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Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Why do you think St. Francis has us consider all of this before really moving forward with a recommitment of our resolutions? Why not just jump into the resolutions?
Which of these considerations jumped out at you? What is something significant you would feel comfortable sharing?
Have you ever thought about the importance of God’s unique call for you? Often we feel like just another blade of grass in the field. Why are our unique and personal resolutions so important?

 

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Sep 10, 7:26 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): Hello Everyone! It’s Judy.God really works in strange ways. Tonight’s topic on considering resolutions we are about to make comes a few days before I will renew the Solemn Resolution of Love as an Oblate of the Precious Blood, on this coming Thursday. So this reflection is most a propos.

Sep 10, 7:26 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Wow! hello Judy and Guest

:29 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Yes Mother. The Oblates are a prayer apostolate of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, a cloistered, contemplative congregation whose mission is prayer and sacrifice for the sanctification and salvation of priests. We Oblates share in that mission. PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I made my Solemn Resolution on September 14, 2013. These questions helped me to take a look at the concept of renrenewing resolutions and prepared me for the step I am taking. 34 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I think preparing for resolutions adds depth to the commitment36 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): It’s like when we renew our vows publicly once a year- we take a 3 day retreat before it

 

Sep 10, 7:36 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): as preparation

 

Sep 10, 7:36 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): and to grow in understanding of our vows or resolutions year by year

:37 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) So diving into the first question about considering our resolutions before recommitting ourselves to them. We need to examine our lives and see how well we have lived out those resolutions. Were we truly faithful? Be grateful to God for that fidelity. If we have stumbled or failed in a resolution. we need to see the reason, the weakness within us which allowed us to stumble or fail, and we need to express our sorrow for these deficiencies and resolve to be more attentive to our performance.

Sep 10, 7:37 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): That is very special ! Soo important !

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Ruth (Guest): That sounds like a very good idea. But are your vows not also perpetual or are they also year-to-year, Sister?

Sep 10, 7:38 PM

Carol Ann: We must all reflect on our vows as Christians through baptism, but it is even more critical to do so for those in religious life

 

Sep 10, 7:38 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Perpetual vows but devotionally renewed publicly once a year and for the community once a month on First Friday

8 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy)We should not just jump into the resolutions, for if we do not examine ourselves and recognize and admit our failings, we will be most certain to repeat them. M

Carol Ann: the vows and resolutions we make are a confirmation of the inner transformation God is working within uw

 

Sep 10, 7:39 PM

:44 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) the formula of the Resolution begins ” Most Adorable Trinity, desiring that my life may be of perfect love as an Oblate of the Precious Blood, affiliated with the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood and their Apostolate for the sanctification of Priests, I (name) renew my Solemn Resolution to preserve the habitual disposition and intention of doing all my actions of love for You.”

Sep 10, 7:44 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Soo true Judy !

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Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): We usually have a priest help us prepare for a recommitment

 

Sep 10, 7:47 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I will be meeting with my spiritual director prior to the renewal.

Sep 10, 7:48 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) We are scattered all over the country and do not come together at any time, so all of our exercises are done individually.

Sep 10, 7:48 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): So the theme runs true through these various ways of becoming closer to God

9 PM

Ruth (Guest): Come to think of it, even in the Girl

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Ruth (Guest): Scout song “When e’er you make a promise” these ideas are expressed.

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Hmm!

 

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Carol Ann: yes, we must be continually examining ourselves and our motives. I feel it is best to do this regularly with a spiritual director or advisor, because it can be very difficult to see inside ourselves sometimes. Can’t se the forest for the trees as they say.

 

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): I was reflecting this morning on how the busyness of life really uproots us from our life with Jesus and our Christian Community . We must avoid this and remain in our communities growing in our Faith together helping one another !

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Ruth (Guest): “Consider well it’s importance, and when made, engrave it upon your heart!”

Sep 10, 7:50 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Before I forget to tell you all I go to France next Sat and will not be back here until Sept 28 so I think the next chat I can attend is Oct 1.

 

Sep 10, 7:51 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): It is our first general Assembly in 25 years Please pray

 

Sep 10, 7:51 PM

Lisa C: Yes, will pray

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Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Hi Lisa!

 

 

Guest3249 (Guest): Have a wonderful trip Sister Susan ! Know I will be praying for you ! God Love You !

Sep 10, 7:52 PM

Ruth (Guest): Will be happy to pray for you and the assembly. Can you tell us more about what happens at a General Assembly — in general, and then specifically.

