Holly's New Name

The glorious day has finally come - Postulant Holly received the holy habit and her new religious name this morning! We give thanks to God for the great gift of a second Vestition in one year, and we look forward to sharing pictures of the joyous new novice with you soon. In the meantime, enjoy a reflection written by Holly on the name by which she will now be known …

Sister Isabel Maria of Jesus, My Eucharistic Spouse

My patron is St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, but I am named Isabel, the Portuguese version of the name Elizabeth. Our dear Sister Mary Elizabeth already holds the English version of the name. I was delighted to have my Portuguese heritage included in my name, having already requested the name ‘Maria’ for Our Lady of Fatima, to whom I have a great devotion.  

‘Elizabeth’ means ‘House of God,’ which is so appropriate. St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s great love is for the Indwelling Trinity.  She calls us to “enter into the heaven of our soul, and adore the One Who loves us so much.”  To have the presence of the Trinity within our souls is an astounding grace given in our baptism, and it is a privilege as a contemplative nun to live completely devoted to that reality. 

Another facet of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s spirituality was what she called her heavenly name, “Praise of Glory.”  She points to Jesus Crucified as the greatest praise of the glory of the Father, and the Spouse of Christ must be conformed to Him. This ties into my title, “of Jesus, my Eucharistic Spouse.” The Eucharist to me means not only His Presence in the tabernacle, but the eternal offering of thanksgiving that the Son gives to the Father in the Passion.  On the altar of His heart in the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the Cross has never ceased. Jesus also calls me “my Eucharistic Spouse”, and I am one with Him, a perpetual living sacrifice of praise to the Father. But this title is also definitely for His loving Presence.  

Jesus has always pursued me in the Eucharist, and He continues to by giving me this title.  The Eucharist is the fullest expression of the utter humility of God, a hidden God who yearns to dwell within us.  St. Paul of the Cross, our holy founder, often told his spiritual children to adore their Sacramental Spouse on the altar of their hearts. To be His spouse is to be “hidden with Christ in God,” to be his dwelling place, and to never leave Him.