“Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord” – Passionist Renewal of Vows
After four graced days of retreat (Nov. 17-20), the nuns of our community renewed their vows during the Holy Mass commemorating the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
Our Lady provides a beautiful model of total consecration to God! As we renew our self-offering to God on this feast each year, we ask her intercession help us persevere in faithfulness as handmaids of the Lord and His work of redemption.
This feast was always very special to our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, who named the first houses of the Passionist Fathers and the Passionist Nuns after the Presentation of Mary. St. Vincent Mary Strambi, CP, the first biographer of Paul recorded for us that:
“Paul used to say that this feast was the blessed anniversary of that day on which he took leave of the world and wore the habit of the Passion for the first time. It was the day on which, in the flower of his youth, he offered himself to the Divine Majesty. Thus he imitated the heavenly Queen who presented herself in the temple as a sacrifice most pleasing to the heart of God.”
But it is also a special day for all contemplative men and women – November 21st is Pro Orantibus Day, a day of prayer for those the Lord has called to the life of prayer on behalf of the Church. As souls devoted to prayer, we know how powerful and necessary it is to lift one another up before the Lord, and we are so grateful for your remembrance of us, and all cloistered contemplatives, in your prayers today.
On this special day celebrating religious consecration, we also have some wonderfully joyous news to share.
Sr. Maria Faustina, our novice, will be making her first profession of vows on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception! She will begin a 5-day retreat on December 3, and certainly appreciates your prayers as she prepares to become the Bride of Christ Crucified.