March 8 -14th is the newly designated National Catholic Sisters Week! To celebrate that and the upcoming Year of Consecrated Life, we have a special chat session this Sunday. Sister Susan Marie and Sister Mary Roberta will be sharing their stories and their joy as Sisters of the Visitation!
Sister Susan Marie: What are ways to recognize or honor Religious Sisters during National Catholic Sisters week? Are religious sisters often overlooked?
What is the significance of the Visitation? Why would an entire religious order be named after this event?
Look up the Canticle of Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79. What similarities do you see compared to Mary’s Magnificat Canticle?
Mar 9 2014, 7:31 PM
Sister Susan Marie: I call the initial entrance into religious life the BUBBLE of joy. That’s how I experienced it
B (guest): I think that is fantastic that they create a national catholic sisters week!! Aww that is absolutely beautiful!! PM
K (guest): Hello everyone. “Bubble of Joy” – wonderful!
Sister Susan Marie: And it could not be burst! Nothing , no incident, could indent it- at least the first 10 days!!!
A: I like the bubble of joy!
K (guest): What happened after the first 10 days Sister?
Sister Susan Marie: The joy was there but the protection was gone
A: pretty awesome! you still remember how you felt!
Sister Susan Marie: Can’t forget those incredible days
K (guest): I can remember taking my walks when I first realized that it might really be possible to become a religious sister – shear joy!
Sister Susan Marie: So now the joy is there but it is in “my hands” so to speak, and attitude. Much grace, but I Could lose it whereas I could not the first early days
Sister Susan Marie: Yes it is possible for all of you!
K (guest): So losing the protection means that it is now your choosing to accept the joy?
Sister Susan Marie: Yes that’s a good way to put it
A: The thought that our Lord would call me- I dont know what to say…
Mar 9 2014, 7:36 PM
Sister Susan Marie: How about YES!
Sister Susan Marie: I remember before I entered at one point the Srs gave me a room in the Monastery. I went back to my apt. and all I could think was I have a room in a Monastery!
A: really! Not many can say that
Mar 9 2014, 7:39 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes I no longer stayed in the retreat area but had a special place- it was incredible- even as I lived in my own apartment already- there was no comparison
Sister Susan Marie: Under the roof with the Lord
K(guest): Such a peace comes over me when I think (dream) of being “under the roof with the Lord” and living with like minded sisters.
B (guest): That is the one aspect I long for – to live with Our Lord everyday for the rest of my life
K (guest): Yes B- for the rest of my life!
Sister Susan Marie: It is Heavenly eternity on earth
Sister Susan Marie: to be continued in Reality forever
K (guest): Doesn’t it way something like that over one of the doorways in the monastery Sister?
Sister Susan Marie: I remember the joy of your Solemn Profession , Sister as I was privileged to be there
Mar 9 2014, 7:46 PM
K (guest): I think maybe I saw a video of it online.
Sister Susan Marie: http://livejesus.blogspot.com/2009/10/solemn-profession.html
A: I have seen Sisters profess on you tube- moves me to tears
Sister Susan Marie: That’s Sister’s Profession
A: thank you!
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, giving oneself to God completely is what our lives are all about, and in my Solemn Profession it became more “real.” Yes, giving oneself to God completely is what our lives are all about, and in my Solemn Profession it became more “real.”
K (guest): I assume grace comes with profession?
Mar 9 2014, 7:49 PM
A: and before?
Sister Susan Marie: And on the Feast of St Margaret Mary- grace from the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mary Roberta Viano: When you make that solemn promise in public, you know you have to try to fulfill it to the best of your ability and with the help of God’s grace.
Mary Roberta Viano: And, of course, it’s always a work in progress…
K(guest): Is it like becoming more committed?
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, K, since anything you promise before witnesses is more important.
K(guest): Yes, the vows of marriage!
A: How do you make that step? are you sure? or taking a leap of faith
Mary Roberta Viano: And when people see you in a religious habit (like seeing a wedding ring), they know you’re fully and forever committed.
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s a leap, for sure, by God Himself is the safety net. PM
K (guest): A religious in habit – a sign of the eternal wedding feast in heaven?
Mary Roberta Viano: True
Mary Roberta Viano: I like these words of SFdS’s: “There is no vocation which has not its irksomeness, its bitterness, and disgust…”
Sister Susan Marie: And this day of deep smiles and gratitude of the heart is one to hold on to when the seas get rough
Mary Roberta Viano: I like these words of SFdS’s: “There is no vocation which has not its irksomeness, its bitterness, and disgust…”
Sister Susan Marie: Which they inevitably do- the Cross and Calvary are central in all Christian lives
A: i see but the commitment keeps you there
Mar 9 2014, 7:56 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes and the LOVE
Mary Roberta Viano: “Except,” he adds, ” those who are wholly resigned to the will of God, everyone would willingly change his or her condition for that of others.”
Alice Lewis-Eckardt: yes the love
Sister Susan Marie: Yes and the LOVE
Sister Susan Marie: Temptations are a part of the life as of anyone’s
K (guest): “The disciple simply burns his boats and goes ahead. He is called out…the old life is left behind, and completely surrendered. The disciple is dragged out of his relative security into a life of absolute insecurity…out of the realm of the finite…into the realm of infinite possibilities.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Sister Susan Marie: Beautiful K
Sister Susan Marie: I did not know that quote
A: I love that K
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS also suggests in his letters to “…do what you are doing and do it better if you can.” Doing are best is everyone’s vocation.
K (guest): Again, it came from my spiritual advisor.
Mary Roberta Viano: our not are
Mary Roberta Viano: I’ve found that the vocation to a consecrated life calls me into those “infinite possibilities.”
Sister Susan Marie: I think Visitandines have a unique grace of joy in that we are living from a Gospel passage of joy and new life, charity and concern. BUT we must live from it, truly!
K(guest): And how do you do that Sister Susan Marie?
Sister Susan Marie: I think too Sister, that as ST Jane you have lived two states of life and on a deep level can see the joys of both and the difficulties of both
Mar 9 2014, 8:01 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Wearing the habit and having made my vows, I feel responsible to be the best advertisement for my Spouse that I can be.
K(guest): I think wearing a habit makes one more accountable – maybe that is the wrong reason, but….
Sister Susan Marie: I need to call upon that unique grace and claim it- that joy which is inherent in the vocation needs to be used
Mary Roberta Viano: I don’t say, for example, “Well, today I’ll wear jeans and it’ll be a jeans-kind of day.
Sister Susan Marie: When it is not in me I know I have done something not in line with the Lord’s will
K (guest): Again accepting the grace offered?
Sister Susan Marie: Yes and examining myself , my heart, in honesty. Am I being controlling, too negative? If I am that hides the joy
Mary Roberta Viano: Responding honestly to God’s grace is what Christ showed us to do in His temptations (Gospel for this 1st Sunday of Lent).
Mary Roberta Viano: never any pride, full trust and dependence on our heavenly Father
K (guest): Letting God purify us through the pain of seeing ourselves as we are.
Sister Susan Marie: Loving others brings it back- putting them first
Sister Susan Marie: Yes- He does that and we are in balance again. We can run to Him in the Blessed Sacrament
Am: Self absorption can be a problem, I think, even in prayer.
Mar 9 2014, 8:08 PM
Sister Susan Marie: When I first entered there were 2 novices ahead of me and they had a quarrel- over where to put a spoon! I drew a picture of 2 hearts with a spoon in between dividing them. Never let anything get in between two hearts
K (guest): Goooood Sister Susan!
K (guest): Yes A – I definitely struggle with self absorption.
Mary Roberta Viano: A way to keep hearts united is not to focus on the negative, but always see the positive – the good in the other.
