Sponsa Christi May 11th, 2008
Happy Mother’s Day to our Spiritual Mother par excellence and Spouse of the Holy Spirit!
…and Happy Mother’s Day to all religious sisters who are spiritual mother’s of souls! Have you thought much about this fact…that consecrated women are “spiritual mothers”? If you have never considered it I invite you to do so. And there is a crying need for spiritual mothers! Souls who will offer themselves in union with Christ to bring the fruits of redemption to men and women TODAY…right now…in Myanmar, in all those places torn by war and natural disaster, by abuse and neglect and so on.
In fact, a recent letter from the Congregation for the Clergy heartily recommended to the people of God Eucharistic adoration for the sanctification of priests and for priestly vocations. It also noted the need for religious women, consecrated to God, to renew their commitment of spiritual motherhood for priests and all of God’s sons and daughters. A beautiful book was published earlier this year full of stories of mothers and Consecrated women whose lives of self-sacrifice greatly influenced vocations especially to the priesthood. Don’t miss reading it here.
In our Rule & Constitutions in the section on the Vow of Consecrated Chastity there is a meaningful paragraph on spiritual maternity:
United to Jesus Crucified with bridal love, they live profoundly the death-resurrection mystery which begets the serene and intimate joy of spiritual fecundity in Christ.
To all of you Catholic, single young women…is Jesus calling you to be His spouse? Joining you to Himself in an intimate way and making you a partner in the redemption of the world? If He is calling you may our Blessed Mother obtain the grace for you to give a generous response!
Sponsa Christi May 10th, 2008
The rising sun sets the clouds aflame…and as so many tongues of fire they descend…
In this country, the Church’s mission has always involved drawing people “from every nation under heaven” (cf. Acts 2:5) into spiritual unity, and enriching the Body of Christ by the variety of their gifts. As we give thanks for these precious past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America. May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbor with zeal for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, descend on all present!
~ Words from Pope Benedict during the Mass with priests and men and women religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, April 19, 2008.
May each of us give Jesus, the true Rising Sun, the true Burning Bush, permission to set us aflame with His Holy Spirit!
Sponsa Christi May 9th, 2008
Mother directs the choir at music practice
Did you know that Pope Benedict has called the whole Church to reclaim our musical heritage, and in particular, the ancient Latin chant? The chant is sung prayer. Because it is not identified with any one culture, it can be and is sung by Catholics throughout the world. The chant does not exist to entertain, but to glorify God and sanctify His people.
While our community has always preserved some Latin chant, hymns and motets, we are now learning new ones. Among the pieces recently learned is the oldest known Marian antiphon, the “Sub Tuum Praesidium” which means: “Under your protection.” Learning this chant selection was very exciting as it puts us in touch with the faith and prayer in the hearts of early Christians. It originated around Alexandria in Egypt and was in use by 250 A.D. One can almost hear the prayers of the early martyrs, crying out to the Mother of Jesus in their mortal danger:
Under your protection we fly for refuge,
O holy Mother of God:
In our needs, despise not our petitions:
but deliver us always from all perils,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
The Latin:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Kirstine thank you for this excellent translation! Congratulations on successfully defending your master’s thesis…we look forward to your visit in a couple of weeks!
Sponsa Christi May 7th, 2008
As we await the coming of the Holy Spirit I wanted to share this icon with you. Isn’t it marvelous? I would love to be able to view it in person. It must be quite large. The original is in the Passionist Nuns monastery in Gornate Olona, Italy. It was written by the Rumenian artist Aurel Jonescu.
St. Paul of the Cross wrote MANY letters of spiritual direction. Here is a stirring excerpt of a letter to Mariana Alvarez - a lay woman, married and with children.
I would like you to make this novena as did the apostles who…with Mary and the other holy men and women…returned to the cenacle and never ceased praying and inviting the Divine Spirit to descend into their hearts to set them on fire with his love. That is what I want you to do….prayer is to be made not in our way, but in God’s way. Lose yourself in God, keep yourself recollected.
