Sister Gertrude
Nagel, who died on October 18, was one of the artisans of our monastery. Sr.
Gertrude blessed us not only with the work of their hands but by reminding us to
look at the world with an artist’s eyes. As we gathered after her vigil, we
heard story after story of how she stood transfixed in the presence of beauty. She
loved the feel of clay, the shape of flowers, the colors of creation. Jigsaw
puzzles accumulated in her room because she was drawn to the colorful pictures
on the box lids.
The trajectory
of Sr. Gertrude’s life also reminds us that becoming who we are is a process.
She enjoyed doing art projects with her students during the 35 years she taught
primary grades, but it was not until she was in her late 50s that she took a
class on the potter’s wheel and discovered she was an artist herself. Her
creativity flourished as she shared her gifts with her wider Benedictine
community in Oklahoma and then Kansas.
Sr. Gertrude showed
us how to slow down to see and appreciate the intricate beauty of the world, as
well as how to be open to the new things God calls us to throughout our lives. We
remember her in grateful prayer.
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