ST. MARYS ðTheres a proverb that goes There but for the grace of
God go I.

Today, the 26 nuns at St. Joseph Monastery here share that
sentiment after a close call when the monasterys boiler almost blew
up. That left the Benedictine sisters with no heat for more than a
week.

If that miracle wasnt enough, the sisters shared two others a
trinity of miracles in just over one week.

Did the Lord ever save us, Sister Victoria said. It taught us to
be ready for death at all times, Sister Laura added. God spared
us.

Their ordeal started the night of Nov. 2 when Sister Mary David
was getting ready for bed and she noticed an unusual smell coming
out of Sister Jean Maries room.

I thought she was soaking something in her sink, Sister Mary
David said.

But when the smell was also in another room, they, including
Patty Feldbauer, the infirmary nurse, realized something was
wrong.

It was like a steam iron … had a sizzling sound, Sister Jean
Marie said. There was no doubt in my mind that something was
definitely wrong.

Thats when they contacted Sister Jacinta, who handles the
maintenance in the monastery.

Sister Jacinta actually flew down the hall to the basement,
Sister Mary David said. Once there, she found the boiler room full
of steam.

It was ready to blow, Sister Mary David said. There was water
all over.

The 28-year-old steam boiler was on its way out.

Steam was blowing out. I couldnt see the boiler, Sister Jacinta
said. Steam was rolling from underneath the boiler.

The boiler was minutes away from blowing up and was turned off
just in time. Miracle number one.

But after the boiler was turned off, the sisters were left
without heat for more than a week.

The first days werent bad, Sister Laura said. But when the
mercury kept going down, the cold was palpable. As the temperature
hit 28 degrees outside, the temperature in the chapel hit 53
degrees. The furniture and prayer books were cold to the touch.

We bundled up and prayed a lot, Sister Laura said.

They also used the nine space heaters shared, especially with
the older sisters.

Sixty-four (degrees) wasnt too bad. We put on sweaters, she
said. At 61, winter coats. At 53, we wished for nose warmers.

Sister Damian likened the experience to that of the first
sisters who came from Bavaria.

They had the same conditions we had, she said. Seven days of
dampness and coldness.

This time, however, there was one difference.

We knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, Sister Laura
said.

The end of that tunnel came in the form of the same boiler that
put them in that situation to begin with.

When they tried to start the boiler again, water poured out of
it, Sister Jacinta said. They started the boiler again a little
later, but this time it worked.

It put out immediate heat, Sister Jacinta said. Not up to the
fourth floor, but enough to take off the intensity of the cold.

They kept the boiler on a low fire. According to Sister Jacinta,
the men working on the boiler Friday agreed that there was no
reason the boiler was now working when it hadnt before.

They just couldnt believe it, she said.

Miracle number two.

The last miracle came from an unexpected source the insurance
company that listed the claim as mechanical failure. The
underwriter took care of most of the bill; the monastery just has
to pay the deductible.

Miracle number three.

All the sisters agreed Monday that the experience took the
sisters even closer to lives of poverty, simplicity, purity and
humility.

It was a wake-up call, Sister Gemma said.

If it could happen here …, Sister Laura said. It brought us back
to reality. Everyone was so cheerful. We knew we were in solidarity
with the poor who cant afford to heat their homes. We shared that
with them.

The reason for the three miracles is still up for debate.

Somebody in this place has done something good, Sister Victoria
said, as Sister Mary David adds, Its because of our daily
sacrifices that God saved our lives.

In the end, the experience taught the sisters a lot about
themselves.

I used to complain that Im constantly cold, another said. When I
didnt complain, I realized I have changed.