Sep 10, 7:52 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I like this consideration: Consider before Whom you promised. It was before the whole Court of Heaven. The Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph, your Guardian Angel, Saint Louis, the whole Company of the Blessed, were looking on with joy and approbation, beholding, with love unspeakable, your heart cast at your Saviour’s Feet and dedicated to His Service. That act of yours called forth special delight in the Heavenly Jerusalem, and it will now be renewed if you on your part heartily renew your good resolutions.

 

Sep 10, 7:52 PM

Carol Ann: it sounds like a wonderful trip, Sr. Susan Marie.

 

Sep 10, 7:53 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): We are going to work on about 9 topics for our Order I have never been to one before tho

 

Sep 10, 7:53 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): So I can happily report to all when I return!

 

Sep 10, 7:53 PM

Lisa C: Will one of them be longer discernment time that Pope Francis talked about?

Sep 10, 7:54 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): We begin with a day of reflection on the Sacred Heart and then consider things like formation, enclosure, media etc and how it relates to our life and Constituions

 

Sep 10, 7:54 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Question 2. What most jumped out at me was “Consider when God led you to these important resolutions. It was in the flower of your life, and how great the blessing of learning early what we can never know soon enough. I developed a deep devotion to Our Lady when I was 6 or 7. And around i, I felt the stirrings of the desire to give myself completely to the Lord. And I placed myself firmly on that road right through my high school years and entered the novitiate right after graduation from high school

Sep 10, 7:54 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes

 

Sep 10, 7:55 PM

Lisa C: Will it apply to Nuns who have already begun, or only new ones?

Sep 10, 7:55 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Even though I left the novitiate 2 and a half years later, I have maintained a deep spiritual life and continue to desire to give my life entirely to the Lord.

Sep 10, 7:55 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): New ones but first the Constitutions need to be changed which can take a long time

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Lisa C: Do they change at the meeting, or do you go home and all vote?

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Judy you were chosen so young- a devotion so strong at such a tender age.

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Carol Ann: This is a major change then for the Visitation. Scary and exciting, both

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): No it takes years and canon lawyers etc

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I am so grateful to the Lord for attracting me to Himself at such a young age.

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): all orders of contemplative nature are going to change in this regard

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Lisa C: That is really good, that they have Canon Lawyers do it

Sep 10, 7:57 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Soo special Judy !

6 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): No it takes years and canon lawyers etc

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I am so grateful to the Lord for attracting me to Himself at such a young age.

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): all orders of contemplative nature are going to change in this regard

 

Sep 10, 7:56 PM

Lisa C: That is really good, that they have Canon Lawyers do it

Sep 10, 7:57 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Soo special Judy !

Sep 10, 7:57 PM

Carol Ann: Even Carmelites and Benedictines, etc?

 

Sep 10, 7:57 PM

Ruth (Guest): I worked on a Constitutional Committee in college — wow, what a long, arduous job that was.

Sep 10, 7:57 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes Carol Anne

 

Sep 10, 7:58 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): from Vultum Dei letter: 15. In today’s social, cultural and religious context, monasteries need to pay great attention to vocational and spiritual discernment, without yielding to the temptation to think in terms of numbers and efficiency. They should ensure that candidates receive personalised guidance and adequate programmes of formation, always keeping in mind that for initial formation and that following temporary profession, to the extent possible, “ample time must be reserved”, no less than nine years

 

Sep 10, 7:58 PM

Carol Ann: it seems to me that the vows are already so thorough and so profound, how could they be different?

 

Sep 10, 7:58 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): and not more than twelve.

 

 

Sep 10, 7:59 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Just a longer wait for people to be sure and not get indults of dispensation

 

Sep 10, 7:59 PM

Lisa C: I wonder sometimes how some people take marriage vows seriously and others do not. God is part of the marriage bond, but some do not see that.

Sep 10, 7:59 PM

Carol Ann: Oh, Sr., yes. I totally see that. Depending on where i visited, that level of guidance was not available

tion that lasts for about 9 years.

Sep 10, 8:00 PM

Lisa C: There should be better formation for marriage

8:00 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Even Secular Institutes have a formation that lasts for about 9 years.

Sep 10, 8:00 PM

01 PM

Ruth (Guest): I think the Jesuits typically have 10 years formation.

Sep 10, 8:01 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): This one is good too: Consider how you were led to make those resolutions. How good and gracious God was then to you! Did He not draw you by the tender wiles of His Holy Spirit? Were not the sails by which your little bark was wafted into the haven of safety those of love and charity? Did not God lure you on with His Heavenly Sweetness, by Sacraments, prayer, and pious books? Ah, my child, while you slept God watched over you with His boundless Love, and breathed thoughts of peace into your heart!

