On the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Sisters gathered in St. Joseph Court for the annual “Cookies, Cocoa, and Carols.”  Sister Virginia and Sister Susan Kilduski served cocoa and the cookies they had made the night before and the Sisters started in on the carols which are familiar to everyone, such as “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night”. 

The caroling, however, must have sparked memories for some of the Sisters.  Someone asked about the Christmas songs that the community sang in years past.  Early in the morning, and after Compline, the last prayer of the evening, the community gathered in front of the Crib, set up in a side chapel, and sang songs to the infant Jesus. Through the combined efforts of several of the Sisters, they were able to remember the words to both hymns.

 

Good morning, sweetest Jesus
Thou hast given us this day
Thou art lying in a manger
Bedded up on straw and hay
Infant Jesus thou dost love me
Fill my heart with love for thee

Sweetest Jesus, heavenly child
Ere we go our rest to seek
It shall all our pleasure be
Thee to see, so kind and meek
Sweet good-night we wish to thee
From all evil, keep us free

 

No one could remember when the community ceased to sing these songs, although several Sisters who entered in the late 1950s did not remember having ever sung them. Although the spirituality expressed in these songs may seem strange, stilted, or sentimental, they clearly held great meaning and wonderful memories for many of the Sisters who recalled having sung them. It is one of the many blessings of the Christmas season that they are able to share these memories with the younger Sisters and to pass on the rituals of the community from times past.