Christmas in the cloister

Every community has a Christmas tradition. Communities of religious priests, nuns, brothers and sisters also have their special Christmas traditions, as CLAIRE MATHIESON reports.

The Carmelite Sisters of Retreat, Cape Town, describe the festive season as a burst of joy in the sombre regularity of monastic life. Sr Marie-Thérèse Tibudan said the cloistered nuns are filled with joy at this time of year.

There is the bustle of preparation in the convent leading up to Christmas. “Our Christmas decorations are usually home-made, from odds and ends that come our way during the year, from candy wrappers, to gift wraps from last years’ that are turned into bells, wreaths and ribbons to hang on our Christmas tree,” she said.

But Advent is also a time to recollect, and of expectation, the Carmelite nun said. “Jesus comes unexpectedly at any time, we are told, and thus we have to prepare our hearts as eagerly as children prepare for Christmas.”

In most Carmels, the long silence of Advent anticipation is broken on Christmas Eve when the whole house is filled with singing.

After Mass, the sisters move around the house singing in procession, carrying statues of Mary and Joseph, recalling the journey of the Holy Family looking for lodging before the birth of Jesus.  “As the procession passes the cells, each sister opens the door to her cell, kneels down to kiss the statues of Mary and Joseph carried by the prioress, signifying her openness and welcome to the holy travellers and the coming Christ Child,” said Sr Tibudan.

The singing and procession ends at the crib where Mary and Joseph are placed beside an empty crib to await the Christ Child’s birth at midnight.

“After midnight Mass, we visit the crib once more and give homage to the Christ Child [who has now arrived]. Each sister is expected to compose a song to sing at the crib. Thus, we usually have Christmas songs that we don’t normally hear outside.”

The sisters return to the refectory to a festive meal, music, lights and presents are shared.

Sr Tibudan said traditions vary from country to country. Carmelite Sisters in Owerri, Nigeria come out from their cells, straight from bed, with musical instruments to play and make a noise in celebration.

In Jaro, Philippines, the sisters spend most of the morning in the parlour where people usually come to greet the community.

In some South African communities sisters write down a list of things needed and Mother Prioress tries to provide and prepare the gifts. Sometimes “St Nicholas” fills the sisters’ stockings, at other times the prioress hides the stockings and the whole community enjoys a “treasure hunt”.

“Now, here in Retreat Carmel, we do not have elaborate gift-giving. We simply enjoy together the gifts the community receives. We usually put all gifts under the Christmas tree and we open them together on Christmas day. We still get little tokens in our places at table on Christmas day.”

Sr Tibudan said the whole octave of Christmas is fun and joy-filled. The day is very festive and very recreational—meaning the usual rules of silence in the house do not apply.

Many of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Bloemfontein celebrate Christmas with their parishes or chaplaincies. For those that live in smaller communities far from other Oblates, midnight Mass and maybe a braai or meal with parishioners the next day would be the normal routine.

December is filled with celebrations for the Oblates. The feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is a primary feast day that many Oblates celebrate through good food, drink and good company, said Br Rex Harrison OMI.

Zambian Oblates hold a Delegation Assembly from December 27, bringing members together and an exchange of gifts and celebratory atmosphere can be found. Namibian Oblates try to visit senior members of their community.

In Canada where some provinces stretch 8000km, many Oblate priests have pilot licences so they can fly themselves to the gatherings. And in Western Sahara, the Oblate community serves the Christian Church in the Islamic region. “For them Christmas is being there for each other and finding communion in a common Christmas feast,” Br Harrison said.

Members of the Dominican community are often out celebrating Mass on Christmas Day and being together is not possible.

Fr Emil Blaser OP said the Dominican community in Johannesburg often comes together on December 26 at the order’s house in Mondeor when a Christmas meal or braai is planned and the community enjoys a time of recreation.

“Brothers are usually a bit tired and appreciate a bit of rest in the afternoon,” Fr Blaser said, adding that although they might be tired, there is still plenty of Christmas cheer.

The Dominicans do not share gifts over Christmas but instead receive a small allowance with which each brother can do as he pleases. Some brothers, as Dominicans refer to themselves, will buy something for the community.