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Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Maybe St Francis points could be used in marriage prep :02 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Soo true Lisa ! Soo much emphasis on Wedding reception in culture and very little on the formation of Marriage !

Sep 10, 8:03 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Beautiful Sister Susan !

Sep 10, 8:03 PM

Lisa C: Drawing by the tender wiles of His Holy Spirit….in my case the Holy Spirit was acting through the Visitation Nuns. They were very kind and very gentle and that was very sweet.

4 PM

Carol Ann: i have always been drawn to quiet contemplation, even when i did not realize that is what i was actually doing.

 

Sep 10, 8:04 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): They had the true Visitandine spirit

 

 

, 8:05 PM

Ruth (Guest): At my age, nine to twelve years seems to make it an impossibility to ever become a full member of a religious community . . .

Sep 10, 8:05 PM

Lisa C: Oh, that is interesting, Mother

Sep 10, 8:05 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Moving into question 3. I don’t think that I have ever thought about the importance of God’s unique call for me. I am aware of the uniqueness of each individual. Surely God must deal with each one in a unique way so as to captivate that person. For example, He gradually led St. Augustine through a life of intellectual pursuit and wanton living, to a deep spiritual life and the gift of sanctity.

Sep 10, 8:05 PM

Carol Ann: me too, Ruth

 

Sep 10, 8:06 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): I saw Harry yesterday ! The triplets started preschool at St Amelias ! Only one had tears . Harry said he might join me for Mass one day ! Praise God !

Sep 10, 8:06 PM

Ruth (Guest): Judy, you have been so graced.

Sep 10, 8:06 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Wonderful!

 

Sep 10, 8:06 PM

Carol Ann: that’s great news, Brian

8:07 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes each soul is so different and God guides us delicately for the most part

 

Sep 10, 8:08 PM

Ruth (Guest): Yes, I think there should be marriage preparation from an early age, and then more and deeper as the usual age of marriage draws near.

Sep 10, 8:08 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Harry reminds me of St Paul ! When he comes to Christ he will bring half the world with him ! Keep praying Sisters !

Sep 10, 8:08 PM

Ruth (Guest): Brian, it is an amazing work you do for the Lord

Sep 10, 8:09 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (judy) St. Gemma Galgani, by the time she was about 5, already had a deep personal relationship with the Lord and it was said of her that she had never committed a deliberate venial sin. Holiness was hers from a very young age. She died at age 24. God reached Augustine through St. Amvmrose who baptized him at the age of 33. God reached Gemma through the instruction and example of her mother who died when she was quite young Because each person is unique, God’s action in each life is also unique.

Sep 10, 8:09 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): God does Great Work Ruth !

Sep 10, 8:09 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Oops, St Ambrose.

M

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): One needs to wake up spiritually and some do so young and some older I was definitely older

 

Sep 10, 8:10 PM

Ruth (Guest): Yes, Judy, that is a good observation.

Sep 10, 8:11 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Sometimes we wake up early and perhaps fall asleep again and need a new awakening.

Sep 10, 8:11 PM

Carol Ann: i had some pretty good nudges when i was younger, then i sort of wander off for awhile, and had to be lured back, but He never left me

2 PM

Ruth (Guest): Sister, I feel that I was born hungry and thirsty and gradually learned that even that — even the pain — was GIFT — to draw me nearer to the Source of all that satisfies authentically.

Sep 10, 8:13 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Our unique and personal resolutions are important because they are the result of God’s reaching out in a special way and inviting us to a deeper relationship with Him, and exhibit our response to His unique and special call to us.

Sep 10, 8:13 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes you have a deep and authentic spirituality- did you ever consider being a hermit or do you prefer community

 

Sep 10, 8:14 PM

Lisa C: Sometimes God is very hard on ones who belong to him. Eric Bolling, TV newsman, goes to Mass every day, talks about it on TV. He lost his job and his son killed himself the same day.

Sep 10, 8:14 PM

Ruth (Guest): “Were not the sails by which your little bark was wafted into the haven of safety those of love and charity?”

Sep 10, 8:15 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): I was soo close to Jesus when I was young . I used to practise saying Mass in our living room . I wanted to join Carmelites for High School . My parents would not let me go . I drifted away for many years very difficult going to public High School and College !

Sep 10, 8:15 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes a shock- but suffering by those who know what to do with it happens

 

Sep 10, 8:15 PM

Carol Ann: I have always wanted a small community, but recent experiences seem to be indicating i may actually be Camaldolese–a hermit in community

:16 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Will that take you away from the Brothers and Sisters of Charity Domestic Expression?

