Sister Frances Marie Duncan takes quiet time for prayer with the comfort of a warm beverage.
Blankets & Blessings
SISTERS FIND PRAYERFULNESS IN SIMPLEST OF COMFORTS
Whether you’re just home from work or settling in for the evening, there’s likely a place you want to be, a favorite spot in your home, comfortable clothes, maybe even a candle giving off a warm scent. There’s likely a blanket around too, whether handed down through family or bought on sale last winter.
Human attachment to blankets is threefold — they warm us, they reduce our stress levels and they innately harken us back to our earliest days of being swaddled. Their magical power is also a matter of science.
Sister Roselyn Kuzma snuggles up in an afghan made by her mother many years ago.
“Spiritually, I keep warm by thinking good thoughts of loving moments in my life when others were Jesus for me, and when
I was Jesus for others.”
The weight of a blanket activates the nervous system and releases serotonin, a chemical in the body that helps us feel calm, as well as melatonin, a natural sleep hormone, says Canadian sleep consultant Alanna McGinn.
It’s at this time of year, as Indian summer gives way to cooler temperatures and shorter days, that we seek the comfort of our blankets and sweaters. Considering what we’ve all faced and continue to endure in 2020, objects that provide a sense of security become even more invaluable.
There’s no better way to spend a cold, autumn night than curled up in a recliner with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate, so says Sister Frances Marie Duncan.
“Physically, I keep warm with heavy, cozy socks and a cozy blanket,” she says. “Spiritually, I keep warm by thinking good thoughts of loving moments in my life when others were Jesus for me, and when I was Jesus for others.”
It is in these quiet moments and comfy chairs that some Sisters find an easy connection to their spirituality.
“On a cold rainy night, you would find me wrapped in my soft, fuzzy blanket sitting in my recliner with a good book,” says Sister Barbara Ann Webster. “If I start to feel sleepy, I take my Rosary and see how many things I can name that I am thankful for.”
Family tradition and modern technology meet to create comfort for Sister Roselyn Kuzma.
“I am blessed to have a computer in my bedroom. I like to curl up on my recliner, covered with the afghan that my mother made with so much love so many years ago and listen to the Rosary while watching the pictures of the mystery on the monitor,” Sister says.
She also enjoys listening to a good talk or old favorite songs online. Sister Irene Novak not only enjoys good reading and inspirational DVDs, she also sometimes indulges in a sip of “Slivovitz,” a plum brandy that is an Eastern European tradition.
Safety and security are too precious not to be shared. With autumn all around us and winter on its way, we offer our blessings that you may find comfort and warmth in all the wonderful little things in your world.