Christmas in prison..
Sister Maurella Schlise, a Catholic nun from Fargo, South Dakota, was spending
the holidays with her family in Florida, and planning a visit to a nearby maximum
security prison on Christmas Eve. "My sister Rosemary and her husband conduct
a weekly prayer meeting there, and they invited me along," Sister says. Although
visitors are not allowed to bring food to the prison, the rules had been relaxed
for Christmas. Rosemary planned to fill little bags with homemade cookies
and candy for the men. For many, it would be their only gift.
That morning, Sister Maurella attended mass. She was thinking about the
inmates, wondering if they could actually experience Christmas behind bars,
when she sensed God's presence, and a message. "Bring one hundred
bags to the prison," it seemed to say.
One hundred! That seemed far too many for Rosemary's usual group of 30 or 40 men. Had the words just been Sister's imagination? Sister talked it over with Rosemary. "Well..." Rosemary decided, "It's a lot, but I'd rather have too many than not enough."
The women spent the day filling one hundred white bags with goodies, then
carefully packed the car. As they came through the prison gates, the chaplain
flagged them down. "The chapel is packed!" he exclaimed. Sister was glad
they had brought extras.
Instead of Rosemary and Pat conducting a meeting, they were surprised to discover
that the convicts themselves had prepared a Christmas program. An inmate with a vibrant voice sang the poignant story of the Little Drummer Boy. Another did the Ave Maria. Several read inspirational pieces, and some prayed. The chapel was hushed, small candles providing the only light.
Finally the program ended, and the men eagerly lined up. Sister Maurella and
Rosemary handed each a white bag. But when all the bags were gone, there
were ten men still standing in line---and no more candy to give away.
Sister stood, shocked and dismayed. How could this have happened? If God had truly spoken to her that morning, why hadn't He told her to bring one hundred and ten bags? What should they do? "God, multiply the bags," Rosemary prayed silently.
But a young convict had also seen their dilemma. "Sister," he spoke quietly,
"we others....we'll share our bags with them."
Sister looked at the faces surrounding her. Men of every color and
nationality, murderers, thieves... But men who now, because of His birthday,
were willing to reach out to others, to give, to care. Tears pricked her eyes.
Suddenly a prison trustee entered the chapel, carrying a sack. "Rosemary,
we had some leftovers from a group that came this morning," he said.
"Can you use these?"
Rosemary took the sack. Inside were ten white bags, each filled with sweets.
Everyone rejoiced as the remaining men received their treats, especially Sister.
She had wondered if Christmas could come in a prison, but now she knew.
Where love is, God is.
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