Our bread: Extending the Eucharist beyond

Our bread —

extending the Eucharist beyond chapel walls

Story and photos by Megan Marley

WHAT’S IN A NAME? While the Benedictine rule (written in the 500s) predates the populariza-

For the Benedictines tion of Eucharistic Adoration by 700 of Perpetual Adoration years, this congregation has made in Clyde, Missouri, the it a cornerstone of their monastery. “He is the central part of our lives, main focus of their order and it’s part of our vow formula — ‘to is Christ in the Eucharist. be adorers of Christ in the Eucharist,’” said Sister Dawn Annette Mills, OSB, Prioress General for the order.

“When we came to the United States in 1874, our monastery in Switzerland, the monastery of Maria Rickenbach, was under the care of the Abbey of Engelberg, which is the motherhouse of Conception Abbey. When the Conception monks got here in 1873, they asked the following year that some of our sisters follow them in their work of prayer and ministry. With five sisters, we did help as we could with teaching, caring for the poor and even an orphanage,” Sister Dawn Annette said.

But those founding sisters were firstly contemplatives — and had a long tradition of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“While we didn’t have perpetual exposition [of the Eucharist], there was perpetual adoration — and we wanted to establish that here just as soon as we could. Before we could even get our chapel built, our sisters adored facing the local church from a window! And when we had our own chapel, we began to keep adora- Learn more tion before the Blessed Sacrament; this about the Benedictine Sisters then grew to exposition during the day, of Perpetual Adoration and in 1929 we received permission to by visiting their website: have perpetual adoration.” benedictinesisters.org

The monastery has declined in numbers, so they can’t keep 24/7 perpetual adoration these days. However, they still have exposition every day of the week, usually from 8 a.m. until after Vespers, and they welcome all to join them in keeping watch. The sisters also receive prayer intentions by phone, email, snail mail, social media and their website, which they bring before the Lord along with their prayers for the Church and the world. “Our chapel is built for exposition — the architecture and design were built deliberately to make the Eucharist the main focus,” Sister Dawn Annette explained. “We do other things to pay the bills, but this is our main mission and work … Our lifestyle at the monastery is very much like the Abbey, only we have adoration and they have the seminarians.” The sisters’ other activity In 2024, the includes a gift shop with homemade goods, Spirit & Life magazine sisters will be (published since 1905) and what they celebrating their are most well-known for: altar breads. In 150th anniversary addition to regular hosts, the sisters created of coming to the the first low-gluten host accepted by both Diocese of Kansas the American Celiac Association and the City-St. Joseph.Catholic Church.

“It’s a way for us to help extend the Eucharist beyond the chapel walls here out into the greater world, and with our own hands make the bread that becomes the Body of Christ,” Sister said.

In some ways, the Benedictines of Perpetual Adoration parallel Mary, who birthed and worshiped Christ, who gave himself to be our bread.

“She, in some ways, was the first adorer of Christ, both when he was located under her heart in her womb and at the Nativity. It is in her pattern that we also adore Christ, and yet with Christ we join him in adoration of the Father as we pray before the Blessed Sacrament.”

The Benedictines of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde keep vigil with the Eucharist in their beautiful chapel. Christ as High Priest is part of the backdrop of the altar.