“As religious, our focus is on the community and as on most Sundays, we will celebrate Mass together in our priories. Some might be parish priests, but most are not. Sometimes a brother prefers to concelebrate Mass in a local parish—as Dominicans we treasure our freedom [and are able to celebrate accordingly]. Often our sisters ask us to celebrate Mass for them in their convents. We are all one family and treasure this reality,” Fr Blaser said.

Fr Blaser said while Christmas is a family day it is seldom something they can experience due to apostolic commitments.

“I have personally longed to celebrate Christmas with my mother and family but this has never happened. I can’t remember ever experiencing Christmas with my family. I feel this particularly now that my mother is 107 and few things would give her greater joy than to have me home for Christmas. This would be a tremendous joy for me too but, alas, it is simply not possible. Our primary responsibility is to our community.”

Often the Master of the Order will write a Christmas letter to Dominicans around the world. Christmas cards used to be sent out but these have decreased as e-mail is more popular today.

Even financial contributions have decreased in recent years. But the Dominican priest said one thing that remains the same is that “Christmas is usually a time to catch up on rest and doing things which have been overlooked, and simply reading and relaxing”.

The Society of Christ is a congregation of priests and brothers who serve the Polish migrants around the world. In South Africa there are two Polish centres; one in Pretoria and another in
Johannesburg. Fr Bogdan Wilkaniec SCH said as priests from Poland they often find it difficult to celebrate together, but when an opportunity presents itself the community will celebrate according to Polish customs.

“For Polish people, the time of Christmas is very special and all the traditions are immersed in the Biblical story of the Nativity scene. Christmas Eve is a special evening, when families are gathered together and reconcile any differences, remembering loved ones who have gone before them. This all happens during the Wigilia, which literally means vigil, or awaiting the birth of Baby Jesus.”

Fr Wilkaniec said a meal is specially prepared and there is always a thin layer of hay under the white tablecloth in memory of the birth of Christ in the manger.

A traditional custom then follows at the table. “The eldest of the family member takes the oplatek wafer, breaks it and shares it with the next eldest with wishes for good health and prosperity, and a kiss on each cheek. The oplatek is a thin, unleavened wafer similar to the altar bread. It is stamped with the figures of the Godchild, the blessed Mary, and the holy angels. Each person then exchanges oplatek with everyone else at the table,” Fr Wilkaniec explained, adding that it can be a very emotional time as grudges are forgotten and deceased family members are remembered, good wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the New Year are also exchanged in this celebration.

The Polish people have a number of other traditions that they practise throughout the Christmas season.

“Polish Christmas carols, or koledy, are numerous and beautiful, especially when sung in Polish parishes during the Christmas Eve Mass. This Mass is called the Pasterka, which means the Shepherds Watch, and there is popular belief in Poland that while the congregation is praying, peace descends on the snow-clad, sleeping earth and that during that Holy night, the humble companions of men assume voices. But only the innocent of heart may hear them,” said Fr Wilkaniec.

Fr Wilkaniec said not all the traditions can be celebrated in South Africa. The Polish priest said his order spends Christmas day in stillness, prayer and visits to family members.

The Poor Clare Capuchin sisters of Swellendam are unable to visit family over Christmas as they are an enclosed order, but it is still a special time as many relatives and friends will visit the sisters.

Sr Maria Guadalupe said Christmas is special time for her order. “St Francis and St Clare had a very special devotion to Jesus Christ on the crib and on the cross. They loved to contemplate and imitate the poverty in which the Son of God chose to be born, lived and died,” she explained.

The sisters share gifts on Christmas Day, having previously drawn the name of the person they will give a gift to. Sr Guadalupe said the sisters really enjoy the practice. “After midnight Mass we get together to wish each other a merry Christmas and have a special supper during which we share with one another with joy.”

On Christmas day the Poor Clares are allowed to sleep a bit longer, and after morning prayers and Mass they have a special breakfast where they will receive Christmas gifts from the Mother Abbess.

“The afternoon of Christmas day is when we discover our secret friends who gave us our gifts and we have a longer time for recreation. In fact, during the whole Christmas Octave we have recreation every day and there is no fasting,” said Sr Guadalupe.

While the Christmas tradition is celebrated worldwide, the way in which it is celebrated is different from home to home. What we do know is that it is celebrated with joy, even by those who are often the celebrants.