Guest537 (guest): Hi Sister Susan….is it allowed that one who is to old to join a community still be on here?
Jul 6 2014, 7:33 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Tonight we are open to questions and chat on consecrated life
Jul 6 2014, 7:33 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes you are welcome. How old do you mean?
Jul 6 2014, 7:34 PM
Guest537 (guest): 63 yrs young
Jul 6 2014, 7:34 PM
Sister Susan Marie: That is not too old for some Visitation communities
Jul 6 2014, 7:34 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Are you interested in monastic life?
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Guest537 (guest): yes very much so. but my family needs me right now so I feel the lord is calling me to this, but in my heart I have deep desire to live monastic life
Jul 6 2014, 7:36 PM
Sister Susan Marie: You can become an associate of the Visitation for ex and spend time at the Monastery
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Sister Susan Marie: Depends how close you live to a monasteryDepends how close you live to a monastery
Jul 6 2014, 7:37 PM
Guest537 (guest): where can I find out more about this? is there a list of monastery on your website?
Jul 6 2014, 7:37 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes there is let me find a link
Jul 6 2014, 7:37 PM
Guest537 (guest): thank you
Jul 6 2014, 7:38 PM
Sister Susan Marie: This is one set of monasteries
Welcome to our Living Jesus Chat Room. Just sign in, using any of the methods below.
Jul 6 2014, 7:39 PM
Sister Susan Marie: http://visitationspirit.org/links/monasteries/
Monasteries | Visitation Spirit
Jul 6 2014, 7:40 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Then there is another group: in Tyringham MA, Snellville Ga, Mobile AL, Toledo OH Philadelphia Pa and Rockville VA
Jul 6 2014, 7:40 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Do you live near any of these 11 locations?
Jul 6 2014, 7:40 PM
Sister Susan Marie: WElcome viewer- tonite we chat on consecrated life
We are going to have a year dedicated to religious life in 2015 tPope Francis has announced
Jul 6 2014, 7:42 PM
Guest537 (guest): Sr Susan…I am not near any. I live in far west part of country. but thank you for list
Sister Susan Marie: So how best can we prepare you for the year of consecrated life? What kind of events would help you spiritually?
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Sister Susan Marie: I am hoping we can have four- around our feasts, which are seasonal too9 PM
Sister Susan Marie: An event for St Margaret Mary’s Feast, in Oct, St Francis de Sales in Jan Visitation in May and St Jane in Aug:50 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Our spirituality is so rich, but how can we convey that to participants in the year of consecrated life.. that’s what I am thinking o:51 PM
Ali: A reatreat will help for sure
I will try do plan one soon
Jul 6 2014, 7:52 PM
Ali: also a plan of life
Jul 6 2014, 7:52 PM
Sister Susan Marie: One year, way back in 1998 we had talks in the chapel, then round table discussions and a tour of parts of the Monastery
Sister Susan Marie: Plan of life? Like the daily schedule?
Ali: yes sister. things to help me grow spiritually
Sister Susan Marie: I see! Like living the Introduction to the Devout Life- practical steps
Al: yes! I know i packed that book…where could it be!
Sister Susan Marie: Oh good guest 537! We could announce these possibilities on the website or do a mini course right here on the chat!
Sister Susan Marie: The Introduction’s on line too! 4, 7:56 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Introduction to DL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life
Introduction to the Devout Life – Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Sister Susan Marie: Introduction to DL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life
Sister Susan Marie: Do I need to go into full-time ministry to live a truly Christian life? Am I really a Christian if I’m not out preaching the gospel in dangerous places where people have never heard of Christ? Can secular work benefit the kingdom of God? All Christians struggle to discern God’s call on their life, but God does call all to live a Christ-centered life. Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis of Sales attempts to help Christians discern what it means to be a child of God in a secular world. We can glori
Sister Susan Marie: We can glorify God in a secular world, and be a testimony to the world of God’s abounding grace and love.
Sister Susan Marie: I think helping one another to be Christian in a secular, or even pagan world, would be a great way to celebrate consecrated life
Guest537 (guest): those are very good questions and I think I have asked myself…how do I live close to Jesus in the very secular world surrounding me inc my family…ah! can a lay person live or celebrate a consecrated life?
Sister Susan Marie: First, by praying to find other lay persons who have the same spiritual inclinations- holy friendships
Sister Susan Marie: First, by praying to find other lay persons who have the same spiritual inclinations- holy friendships
Sister Susan Marie: Discerning your own spiritual direction and then seeing if a group of religious also have that direction is another way. Praying daily to the Lord
Sister Susan Marie: These are all gifts of the Lord too
Sister Susan Marie: “People today certainly need words, but above all they need a witness to the mercy and tenderness of the Lord, which inflames the heart, awaken hope, appeals to the good. The joy of bringing the consolation of God.”Pope Francis entrusts this mission to us in the consecrated life: Find the Lord, who comforts us like a mother, and comfort the people God. From the joy of meeting the Lord and His call flows the service in the Church ‘s mission: to bring men and women of our time the consolation of God, to bear
Sister Susan Marie: to bear witness to his mercy.
Sister Susan Marie: Thats from the new letter on consecrated life and in relation to laity
Sister Susan Marie: Also: Men and women of our time are waiting for a word of comfort, closeness, forgiveness and true joy. We are called to bring to all the embrace of God, who tenderly leans toward us like a mother. Religious should be a sign of full humanity, facilitators and not drivers of grace, under the sign of consolation.
