Abbey-Roads2

Sr. Mary Daniel King OP - it’s her birthday today.  She has been dead for a number of years now, but we knew each other well.  She was a Hawthorne Dominican, and for many years the Administrator of the St. Paul Cancer Home, Our Lady of Good Counsel.  She was special indeed - sort of a fire cracker.

She always wanted to leave and be either a hermit or - no, she would never make it in an enclosed order - so a hermit would have been best.  A move many of her sisters - at one time or another - may have preferred as well.  (Community life isn’t easy.)

Shoot from the hip nun that she was, she had a heart of gold.  Oh!  How she loved the poor.  (Actually all Hawthorne Dominicans love the poor.)  She was an excellent nun - crazy - but excellent.

I remember asking her once what she thought was wrong with her - “Were your parents alcoholic?  Were you abused?”  Which only got her more angry.

Then one day I asked, “Sr. Daniel, what is your heritage?”

“I’m German-Irish!” was her proud retort.

“That’s it!”  I said triumphantly.

“What’s it?”  She answered cautiously.

“That is your problem!”  Delighted, as I figured out what was wrong with her.

“You are a beast!”  She declared as she stormed out of the room.  (Note:  She was laughing at what I said.)

Yet she loved me, and I loved her.  We knew each other’s foibles and how to push each other’s buttons.  She was eccentric, and so was I.  Yet she was rather holy - I was just there to test her holiness before she died.

Sister developed Alzheimer’s, and eventually died a beautiful death.  She was born on this date when it fell on Good Friday in a year I can’t remember.

I miss her, and remember her fondly, and I know she prays for me who caused her such suffering at the end of her life.  Those Hawthorne Dominicans are tough ladies!   If you’re a tough lady, investigate their life - they take late vocations.  (You have to be generous though - it is a hard life.  Adoro…Cathy…are you reading this?)

Happy birthday Sister Daniel!