In our Living Jesus Chat Room we discussed Sisters: Did the particular ministry of any of the sisters stand out to you? How did they fulfil their own particular vocation as a member of the Body of Christ? In this video, the active ministry of the sisters is shown. Would this be possible without a strong prayer life “behind the scenes”, so to speak? What is the balance between work and prayer? During her college years, Sr. Melissa suddenly saw religious life as being on the same playing field as getting married or staying single. Do you feel that many young women see life as a sister as a foreign or unreachable vocation?
Sister Susan Marie: Did you have an opportunity to see parts of the videos on religious life?
Nov 17 2013, 7:20 PM
l: Yes and I was impressed at how well it was done!
I will watch more of it as I can!
There are many different ways to live as a religious aren’t there?
K: I pray that God will show me where I am wrong, but what I saw in the second video didn’t really seem to be religious life. They were wonderful women serving God ….
A: I Love the idea of the new evangelization and learning all we can about our faith
l: I haven’t seen the second video yet
A: I saw both videos multiple times and loved them!
Sister Susan Marie: I found both of them well done too, yes it is interesting how each represents a different way of serving the Lord
K: but I it seems that missionaries serving God with a strong prayer life and relationship with Him, do the same thing.
l: I agree
K: but…. those missionaries haven’t taken vows have they – I really need to pray for openness and to not be judgemental
Sister Susan Marie: It’s the inner commitment and the vows that begin to make a distinction
A: K, when you think religious life are you more about cloistered?
l: The Secular Carmelites take promises but I wonder how different those are than vows?
A: Yes community life was not shown at all true
l: We are clothed,take temporary promises and final promises
Nov 17 2013, 7:38 PM
Sister Susan Marie: They did not focus on that aspect but most congregations do have a community life if they live together. Some live in apartments in twos or threes so it does not have the same feel as larger communities
A: I am in the confraternity of penitents and we can take private vows too
Sister Susan Marie: What promises do you make? As for private vows the main difference I guess is the canonical status and that they are not in public?
A: yes i think thats it Sister
l: Oh maybe that is it Sister
Nov 17 2013, 7:41 PM
A: also, may i say that when I picture Sisters or Nuns, i do not see them wearing earrings and regular clothing as some did in the video
l: I agree A; I don’t see the difference between there vocation and mine
Nov 17 2013, 7:42 PM
V: I have friends who are vowed religious and wear jewelry, depends on the order
A: I know the idea is to give your whole self to God
V: I agree, A
Nov 17 2013, 7:44 PM
Sister Susan Marie: So a secular institute has a different constitution in vrs areas I wiould assume from an apostolic religious, no
A: I am living the rule 1221
Nov 17 2013, 7:45 PM
K (guest): I guess different communities have different ways of living poverty and obedience.
A: or trying my best!
l: I think so yes. Our rule is the Rule of St. Albert
A: Rule of St. Francis
Nov 17 2013, 7:45 PM
V: You need to give us a lesson in the Rule of 1221, A
Sister Susan Marie: Just as say the Sisters of Life, who are contemplative/active and have a traditional habit, have a different constitution and charism from the Visitation who are cloistered for the most part but with schools and a variety of habits
Sister Susan Marie: Ours is St Augustine
V: Ah, I have taught that!
l: Our promises go to Rome
Sister Susan Marie: Is the promise for life? is it poverty, chastity and obedience. Is it total abnegation of all goods and asssets? That may be some difference
l: The difference I think may be that although it is for life; we wouldn’t have to get a dispensation from Rome to leave the order although the request to leave would be made known. We don’t have to have permission
l: It is poverty and chastity but those who are married can remain so. If they lose their spouse; they don’t remarry usually
Nov 17 2013, 7:49 PM
l: It is poverty and chastity but those who are married can remain so. If they lose their spouse; they don’t remarry usually
A: I think chastity covers most single people
Nov 17 2013, 7:50 PM
l: It is not total abnegation of assets
Sister Susan Marie: This is interesting because you are basically all committed to the Church in deep ways and yet there is an element of discernment in some of your lives. Why may be to personal to ask but is there a deeper yearning going on
l: I think so for me! I want a deeper interior life
Nov 17 2013, 7:51 PM
A: not too personal. I will share!
Sister Susan Marie: As St Augustine said, we are restless until we rest in HIM
K (guest): Yes, I want to abandon all to His will. I felt restless when God called me to become Catholic. Now I feel like I am where I don’t belong.
A: i do not want material things. really dont care about food. and i want to give Him my whole self!
K (guest): That is, I don’t belong in the world.
Sister Susan Marie: So it’s HIM calling and you are trying to find out what that call is
Am: I totally understand about the restlessness. I feel like a pelican in the wilderness
l: Yes Sister; that is it!
I miss the monastery and the flow of the day!
A: It is Him calling I don’t know wht it is to though. Praying
Am: In my parish, sometimes I feel so out of place, no body seems to understand how I can spend so much time in church……..Hi all!
Sister Susan Marie: Why Church? Must be HIM in the tabernacle
Nov 17 2013, 7:57 PM
K (guest): YES, HIM IN THE TABERNACLE!
7:57 PM
A: I am sometimes afraid Am people will see me alone in church chatting and gesturing with my hands
V: I know what you mean, Am. Even if the church has a tabernacle, not everyone there understands
Nov 17 2013, 7:58 PM
A: the thought that our Lord is in that tabernacle is astounding
Sister Susan Marie: So lay life or even life committed in the holy organizations you are in is not enough. Only God is enough and we never end our journey into His Heart
K (guest): Sometimes I am in the midst of wonderful Christian women, and I even think there that I don’t fit in.
l: I agree that is exactly the case for me!
A: when i was younger, I felt Gods presence and comfort more i think
Nov 17 2013, 7:59 PM
V: YES, into his heart
l: So what now?
Sister Susan Marie: You must all have religious vocations of some kind, no?
Nov 17 2013, 8:00 PM
K(guest): Ah Lois! So you miss the monastery and the flow of the day.
l: Yes!!
A: how do we know where
V: I do think our sense of God’s presence ebbs and flows more than his actual presence does
Sister Susan Marie: You are right V, He is always there
Sister Susan Marie: But where He is calling you? Listening and trying places
l: I wish I could come for another visit
Nov 17 2013, 8:02 PM
Sister Susan Marie: He may speak in your heart, or thru circumstances but if you are not feeling “home” in your homes, then He is calling you somewhere
V: I think he is calling all of us who are here to try to get to him through … wherever and whoever he calls to go with us on the journey.
Nov 17 2013, 8:03 PM
Sister Susan Marie: You can always come. I know the cost is a problem. I wonder if my Federation could offer scholarships for travel I can try it
Nov 17 2013, 8:03 PM
A: I love that V
l: Maybe we will all land on your doorstop Sister! Lol
A: that would be awesome as I feel I already know you all so well
l: That would be amazing!
Nov 17 2013, 8:05 PM
Am: Yes, I’d love to meet you all
V: wow, that would be wonderful, SSM!
Mary Roberta Viano: I love the story of the youngest one of the 7 Visitandine martyrswho ran away but then returned to be shot, too.
Nov 17 2013, 8:16 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes. Heres one of them http://visitationspirit.org/2013/11/focus-on-visitandine-martyrs/
A: oh my gosh
Sister Susan Marie: If she had not run away we would never know what happened to the others
A: the Holy Spirit is it for sure
Mary Roberta Viano: I like the challenge to us – to me: Would there be enough evidence to convict me as a Christian?!
V: could any of the sisters talk to us a little bit about what all the Visitandine nuns are doing on the 21st of this month, please?
Nov 17 2013, 8:18 PM
B (guest): so true SMR
Nov 17 2013, 8:18 PM
l: I think about that too Sister
Nov 17 2013, 8:18 PM
A: and would I be brave enough to even say I am a Christian?
Sister Susan Marie: Good self examination there Sister
K (guest): I think the time of many more martyrs is coming.
Nov 17 2013, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: At the end of this Year of Faith, I ask myself if my own faith has grown?
A: me too K
Sister Susan Marie: WE are renewing our vows on the 21st.
Mary Roberta Viano: grown to the point of giving up my life for my faith?
V: AMEN, SSM!
Nov 17 2013, 8:19 PM
B(guest): Praise God how exciting!
A: thats a great question Sister
Sister Susan Marie: Heres our vow formula: http://brooklynvisitationmonastery.org/renovation-of-vows/
K (guest): Is that Visitandines all over the world?
Nov 17 2013, 8:20 PM
Am: Wonderful, Sister
Sister Susan Marie: Yes all over the world
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, that’s one thing we ask ourselves during our pre-vow-renewal retreat.
Sister Susan Marie: I am not a courageous person by nature but I hope I would accept the grace
A: giving up your life for your faith- that takes it to a whole new level
l: Boy that’s for sure A
Nov 17 2013, 8:21 PM
Am: But martyrdom is instant salvation
Mary Roberta Viano: We re-sign the vow book on the Feast of the Presentation. I still remember signing the vow book in Annecy – with SFdS’s and SJFdC’s signatures on the first page!
Sister Susan Marie: But you do need to give up at least parts of your life in religious life
A: I am afraid to go to the dentist never mind to my death!
Sister Susan Marie: Yes I remember that too- we are on page 2000 something!
V: I think all of us here should commit to joining in with our Visitandine nun friends in prayer that day, whether in person or “just” in spirit
B (guest): yes, i didn’t even realise until last week that there was a day set aside to pray for those who pray for us
Am: That’s beautiful, SIster. Didn’t Therese do an oblation of love?
Nov 17 2013, 8:23 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s really what any sacrifice is – a giving up for love.
Nov 17 2013, 8:23 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s the doing little things with great love.