:5-6).

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES (A TRIBUTE to LARRY)

On Saturday my god-daughter and dear friend lost her husband Larry. Fortunately, it was a cancer that took him fast and while we all knew he would not be with us long, it is still a shock to all.
I suppose we are of an age where dear ones start to disappear from our lives, leaving only happy memories.

I have known Sandi and her sister Janet for over 20 years. We first met at a sheep fiber show, sitting next to one another on a  miserably hard bench. Someone came along and asked, are you all sisters, and I answered, yes, we are. That became the beginning of a great friendship. Their family is French and Czech and both women have the high cheek bones and beauty of the Slavs. Sandi and I have always resembled each other so it is easy to mistake us for blood sisters.

Janet came into the Church first, baptized here at OLR, followed by Sandi a few years later. After that Sandi and Larry's granddaughter, LaRen, and later grandson, Lucas, were baptized in our chapel.

Janet, Larry, Sandi, LaRen, MH, Shauna

Because Sandi was married, the marriage had to be blessed in the Church, which was done that same day. Many in the family came having a grand celebration with the Community sitting under the apple trees having a picnic.

Larry, who had been baptized a Catholic, but did not practice in his adult life, later said to me, well, I guess I may be next. I gave him a catechism, but we never followed through.The week before he died, Sandi called Father who came that Saturday to administer that last Rites. She said Larry was very happy and peaceful.

Some of my fondest memories of Larry are the annual trips over the mountains to the lovely village of Leavenworth to visit old friends of his and Sandi's. We would argue and laugh about politics and the state of affairs in the world. We women would try to drag him through a few stores which I am sure he enjoyed more then he let on. We would then stop for apples in the canyon on the return home, relishing the reds and golds of turning leaves.

I last saw Larry 10 days before he left us and I will always remember sitting on the porch, with Bella's face on his knee, and the warm sun bathing us all, after a very cold spring. He was cheerful, joking and laughing. Soon after he was in full Hospice care. In his last weeks he was surrounded by the care and love of his children and grandchildren. His passing to the Father is a loss to all who knew him, though he has gained a High Place.