Superior's Exhortation during Vestition
The vesting in the holy habit and the giving of a new name
to Theresa Krauskopf
October 19, 2019
Drawing by Sr. Miriam Esther in honor of her new patroness.
Remember, O Lord; make thyself known in this time of our affliction, and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion! Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him. But save us by thy hand, and help me, who am alone and have no helper but thee, O Lord!” (From the prayer of Queen Esther)
Theresa, today is a very memorable day for you that you have looked toward with great expectation…we are glad that you have contained your joy because you told me if you were any happier your face would pop off your head. That would not be good. We your sisters join you in your blessedness today. It will be a consolation to have a white veil around again as your three elder sisters have been in the black since 2017.
Today you are given a new name – Sister Miriam Esther of the Sacred Heart. As I shared after the Chapter for your Vestition, the name of Esther has been coming to my mind for some time because so often over the past years the theme of intercession would be an outstanding point of what God was placing on your heart, even during those short vocation visits to our monastery while you were still in college.
Everyone is familiar with the Book of Esther but let’s meditate upon it together and see if we can glean more insights from this inspired book of Sacred Scripture.
First of all, this story brings to us very distinct characters who all play pivotal roles: Vashti, Esther, Mordecai, Haman, Ahasuerus, and even the Eunuchs!
Let’s look at Vashti first. We don’t know much about her except that she defied the king’s command to come in and display her physical beauty before a room full of men who were quite inebriated. We can assume that she valued her integrity and personal dignity more than her very life…knowing that she could be killed for such an act of disobedience. Her boldness set all the men of the kingdom on edge and they became very frightened that, after the example of Queen Vasti, all the women of the Persian empire would stand up to their husbands and demand greater respect. Because of this Vashti is deposed. Not murdered. She just kind of disappears. We are only left to wonder what happened to her.
Esther is pulled into a situation that she did not choose and she hides her true identity at the bidding of her foster father. After a year of preparation she wins the beauty contest that was put on for the king so he could select a new wife. When placed under fire we find out that she is a godly woman. She bids all fast for 3 days to plead before the God of Israel for his protection and that he will stay the hand of evildoers. She then places her life on the line to go before the King unbidden. Through her prayer we find out that she repudiates the glory given her and that the pagan atmosphere is a source of constant pain. She is a woman trapped in a hideous situation and remains strong in her faith.
Mordecai is a pious Jew, an exile, who in deference to bowing only before God, suffers the wrath of Haman who seeks to kill him. In Mordecai we can see all persons who have been persecuted for their beliefs down through the ages.
In Haman we see a thoroughly egotistical man, suffering the effects of his unruly passions. Who cares about no one and nothing but himself…this is just the sort of person who can bring about great evil in the world when given power.
King Ahasuerus is a complex powerful individual who looks the part of a man who can be easily swayed to do either good or evil.
Then we see the Eunuchs – some are just men and some are not. We know their identity as men has been altered for the sake of service to a king of this world. Can this not be a symbol of all who today are struggling to know their identity and who God created them to be?
These characters are fascinating and with them in mind let’s return to Esther and contemplate what mysteries this story can open to us regarding our own contemplative vocation.
Once Esther has taken her place in the palace Mordecai calls her to remember …to remember the days of her lowly estate…to take in hand the memory of who she is and from where God has brought her. So Theresa, you, and each of us, can also remember where we have come from and where God has placed us now.
Continuing with Mordecai’s request: “Haman has asked for our death. Invoke the Lord and speak to the King for us. Save us from death.” Theresa, who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained this royal dignity to be in the palace of the King, to know Him and be known by Him, for the sake of His glory and to play a role in the world’s redemption…by speaking to the King on behalf of not only a realm and nation but the whole world.
Esther’s reply: “Go…assemble…fast on my behalf for these days. I will do the same.” Go, assemble, fast – these verbs give much profit for reflection about how we “go” to do the will of God, “assemble” in the public work of prayer with and in the name of the Church and “fast” - a mighty important act in the life of a Passionist Nun – this intercessory fasting that is built into our life through our days and seasons of fasting. Let us renw our appreciation and resolve for the sacred opportunity to prove our love to our Spouse and to bring spiritual food to our children around the globe.
Let’s continue listening to Esther’s prayer: “Thus I will go to the King. If I perish, I perish.”
If I perish, I perish. This reminds me of what St. Paul the Apostle said, “I die daily.” Are you prepared ? Give him your smile, ravish His heart with your self-forgetfulness… It is often in such small hidden ways that we can sacrifice ourselves and our wants for the grace of God to come down upon our world.
All these verbs require us to die to ourselves…to be empowered by not letting the weak desires of our flesh guide us but to be guided by faith, by our Constitutions and our Superior, by our love for one another and for every person living on the face of our earth…simply… to do all this for love of God.
A woman through beauty captures the heart of the King and saves her people from catastrophe. What is that beauty? What kind of beauty is that powerful? We know that true beauty and power radiates from a woman who is totally and completely possessed by God. We think of a St. Mother Theresa of Kolkata who radiated such charm, power, and beauty because she was completely possessed by God and given over for His people…never thinking of herself. This type of beauty comes from living in a state of readiness and obedience to the slightest promptings of the Holy Spirit…from a woman who puts her life at the service of redemption.
We know that we too have a mortal enemy. The Haman of our souls, that is, the enemy of our souls, has cast lots to bring us down to destruction. That is the lot of us humans while we live on this earth – we have a mortal enemy. The devil absolutely hates us and despises our vocation as contemplative nuns. But you – soon-to-be Miriam Esther – and each of us in this chapel, have been chosen for a time such as this to give hope to our people. As it says in the reading from the prophet Isaiah that Theresa chose for today, “Remind the Lord, take not rest, and give no rest to Him.” How do we give no rest to Him? By living our Passionist life radically. By living in a state of recollection and self-donation. By being receptive and wholly given to the Beloved of our souls. This state of prayer makes anything and everything possible.
In the Gospel of today Jesus says to Peter “Do you love me? feed my sheep, tend my lambs”. Theresa, Jesus says to you, My little Queen Esther in union with my mother Miriam, I am calling you to love Me. I am dying to be loved by you” – amazing truth! “Feed my sheep Miriam Esther beloved of My sacred heart.”
The King answered the prayers of Esther, Mordecai and the people. Evil was defeated and all evil expectations were reversed. Unanticipated and unmerited blessings were showered down upon the Jewish people and are showered down upon us. They went into battle with the enemy and then they feasted to commemorate their deliverance. We too have times of battle and times of feasting, times of prayer and and times of celebration.
Let’s take one more look at the characters of this story and ask ourselves - how do our personal lives take on the various dimensions of these persons?
Vashti – we pray we would have the courage to be despised, even martyred for following our conscience.
Mordecai – how bold are we to not go along with the ways, subtle ways at times, that the enemy tries to get us to bow before him? Are there times we just give in to discouragement, desolation, fear, sorrow? Or do we overcome these temptations with confident cries to our Blessed Queen Mother Miriam and to the King of our soul.
Haman – Of course, we hope we would never be like Haman…but just as the name of Haman was blotted out so may all that is selfish and egotistical within us be blotted out.
The Eunuchs – what are ways that we suffer in knowing our true identity? Daughters of a Father who sent his Son to be tortured and murdered to liberate us. Do we truly know and believe how radically loved we are by God? Or are we spiritually like Eunuchs at times? What are the convoluted ways that we still at times think of ourselves – thoughts that are not spiritually or humanly wholesome?
Esther – How strong is our faith in the face of fear, discouragement, desolation…to choose to be in the truth vs giving into lies and temptations from the enemy. I have a hunch that Esther was strengthened by her virgin companions…those two women who went with her before the King. I mean, they too had to be pretty courageous and they don’t get any credit but they were there with Esther.
Miriam Esther – you have a far more valiant companion…in fact, the tables are reversed and you are her companion, that is Miriam of old, our Blessed Virgin Mother. You are a little mediator with her who is Queen of the Universe – the greatest intercessor in the world. You have become her close companion linked with her in her mission of the work of salvation for the whole human race.
The joy of this day is a foreshadowing of what may happen in two years when the covenant of marriage to the King is opened up before you. Your patroness was raised up to save and protect her people. Who knows but that it was just for such a time that you, Theresa, and each one of us, has been brought to this Monastery of St. Joseph in Whitesville, KY…To pray for all the Vashtis, Esthers, all the Mordecais and Hamans, the Ahasueruses and even the Eunuchs of today. A picture of the whole human race.
And now, O Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare thy people; for the eyes of our foes are upon us[c] to annihilate us, and they desire to destroy the inheritance that has been thine from the beginning. Do not neglect thy portion, which thou didst redeem for thyself. Hear my prayer, and have mercy upon thy inheritance; turn our mourning into feasting, that we may live and sing praise to thy name, O Lord.”
The Lord has saved his people; the Lord has delivered us from all these evils; God has done great signs and wonders, which have not occurred among the nations. And God remembered his people.
