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Since we sent our most recent newsletter, we’ve received numerous responses from friends both near and far. Many of these responses included a question: how exactly does one make horsetail tea? And, once made, how can one use it to help decrease horsetail in the garden?

For those of you fortunate enough not to know, horsetail is a very ancient plant, related to the fern family. It grows in abundance in our region. That would not be a problem, except that it appears to be fond of our monastery’s vegetable garden, and risks to crowd out the actual vegetables. It is very difficult to eliminate by weeding, but a local organic gardener taught us a solution. Horsetail is very high in silica, and it thrives in soil that is poor in that nutrient. By steeping horsetail in water to make a fermented “tea,” and pouring this solution on the garden, one can enrich the soil enough to decrease or suppress the weed’s activity. No chemicals involved!

Here are some simple instructions on how we are using this tea to help transform our garden:

·      To be very clear: this “tea” is not for human consumption, but for use on garden patches only. This point will become self-evident once the brew is fully fermented (read on to find out why).

·      First, gather up an armful of horsetail (either with or without the roots), and put it in a large bucket with a good lid. Leave about ¼ inch of space at the top.

·      Fill the bucket with water so that the horsetail is fully covered. It will float a little. After this, you will want to cover the bucket with the lid because in about a week it is going to begin to smell. That’s a normal part of the fermentation process.

·      Let it ferment for several weeks. We’ve been letting ours ferment for two to three months, but it doesn’t need to be that long. If you don’t like the smell of the tea, let it brew for longer. It will eventually get to the point where it doesn’t smell anymore.

·      When your tea is “brewed”, strain out the horsetail. Dilute the tea solution to a concentration of 1 part tea to 10 parts water. The tea will do damage to your plants if you pour it on undiluted. Apply to the garden using a watering can.

We have applied this remedy several times throughout the summer, but not more than once a week because it is very strong. So far, it appears to have helped! If you try it at home, we hope that it works for you too.

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St. Dominic depicted with his brethren in the Mascarella Table, one of the earliest images we have of St. Dominic.

This year’s feast of St. Dominic is particularly special to us, as the Order of Preachers celebrates a Jubilee in honour of our founder’s entrance into eternal life. St. Dominic died eight hundred years ago on the 6th of August, 1221. On that same day each year, the Church also celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord. “While Jesus was praying He was transfigured” (Lk 9:29) and His physical appearance was changed. “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light” (Mt 17:2).

Our Father, Dominic, was a man full of light. We recall how a nun, Blessed Cecilia (+1236), described him : “From his brow and eyes emanated a kind of radiance which drew everyone to revere and love him.” Dominic can be recognized, from among the saints, in the images and iconography as the one with a star shining near his head and often from his forehead.

Dominic was transfigured by God. This transformation of his very flesh was a powerful holy preaching. It was perhaps God’s response to the heretics, the Cathars, who denied the Incarnation (that God should become human) because they could not believe in the goodness of created matter, especially the goodness of the human body. Here was a man, so espoused by God, (body, soul and spirit), that his very flesh radiated God’s loving presence.

When I was prioress of the monastery in Prouilhe (France), I used to love to walk along the dirt road up to the cross of Sicaire; I would take off my shoes and walk in the steps of Dominic. This was where the heretics had lain in waiting and planned to kill him. Dominic didn’t even need to open his mouth, let alone preach to them. The would-be assassins simply looked at him. They were totally disarmed and compelled to change their minds when they saw his joyful countenance welcoming them.

The Libellus of Bl. Jordan of Saxony speaks of Dominic’s face and the kindliness of his expression (#103). His face was radiant with cheerfulness.

He was like our great-great-great grandfather Anthony of the Desert. Athanasius presented St. Anthony as a living refutation of the Arian heresy. God had so transformed and transfigured Anthony through prayer that his person, his being, even his body, were divinized.

By his radiant life, and his transfigured body, he was living proof that “God became as we are so that we may become as He is.”

The transfiguration reveals a great mystery. God desires to manifest Himself, and He chose matter to do so. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). This is exactly the good news that Dominic wanted to preach to the Cathars.

God can and does raise up persons, and especially communities, who are mysteriously transformed, transfigured, through prayer; persons and communities who, like Dominic are full of light, goodness, love, joy, and yes, even cheerfulness. They are Epiphany people, and those who meet them somehow see Jesus. They are a Holy Preaching.

On the feast of the Transfiguration we read, “While Jesus was praying He was transfigured” (Lk 9:29). It was in and by prayer that Anthony and Dominic were transformed.

The psalmist says: “The one who looks towards the Shekinah (glory) shall shine resplendently.”

So let us look towards our Lord, and all the manifestations of His loving presence around us, and let our lives be transfigured. Our gentle and joyful Father Dominic loved to encourage the brethren, saying “Let us go forward thinking of (looking towards) our Saviour.”

+ Sr. Claire, O.P.
Queen of Peace Monastery
Squamish, B.C.

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about the Mascarella Table, the Order of Preachers has a fascinating article about the painting’s origin and adventures over the past 800 or so years. It was selected as the image of St. Dominic for this Jubilee because, as our Master Gerard Timoner II, O.P. explained, it celebrates St. Dominic “not as a saint alone on a pedestal,” but “with his community, with his brothers.” It is a symbol of simplicity and communion for our times.

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Since public worship in British Columbia re-opened, it has been our joy to welcome many of you to our chapel for Mass and the Divine Office! Whether you are near or far, we continue to hold you and our world in prayer.

As summer continues, we are happy to share with you our most recent newsletter. For those of you who are print subscribers, it should be in your mailbox shortly; in the meantime, here is our digital edition in French and English. It includes a vestition, an update on our micro-hydroelectricity project, and a reflection on hope written by one of our sisters (and, of course, a cartoon).

Since the newsletter went to print, our community has continued to quietly pray and grow in the shadow of the Tantalus Range. As those of you who follow us regularly know, we were happy to welcome Mariel to begin her year of postulancy on the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24). Helped by our local organic farmers, our garden is well-nourished and providing food for our refectory. The birds were even so kind this year as to leave us some cherries from the orchard! Our micro-hydroelecticity project passed its inspection by BC Hydro, and we are waiting for the final "all-clear" to begin powering our monastery buildings with clean, renewable energy. Finally, as the truth came to light about mass grave sites discovered on the grounds of former residential schools run by the Church, we have been praying in an intentional way for Canada's Indigenous persons and all those affected by colonialism.

As Nuns of the Order of Preachers, our call to live in harmony with each other is meant to "furnish a living example of that reconciliation of all things in Christ" which our Order preaches (LCM 2.II). As restrictions ease and we are able to come together again, our prayer is for the unity and healing of wounds and divisions in our country, Church and world. "The truth," Jesus said, "will set you free" (Jn 8:32); and as we seek that truth together, may God's mercy be a light of hope shining in our midst. Please be assured of our prayers for you and those you love.

God bless,
your sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery