Sun chat on religious vows re St Margaret Mary
Sister Susan Marie: St. Margaret Mary identified two kinds of poverty- exterior poverty, which consists in privation of goods of this world, and interior poverty, which is renouncement and detachment. What are examples of each which lay people can practice?Poverty is applicable only to the material world. Will greater poverty on earth equal greater spiritual treasure in Heaven?Is following God a blind obedience? Do we give up reason and our own judgment when we are obedient to a higher authority.What is the specific importance of purity is a sinful world? Is purity between us and God, or does it affect society for better or for worse?
SrSusan (guest): . St Margaret Mary was a novice mistress for a while and had about 7 novices
SrSusan (guest): She therefore had to prepare them for an authentic religious life and lived the vows to the hilt
Nov 3 2013, 7:25 PM
V: thank you. that is a lot of novices! how many do you have right now?
SrSusan (guest): Re poverty- she took the worse of everything!
2 novices and one temporary professed
SrSusan (guest): Now taking the least liked “thing” whatever it might be- is something anyone can practise, in or out of formal religious life
Guest318 (guest): Is it better to have a few or a large number?
V: taking the worse of everything seems to me what the oldest child always does for her younger siblings
that is for the sake of her younger siblings
SrSusan (guest): Better individual attention with fewer but a possibly stronger future with many, 318
V: I was the oldest child and always took the worst straight away and left the better for my younger brothers and sisters when I was growing up
SrSusan (guest): That’s a great example . Practicing poverty even in childhood!
Nov 3 2013, 7:30 PM
K (guest): it seems that it would be best to take the worst or least without even thinking about it
V: I think it is thinking about it somewhat, though. Thinking about what is best for the other.
Nov 3 2013, 7:31 PM
SrSusan (guest): Good , as St Francis said, ask for nothing and refuse nothing!
Guest318 (guest): How does your community experience poverty as a community and as individuals?
K(guest): being happy with whatever God provides
SrSusan (guest): As individuals and according to St Francis de Sales, we have nothing- all belongs to the community and should be available in common. He used to have the Sisters exchange everything they had so as not to be attached
SrSusan (guest): As a community, well we have what we need as an institute but not much more
SrSusan (guest): K has been here but I won’t put her on the spot. Outside eyes though could probably say more about whether the community reflects poverty or not
K(guest): It is a simple life, all sharing what they have and happy with what they have
Nov 3 2013, 7:36 PM
V: I worked closely with the Franciscans, and they do have a different sense of poverty, especially the sisters, than do the Visitandine, I think. Lady Poverty is central to Franciscan spirituality. I think Visitandine spirituality is more centered on sharing than actual poverty.
Nov 3 2013, 7:36 PM
SrSusan (guest): St Margaret’s model is the purity of the Heart of Jesus in the Host
SrSusan (guest): Yes detachment from everything for sure
SrSusan (guest): She aimed for Eucharistic sanctity
K (guest): And if we are to be united so intimately with Jesus in the Eucharist, we should desire to be pure.
A: I have asked my priest to be my spiritual director and he has agreed. hopefully he can help me to understand these virtues
K (guest): But it is also in receiving Him in the Eucharist that we grow in purity.
At: and for me confession
Nov 3 2013, 7:40 PM
SrSusan (guest): And as for obedience, St Margaret Mary also referred to the Eucharist, saying that Jesus responds immediately to the sacramental words of the priest, putting Himself in the hands of the priests
A: that is beautiful
SrSusan (guest): So Jesus in the Eucharist helps with all these evangelical counsels, and of course as you mentioned, confession too
SrSusan (guest): But we still have many struggles in living these counsels!
A: I am trying to make more daily masses also. I need Jesus’ help!
Nov 3 2013, 7:42 PM
SrSusan (guest): When St Margaret Mary was a postulant she struggled too
At: its good to know that even the saints have struggled
At: what can help us with obedience Sister?
SrSusan (guest): St Francis de Sales said that obedience is the principal foundation of the Visitation, not austerities.
Nov 3 2013, 7:44 PM
K(guest): Is it perhaps persisting in the struggle that we prove our love for Jesus
Nov 3 2013, 7:44 PM
SrSusan (guest): But obedience can feel like a great austerity!
