Sister Susan Marie: Had a very interesting young priest today- he said liturgically on All Souls the priest can wear white or back or purple. Never knew that
Nov 2 2014, 7:12 PM
Carol Ann: that’s a relief-so much work to have been lost
Carol Ann: black?
Sister Susan Marie: Yes and he wore black at Mass today!
Sister Susan Marie: Have you ever seen that
M
Sister Susan Marie: He also said many young Catholics don’t have funerals or mass said for their deceased parents
Sister Susan Marie: So he recommended thay pre-pay for their funerals
Carol Ann: no, I have never seen black vestments. Ours wore white today. We had good teaching on purgatory.
Nov 2 2014, 7:14 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Oh- what di he say on purgatory?
Carol Ann: prepay funerals to be sure they’re buried Catholic? that’s just sad.
Sister Susan Marie: Yes very sad
Carol Ann: that purgatory exists, that it’s a place of purification and how our prayers do help. and he also explained a bit the concept of the eternal now
Sister Susan Marie: That sounds fascinating
Sister Susan Marie: eternal now
I have a 30 day novena for the souls in purgatory I started yesterday
Carol Ann: he didn’t use that exact term, but he explained how there is no time, so you can’t get your time in purgatory “shortened” like we used to be taught. when you pass, you are outside of time and it has no more meaning
Sister Susan Marie: So it’s just until you are purified then that one stays in the state of purgatory
Carol Ann: yes, and then it’s heaven
Sister Susan Marie: Did you read the long post about Sr Denise the Visitandine who saw the holy souls
Sister Susan Marie: first, because of the inconceivable purity which the soul must have before it can present itself before Him who is essential sanctity and purity, and who receives no one into His glorious city who is not as pure as the city itself Secondly, because of the innumerable multitude of venial faults which we commit in this life,
Nov 2 2014, 7:23 PM
Sister Susan Marie: The first struck me- it must be liking hiding one’s face behind one’s mother’s skirt when one is a child- that sense of being unready to face someone- perhaps we hide behind the Blessed Mother
Carol : or maybe our angel
Sister Susan Marie: Ah yes the angel accompanies us into eternity
Carol: but yes, when we really stop and think about how holy God is, and how holy we are not, it’s hard to imagine being able to look up without grace5 PM
Carol Ann: I’d like Mary to come with me
Sister Susan Marie: How often for simple things we get embarrassed- imagine our whole life to account for- but the burning love of Jesus must help us with that7:27 PM
Sister Susan Marie: The saints, like St Therese, had such confidence that the Lord would do all for her-confidence in hersalvation because of Him- do I have that right
Sister Susan Marie: You know Carmelites better I think
Carol Ann: Yes, St Therese always says that in her writings. St Teresa was also very strong that way
Carol Ann: oh, my most current one there is http://catholic365.com/article/301/a-short-history-of-all-souls-day.html I’ve written maybe six posts here, and I still run first Saturdays over at newevangelizers.
A Short History of All Souls Day
Sister Susan Marie: Amazing
Dawn LaBorde: Carol Ann, do you belong to this order. are you a sister?
Carol Ann: no, I was there as a postulant for a short time
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Judy K: If not for this site, I would not know that it is Vocation Awareness Week. It sure does not get much press on the parish level.
Sister Susan Marie: November 2-8, 2014National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. NVAW began in 1976 when the U. S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for NVAW. In 1997, this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the
Carol Ann: I remember now, you did do that. Perhaps later in the week so it can be advertised?
Sister Susan Marie: of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 13 in 2013. Beginning in 2014, NVAW was moved to the first full week of November.
Judy K: Since there are so few Sisters in parishes, attracting new vocations is difficult. If I could, I would have a Vocation Day either on this Sunday or Good Shepherd Sunday. I would invite religious of communities in the area to come with literature, video if they have one, perhaps some of the Sisters in formation, and an older Sister as well.
Nov 2 2014, 7:53 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Since the year for consecrated life begins with advent, there may be more awareness than usual
Sister Susan Marie: One of the things we hope to do, which is being suggested , is have an open house on one day and an invitation to prayer with the community on another
Sister Susan Marie: Also I think the less typical vocation should be promoted, secular institutes and the like, third orders
Carol Ann: yes, they should. I actually tried to google search for Catholic secular institute and nothing came up
Judy K: What a great opportunity to advertise vocations on a wider basis. Dioceses should have events where people could meet with members of all types of religious
Sister Susan Marie: There are a number of secular institutes but maybe they are not an internet presence?
Sister Susan Marie: We had a great diocesan series yersas afgo called women exploring
Nov 2 2014, 7:58 PM
Carol Ann: seems that way. I tried searching for local institutes through the archdiocese website, but that didn’t work ei
Sister Susan Marie: Different congregations met with women each month for prayer and sharing
Sister Susan Marie: I know Secular I are in the blue book directory- have you one of those?
