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Message of Pope Benedict XVI to World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2008 Papal Address Youth Rally April 2008
Planning God into your life
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Sisters Johanna, Barbara, and Patricia; cleaning up after Easter dinner 2008
Belonging - Vocations
There are many different ways of experiencing a call to religious life. Most vocation stories reveal that God calls each individual in a very personal way. Experiencing God's call is a life changing moment. A couple of years ago, our Sisters reflected on their call and vocation in the context of the vocation stories of Mother Immaculata St. Clare, and St. Francis. Looking at the stories of those who went before us and who left behind their legacy for us, we are inspired to discover our own stories in more depth.
Mother Immaculata, St. Clare, and St. Francis treasured their vocation as a gift from God. They wanted to share the fruit of their vocation with God's people.
How do their stories help you to ponder your own?
Mother Immaculata She experienced God's call in her life at different times: As a child at her first communion the call to attend to others, as a teenager the call to teach, and in her sickness the call to trust God. Although she loved teaching, she followed the call to enter religious life. At the same moment as surrendered her own ideas and plans about her future, she received Bishop Bahlmann's cable to be part of the new foundation in Santarem, Brazil. She exclaimed, "Now I cannot only be a teacher but also a Missionary Poor Clare". In Santarem, she was seen as the embodiment of the charism of the new foundation.
St. Clare Clare left her family's home through the barricaded door to follow Francis: At that memorable night, Clare left everything when she stepped through the narrow gate into the blackness of night and entered the bright emptiness of God. Clare never lost sight of her call. She never took anything back or kept anything for herself. She knew her vocation. Of all the gifts she received she exalted in the gift of her vocation: "Among all the gifts we have received there is the gift of vocation...for which we owe the greatest thanks to Him." Clare summarizes this in her testament when she said, ' The Apostle writes: Know your vocation'," (Test. 56-57)
St. Francis Francis heard a voice telling him to 'rebuild my church'. He began to sell his father's goods and used the money for the work of repairing a ruined chapel called San Damiano. His father enraged by his son's actions dragged Francis home and imprisoned him. The conflict between father and son deepened and finally the father brought his son to the Bishop. As Francis stood before the Bishop and all those gathered, he removed his clothes and by this action removed his wealth and position in Assisi's society. In rejecting his father he acknowledged a new relationship with God as his father and sought to follow in the footsteps of Christ for the rest of his life.
What is the process of entering?
Sisters Odilia, Pat, and Divina
Religious Life brings together people from different generations, ethnic backgrounds, countries of origin, cultures. It is a rich life lived out of the love that God is sharing with each of us.
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