Sep 10, 8:17 PM

Carol Ann: No, because I have already promised them, but it is a great insight into how I should be living, and why my experiences in traditional cloisters didn’t quite work, as much as i loved them and wanted them to

20 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): I had the privilege of attending the Out of the Darkness Walk in Buffalo yesterday and I dedicated walk to a friend Kevin who worked a small pharmacy serving rural community . He lost his business to big corporation Pharmacy . He returned to drinking and took his life ! Wonderful man who faithfully served community for decades ! Large turnout at walk ! Much healing was being provided by our Lord Jesus !

Sep 10, 8:20 PM

Ruth (Guest): Interesting, Carol Ann. God lives in community. God IS Community: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I don’t think I CHOSE to be a hermit. This huge hermitage was originally “stocked” (blankets, air mattresses, dishes, etc.) to provide a place where my Queens Village Prayer Group could come for retreat.

Sep 10, 8:20 PM

Carol Ann: Lisa, you make a very good point. God is harder on those He draws closest to him. I read a reflection earlier today, can’t remember the source, that as we draw closer to His heart we must remember that it is a Sacred Heart crowned with thorns and those thorns will poke us

1 PM

Lisa C: Blessed Mother had her Heart pierced many times.

Sep 10, 8:21 PM

Carol Ann: Ruth, well, hermits do live in intentional community, they just don’t see each other every minute

PM

Ruth (Guest): Yes, Carol Ann. I learned that, I think, when I visited, a number of times, the Carmelites in Dachau, Germany — or maybe from the writings of Sts. Theresa and John of the Cross. But you just taught me a new name for that sort of community. PM

Guest8658 (Guest): Carol Anne, have you ever heard of New Camandoli Hermitage? It is located in California. You can enter it in your browser and get information about their way of life. I read a book about their life several years ago and I tried to find the name in the website but was unable to do so.

Sep 10, 8:25 PM

Carol Ann: My director says to understand what it means, look at the life of the Camadolese monks in Big Sur CA

 

Sep 10, 8:25 PM

Carol Ann: I have and they are the example of the hermit in a group. very little daily contact, sometimes only weekly contact with others for the more advanced.

 

Sep 10, 8:26 PM

Ruth (Guest): And Charles de Foucheau (spelling?) — there are lay associations and communities based on his experience as a hermit.

Sep 10, 8:26 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Maybe you can visit them sometime.

Sep 10, 8:27 PM

Carol Ann: They are having a hard time this year because their roads slid out in a big storm this winter and they were stranded for quite a while. not sure how the roads are right now though

 

Sep 10, 8:27 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) Charles de Foucould, I believe.

Sep 10, 8:27 PM

Carol Ann: my own little hermitage is settling into a place of solitude and quiet, where i spiritually recharge and then go back out to conquer.

 

Sep 10, 8:28 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Amen Carol Ann !

8 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I will return to the website after we are finished and try to find the book. If I do, I will e-mail you.

Sep 10, 8:28 PM

Carol Ann: please do, Judy

 

Sep 10, 8:29 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Kairos Mini-Retreat Friday Night and Saturday at Wende Correctional ! Please keep men in Prayer !

Sep 10, 8:30 PM

Carol Ann: We will, Brian. your retreats are such blessed times!

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Lisa C: Please pray for Landon’s family, he died from his brain tumor

Sep 10, 8:30 PM

Carol Ann: oh no!

1 PM

Ruth (Guest): Friday I attended a priest funeral. The priest was chaplain to the Cursillo movement in this diocese, and friends with a “sister” — one who left the Order (layisized?); anyway she used to head the third order Carmelites, but retired to Vermont, to live with a biol. sister. She was there and lots of others with square-foot sized brown scapulars outside their regular clothing.

Sep 10, 8:31 PM

Guest3249 (Guest): Dear God please help Landon’s Family in everyway !

2 PM

Ruth (Guest): Amen, Brian.

Sep 10, 8:32 PM

Guest8658 (Guest): (Judy) I just found it in my file of books I want to read. It is”The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality” edited by Peter-Damian Belisle.

Sep 10, 8:32 PM

Carol Ann: lots of people to pray for this week

 

Sep 10, 8:33 PM

Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Dear friends I will sign off now. The newsletters should continue for the 2 weeks I am away. I will pray for you before the coffins of our Holy Founders St Francis and St Jane

 

Sep 10, 8:33 PM

Carol Ann: ooh, I will copy/paste that into google. thank you!