With your hands joined and your eyes to heaven say: ‘O Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son, inflame me entirely with love…O Spirit of infinite light, infinite sweetness, come into my heart! Come, O Infinite Good! Come, Immense Love! Come, true and only God, into this poor penitent heart! Come, my Love! Come, my Sweetness, O my Light, my Happiness, O my Treasure, O my Riches, O my True Good, O my only Hope, O my God, O my All. Come, for I languish for love. Come, for I can no longer bear not to love you. Come and set me on fire to the marrow of my bones.’
…I ask you in making these acts to allow your spirit to be filled with peace and love. Make these acts gently and, if love causes you to be silent, be silent and continue with eyes raise high and, if you will, with arms spread wide, as long as you are alone.
There are 3 days left of the Pentecost Novena. Let’s take Saint Paul of the Cross’ prayer and make it our own. May the Holy Spirit come upon us, our families and our beloved nation as never before!
Veni Sancte Spiritus! Veni Per Miriam!
Tags: Passionist icon
Sponsa Christi May 5th, 2008
Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. entered into his eternal reward April 28th (formerly the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross!)
I have seen on various Passionist sites that our Passionist brethren are “waxing eloquent” on all Father Fabiano did for them. View an article here. We too would like to give a loving tribute to a man the Passionist Nuns call “The Second Founder.”
Father Fabiano Giorigini, C.P. worked tirelessly with the nuns in revising the Rule after Vatican II. In fact, others had given up hope that it would be possible to continue to have one Rule for a group of 32 autonomous contemplative monasteries spread throughout the world. After much study and intense work for over a decade with two different groups of Passionist Fathers the work had stalled. Then comes Fr. Fabiano to the rescue - literally! He begged for an opportunity to lead one more effort at updating the Rule. An international meeting of the monasteries took place May 27 - July 4, 1978 at the Passionist Nuns Monastery in Lucca, Italy (yes, the Shrine of St. Gemma Galgani!). After many meetings and a pilgrimage highlighting our Founder, St. Paul of the Cross’ life, a consensus was reached. Praise the Lord!
A Rule & Constitutions was composed in which the First Part would include the original Rule written by our Founder; the Second Part would contain the new text expressive of the Passionist contemplative charism today. The final approval for our Rule was granted in April 1979. This was record timing! Below is a photo of Fr. Fabiano and Sister Margaret Mary (Mother Superior at that time) in our chapel back in our old monastery. (We moved to our current monastery in December 1995.) They had a special ceremony where each Nun came forward and received her personal copy of the Rule & Constitutions. How keenly they must have felt our Founder’s presence!
We owe this man a great debt of gratitude. Only God knows what would have become of the Passionist Nuns if Father hadn’t courageously intervened. In the name of all the Passionist Nuns - “God reward you Father Fabiano! And may St. Paul of the Cross and all the Holy Angles guide you into Paradise!”
Photo taken during one of Father’s visits at our old monastery.
Saint Paul of the Cross and Fr. Fabiano, ora pro nobis!
Sponsa Christi May 1st, 2008
Did you feel that earthquake a couple Fridays ago? Those of us here in the Midwest sure did!
Later during Midmorning prayer we had the holy joy of watching Shannon receive the small Passion Sign pin from Mother Catherine Marie and officially join our other aspirant Sharon on a journey of discernment. Yes, their names occasionally cause some confusion! Please keep them in your prayers as they seek the Lord’s face and the fulfillment of His will.
45-minutes later - an aftershock rocked us again…two aspirants - who knew it would be such an earth-shaking event. When someone responds positively to the Lord’s promptings to give a total, out-pouring gift of self we are all closer to conquering the world through Love.