Nov 3 2013, 7:44 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes I agree K
SrSusan (guest): Practicing yielding to another person is one way
Nov 3 2013, 7:46 PM
A: oh I see
Nov 3 2013, 7:46 PM
SrSusan (guest): It is a big challenge for mature women who have lived independently
V: and I am sure that is one of the major reasons it is hard for mature women to find religious communities who will consider them
SrSusan (guest): If you can catch yourself just once a day not allowing yourself to insist on your own way, but another’s, that would be a good start, cemented by lots of prayer
SrSusan (guest): That is so and to learn a mature obedience, freely given, not a childish one, which might be the only one we remember doing, is another challenge
A: Actually the older I get, the more I trust Jesus with my entire life
Nov 3 2013, 7:49 PM
SrSusan (guest): The beauty of the convent or monastery is that the power of Jesus’ Real presence, the fact He is always there- is a great help to souls
Nov 3 2013, 7:49 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s what He wants! You are following Him A
K (guest): It seems that it is about truly loving one another and truly wanting the best for each other.
Nov 3 2013, 7:50 PM
SrSusan (guest): Love, yes K, the basis, you are so right
A: The more I follow Jesus, the easier it is to love others
K(guest): open hearts to give (yield) and to receive
Nov 3 2013, 7:53 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s stated well and can be done in the workplace as well as in the Monastery
Nov 3 2013, 7:54 PM
SrSusan (guest): But do you run into obstacles?
V: amen, SSM, in the workplace, in the home, in the community
A: the workplace is a tricky one! That’s for sure!
Nov 3 2013, 7:56 PM
K(guest): the hair shirt – I sometimes think about whose hair shirt I might be and it puts it into perspective
Am: But if we try to see the face of Christ in everyone, really try, it’s easy to deal with the unpleasant people
A ohhhh K! thats good
SrSusan (guest): If you are contemplating religious life and know that poverty, chastity and obedience are essential, how do you begin to prepare for them even in your life now?Never too early to begin!
A: I have tried letting go of persomal items and cleaning out my closet. down to a lot less clothesPM
V: tripping down to the essentials in everything, always trying to have an open heart through all the stripping
Nov 3 2013, 7:59 PM
A: personal
Am: Detaching from things, not just material, but habits
Nov 3 2013, 8:00 PM
A: but really thats easy compared to obedience
Nov 3 2013, 8:00 PM
V: amen, am
Am: Obedience is the hardest
SrSusan (guest): Who do you”listen to” now in your lives?
Nov 3 2013, 8:02 PM
K (guest): Praying for these will give us opportunity to grow and recognizing when we fail – confession
V: spiritual director, friends, family, relatives, neighbors (esp those to whom I don’t feel as close)
Nov 3 2013, 8:03 PM
A: trying to listen to my inner voice, my conscience- the voice of God…my priest
Am: I live as a caretaker in a rectory, so I answer to my pastor. Sometimes it’s so difficult to understand why he negates certain ideas I have on painting, repairs, timing…….it’s a challenge to be obedient
V: God gives us pastors who are human beings. such wisdom, but so much for us to learn
Nov 3 2013, 8:05 PM
K (guest): I look at obedience as being to my boss, priests and spiritual director at this point in my life – and in that obedience to God.
Nov 3 2013, 8:05 PM
SrSusan (guest): St Margaret Mary suggests again we go to the Heart of Jesus and ask Him to give us His obedience, to cover for our own difficulties
AM: Christ was obedient even on the cross
It’s a challenge to overcome “ego”
Nov 3 2013, 8:06 PM
SrSusan (guest): Our Blessed Mother “I am the handmaid of the Lord Be it done unto me according to Thy Word” – to ask for her disposition of heart. It can help
Nov 3 2013, 8:06 PM
K(guest): His meek and humble heart – humility and obedience go hand in hand
Nov 3 2013, 8:07 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s why we don’t do it alone but stay as beggars before the Lord and His Mother asking for grace
Nov 3 2013, 8:07 PM
Am: It all goes back to prayer
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS: “..to make ourselves docile, pliable and easy to turn in any direction through most holy obedience..
K (guest): Yes, cooperating with His grace. Hello Sister Mary Roberta.
Mary Roberta Viano: and SFdS adds: “…not for a time nor for certain particular acts, but always, during the whole course of our life, even unto death.” Whew!
Nov 3 2013, 8:09 PM
Am: Like Teresa of Avila said, “all things are passing, only God is changeless.”
PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I have the magical, red book of SFdS’s book in my lap!
Mary Roberta Viano: It comes in very handy!