Nov 2 2014, 7:59 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Hi Sr M Roberta!
Carol Ann: no blue book directory
Nov 2 2014, 7:59 PM
Judy K: Contact the United States Conference of Secular Institutes (USCSI) I think that you can just put USCSI in your browser and it would come up. I think they have a list of the Secular Institutes in the US.
Judy K: I wonder what is in store for the “Year for Consecrated Life.”
Sister Susan Marie: Its a journal
Judy K: It is interesting that all of us laywomen have such a keen interest in vocations.
Mary Roberta Viano: Actually, World Youth Day has been a mini-Week-on-Consecrated-Life.
Carol Ann: yes, it is. dare we hope there is a way for us?
Sister Susan Marie: http://visitationspirit.org/2014/07/events-for-the-year-of-consecrated-life/
Sister Susan Marie: Maybe something new will emerge from Pope Francis
Mary Roberta Viano: I was stopped by a “mature” woman (a PhD) on the street this morning, asking about consecrated life, which she’s always wanted to live.
Mary Roberta Viano: We need to pray that more women be open to the stirring of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds! :30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and then follow the Spirit’s lead!
Carol Ann: and that the way can be found for them to act on it
Nov 2 2014, 8:30 PM
Dawn LaBorde: its wonderful your order takes older women, I think their are many interested
Carol Ann: it’s amazing how many women have that secret wish, once the topic comes up8:31 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, “older” women: I was told that age 50 is today’s 30 and 60, today’s 40! PM
Judy K: I believe that I have found the way for me-as a member of the Salesian Cooperators who has taken private vows. I have the peace, contentment, connection and commitment that I have always wanted.
Nov 2 2014, 8:32 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so why not accept older women?!
Carol Ann: it’s true, 50 is 20
Mary Roberta Viano: Yeah, Judy!
Carol Ann: I mean 30
Carol Ann: that’s wonderful! PM
Dawn LaBorde: yes. I have inquired for year or so which orders accept older women. it is not widely known ?! I think I just found your website and chat room one day
Nov 2 2014, 8:33 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Cooperating with God’s grace is what life is all about.
Mary Roberta Viano: There are special religious orders for the handicapped and for Downs-Syndrome men and women – why not orders for older men and women?
Mary Roberta Viano: altho’ a mix of ages is the ideal
Judy K: Maybe one of you might be called to found such an order.
Nov 2 2014, 8:35 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Which is the Downs-Syndrome one
Carol Ann: that’s a very good question-I’ve found most are afraid of the ultimate burden of caring for an older person who gets sick “too soon”
: how would one go about founding such an order?
Nov 2 2014, 8:35 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I don’t know it’s name, but Sr. Marie de Chantal and Sr. Anne Francis mentioned it a dinner one day.
Judy K: You might begin by consulting with your Diocesan Vicar for Religious.
J
Mary Roberta Viano: I guess you find lots of enthusiastic benefactors and a group of interested women.
Nov 2 2014, 8:36 PM
Carol Ann: I’ve chatted with her
Carol Ann: ah, extroversion required
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, Carol Ann. That would be my problem!
Mary Roberta Viano: even to found a contemplative order, extroversion is required – ironic!
Nov 2 2014, 8:38 PM
Sister Susan Marie: It’s usually a special call from God
Judy K: You might also start to gather a group of women, who, like yourself, are seeking such a life. Perhaps the thing is to start there and then when there is a group of seriously interested women, consult with the Vicar for Religious.
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, and God sends the grace and the people to make it happen
Mary Roberta Viano: I was hoping to gather a group of consecrated widows but didn’t succeed. 39 PM
Carol Ann: well, then would I start with the local pastor and ask to set a group like that up? who would lead us? 40 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Probably you yourself would have to lead.
Carol Ann: I feel so unqualified
Nov 2 2014, 8:40 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: consulting with your pastor or bishop
Judy K: Also, prayer is needed. Ask the Lord to send such women your way. God does not call the qualified-He qualifies the called8:40 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so right, Judy!
Mary Roberta Viano: so it’s His work, not yours / ours.
Carol Ann: yes, it is all His
Judy K: And if it is His will, it will come to pass.
Judy K: And if it is His will, it will come to pass.
Nov 2 2014, 8:42 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Time to read a few pages for my online course on the Church and Salvation. Check out the Institute on Catholic Culture.
Judy K: By the way, is anyone making the Novena to the Sacred Heart that we discussed last week? I am.
Carol Ann: an online theology school-how fun is that?
Mary Roberta Viano: G’night. Good idea. Let’s all agree on when to start the novena. Till next week…
Nov 2 2014, 8:43 PM
Carol Ann: Blessings on all!