Mar 9 2014, 8:10 PM
Sister Susan Marie: That’s perhaps why St Jane said a Visitandine’s way of prayer is a simple gaze..on God!
Am: I was just thinking, like the Our Father mentions the word ‘us’ but in many of the psalms, it is like ‘have mercy on me” I think there has to be a balance in prayer
Mary Roberta Viano: gazing on God, the all-Good
Am: gazing is truly contemplative
Sister Susan Marie: And St Francis de Sales is the saint of balance! PM
K (guest): I used to pray often to see the good and bring out the good in others. I need to start that again.
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s a great Lenten discipline!
Sister Susan Marie: Good for all of us- that prayer.
Mary Roberta Viano: When a complaint (see the negative) starts forming on my tongue, I have to immediately turn it into a compliment. 4, 8:14 PM
K (guest): Very good Sister Mary Roberta!
Mar 9 2014, 8:14 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Hopefully, seeing the religious habit reminds others of the Supreme Good – God.
Sister Susan Marie: SO how can we celebrate National Catholic Sisters WeeK?
Mar 9 2014, 8:15 PM
K (guest): I intend to contact a few religious and let them know I am praying for them and appreciate them.
Mary Roberta Viano: maybe by inviting a young woman we know to consider becoming a Sister
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s great, K
A: praying for all religious
K (guest): I may show a video “Beloved” to my 7 & 8 grade girls.
Am: nice, K
Sister Susan Marie: What’s that video?
K (guest): It is I think the Dominican Sisters in Nashville and I think it is called “Beloved” or that is in the title. I don’t have it here, it is at school.
Mar 9 2014, 8:18 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Sounds good
Mary Roberta Viano: showing or watching a nun video is a good idea
K (guest): It is full of sisters expressing JOY!
Sister Susan Marie: If you’re discerning a vocation, what about taking the next small step this week?
Or if you know someone who’s discerning a vocation, encourage her to take the next small step.
Alt: what can we do Sister?
Sister Susan Marie: Different for each one. perhaps looking at a calendar for a retreat date?
Mary Roberta Viano: go online and check out a few Sisters’ web sites – like our own
Sister Susan Marie: Making a new pros and cons list for continuing your discernment and or listing why and why not for a particular decision
Mary Roberta Viano: Write an email to a sister, asking about going for a weekend retreat. PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Or if you know someone who’s discerning a vocation, encourage her to take the next small step.
Mary Roberta Viano: make an appt. with your spiritual director (or find a spiritual director) to talk with about your vocation
Sister Susan Marie: Talking with another discerner about what she is doing and journeying with each other over your “gap’ area or obstacle areas
B (guest): That is a good idea Sr Susan
B (guest): With the pros and cons
Mar 9 2014, 8:23 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: There are houses of women (sometimes connected to colleges) of women who are all discerning vocations to the religious life.
Sister Susan Marie: Yes that helps. Even St Katherine Drexel used that approach
Al: great ideas
Mary Roberta Viano: Take your “cons” in prayer to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
Sister Susan Marie: Making a novena for grace to take your next step
Mary Roberta Viano: Before the Tabernacle, be open and listening to what He tells you.
B(guest): Thank you for the suggestion Sr MR
Mar 9 2014, 8:25 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Our Lord wants you to know; He doesn’t want His will for you to be hidden and hard to find out.
K (guest): Yes a novena for grace in taking the next step – thank you Sister Susan Marie.
Mary Roberta Viano: Great idea!
Mary Roberta Viano: And we on our part will be praying for all those discerning!
Sister Susan Marie: WE can all support each other in prayer in a more intense way this week
Al: that would be wonderful Sister.
Sister Susan Marie: Our “virtual” discernment community here is made truly real when bonded in prayer
Mar 9 2014, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Prayer is POWERFUL!
Al: I would appreciate prayer and will definitely pray for all here