Shannon is from Houston and is so grateful for your prayers. She wants all her loved ones at home to know that her eyes are not puffy from tears of homesickness although she misses you all. She has found that the good ’ole Ohio River Valley is full of allergies she has never encountered before! Our other aspirant Sharon is from North Carolina; she is one of 12 children and has been with us since February. They both extend greetings to all their family and friends and appreciate the prayers that so many of you have offered on their behalf …keep them up!
By the way - St. Emygdius (Martyr ~ A.D. 304) is the patron saint of earthquakes… perhaps it would be wise to cultivate a friendship with him?
Tags: discerners, vocations
Sponsa Christi April 30th, 2008
Woah! I bet that got your attention. :) In the refectory while we eat our meals in silence we watch programs pre-recorded off of EWTN or listen to audio tapes or CDs of a spiritual importance. During meals we feed body and spirit! Yes, we continue to enjoy watching EWTN’s coverage of Pope Benedict’s visit to the U.S. (Great job Raymond Arroyo!) We are currently watching the Mass for Priest, Deacons and Religious. At the rate we are going we will finish perhaps in mid-May! So, as we ponder his talks and homilies we feel as though we are being soaked in the presence and spirit of the Vicar of Christ!
One of the Sisters recently came across an excellent article written by Peggy Noonan about the Holy Father’s Mass in St. Patrick’s - the one we are currently watching. Click here to read that great article - Flock Feeling His ‘Charisma of Sincerity’.
Tags: Pope Benedict XVI
Sponsa Christi April 29th, 2008
Today is our Mother Superior’s Feast Day and in her honor we are having a gaudeamus day! Now, perhaps you are wondering just what that is. It is a “day of rejoicing” where we are freed up from our usual monastic schedule and have more time for community bonding through recreation, games, song, festive meals…maybe even some fishing! (We also have these days on Thanksgiving and Fourth of July - to name a few.)
Those Sisters gifted with some creativity usually have made during the past year one or more homemade gifts for the Superior to give to her on this day. These are usually items she can use or give away as presents. Of course we all give her the gift of prayer as this is the most needed gift of all when one carries a duty of such large responsibilities. And she would appreciate your prayers too! She usually has a little something for each Sister.
In Mother’s honor we had some wonderful entertainment this morning.
- a skit - a visit from the apostles, St. Peter and St. John - God had to put the brash Peter and the “son of thunder” John in their places…we think He succeeded
- and after processing to the printing room we had a little concert with piano, violin and guitar - provided by our aspirants. The rest of us joined in with our voices and of course Sr. Mary Andrea provided beautiful sign language. (No Sister, is not deaf. But she attended a grade school for deaf children and was a sign language interpreter for her friend in high school.) By the way she is out on the tractor right now, disking up garden! Here is a picture of her as a novice a year or so ago.
Because we are having some troubles with our digital camera I don’t have any photos of these events. Bummer! The Lord uses many ways to teach me detachment!
Tags: feast day
Sponsa Christi April 22nd, 2008
To all our web savvy friends - Greetings from the cloister!
We are so excited about this new vocation promotion endeavor - I very well believe we are the first of all the communities of Passionist Nuns throughout the world to have a blog. (Although, I would love to be corrected about that!)
#90 in our Rule & Constitutions states
The Passionist Nuns, being cooperators with God who chooses and calls whom He wills, strive to encourage vocations by making known the value of the consecrated life and the challenge involved in the following of Christ Crucified, as also through the example of their lives, their prayer and the spoken and written word.
In your charity, please offer a prayer for us as we ”strive to encourage vocations” to Passionist life by casting our net into the deep sea of blogging.
P.S. I can’t forget to extend a special thanks Louisville seminarian Matthew Hardesty (native of Owensboro, KY) who took time away from his retreat in our retreat house to help us become a bit more educated about blogs. God reward you Matthew! And our continued prayers as you seek to be a priest of Jesus Christ. (Visit Matthew’s blog: http://theschoolofmary.blogspot.com/)
Tags: lake, monastery