Am: Can you explain that sentence, Sister, that religious should be a sign of full humanity, facilitators and not drivers of grace?
Ali: yes Am- i was thinking on that too
Sister Susan Marie: I think the facilitation aspect is what Sr M Roberta and I do here right on the chat
Sister Susan Marie: Can’t force the grace we each receive but we put ourselves in a position and disposition to receive it
Sister Susan Marie: Certainly by now you know we are fully human!!
Sister Susan Marie: What would you say, Sister?
Ali: What are the ways in which we can be more available
Mary Roberta Viano: I see openness to grace as big-heartedness, which is something that grows naturally and can’t be forced. 1
Ali: kind of like being open to allpeople?
Am: Maybe it’s like when you try to TALK to someone about your faith, it seems many times you turn them off, but by actions, you open up the opportunity to let people be in a position to accept grace
Jul 6 2014, 8:12 PM
Guest537 (guest): would it also be spending time in prayer or better.. live our life praying
Mary Roberta Viano: being open to what Our Lord wants to do in each person we meet
Mary Roberta Viano: So we cultivate an atmosphere of love and acceptance around us so that the people we meet feel accepted and eager to grow in that same love.
Jul 6 2014, 8:13 PM
Am: being “open” is difficult, it’s a kind of passivity to listen or accept messages of individual’s needs
Ali: yes thats hard
Alt: I am a mover! I want to be active
Am: It’s the peace of the Lord!
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s important not to come at people with the sledgehammer of our right beliefs.
Jul 6 2014, 8:14 PM
Ali thats true and also hard!
Mary Roberta Viano: You help the other, like our students are helping the poor in Camden this summer.
Am: Yes, and didn’t St. Francis say something about preaching always, and when necessary speak?
Sister Susan Marie: I think we all need to be sensitive to the crosses each of us carry and show the way to Jesus while still carrying that cross
Am n acquaintance see me at planned parenthood this week praying, and he mentioned something about, “When you are done talking to your imaginary friend, do you want to meet at Costco?” I haven’t returned the message yet, still praying on it.
Guest537 (guest): my son cohabitating and they just had their 2nd premature baby in 13 mos. I offer my love and help and pray ( I think they will) get married. this chat is enlightening thank you
Ali: oh Amy! Thats a tough one
Sister Susan Marie: Even if it is not seen as a cross Jesus is still the answer to all life’s situations- Imean a relationship with Him helps in each situation
Guest537 (guest): St Therese…she offered everything she did to the Lord. hardly in busy world but we can still aspire
Mary Roberta Viano: As SfdS says in TLG: “Our hearts have a thirst that cannot be quenched by the pleasures of this mortal life.”
Am: Yes, Sister, our hearts are restless, until they rest in You. Even the most bitter agnostics are searching
Ali: thats so true. its why people heep buying or doing the next big thing
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Mary Roberta Viano: So even those living a life we disapprove of have this same thirst – even my son and his partner. M
Am: Isn’t that thirst for God what distinguishes us from animals? PM
Mary Roberta Viano: My son’s friends ask him to ask me for intercessory prayers. Interesting
Am: Deep down, we all want Him
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Mary Roberta Viano: God’s grace is continually at work. SFdS says, “Grace has the power not to overpower but to entice our heart.” (TLG) PM
Sister Susan Marie: Entice our hearts- yes, that’s a great theme for us to follow for the year of consecrated life
Jul 6 2014, 8:30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: So I know God’s grace is working on both my sons’ hearts – both of whom are away from the Church, even though they grew up in it.
Sister Susan Marie: WE are enticed by love- true love, unconditional love 32 PM
Guest537 (guest): because God desires us. and I believe never gives up whispering to us
Jul 6 2014, 8:32 PM
Am: Do you feel you love Him so much to accept martyrdom or become a victim soul?
Jul 6 2014, 8:32 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I think the good, generous works my sons do are a result of God’s grace working in them (unrecognized by them0.
Mary Roberta Viano: “God produces good works in us, so do we reciprocally produce them in Him…we cowork them with Him.” (TLG)
Am: It always comes back to surrender to His will
Jul 6 2014, 8:34 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: So I imagine my sons, unbeknownst to them, doing good works (which they certainly do) in the God they refuse to fully acknowledge.
Mary Roberta Viano: St. Peter says (2 Peter 3;12): Take care and labor, that by your good works you make sure your calling.
Jul 6 2014, 8:38 PM
Am: Ithink God’s Will will be done. We as humans hem and haw sometimes, but one day when we look back at it all, the great plan will still be the same
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Mary Roberta Viano: So working good is our response (even my sons’ response) to God, who is calling them.
Jul 6 2014, 8:39 PM
Am incomprehensible, but it’s the only reasonable answer
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Mary Roberta Viano: I love the Salesian charism of gentleness and humility, which keep me trying to be kind in humble response to my all-loving God.
Guest537 (guest): thank you Sr Susan….I will register and come back. God Bless
Jul 6 2014, 8:42 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, prayers and blessings. Let’s keep one another in prayer this week!
Jul 6 2014, 8:43 PM
Am: Good night, but on that last quote by you Sister Mary, I will go and ponder that until next week. That’s all. I will pray for you all, my friends
Jul 6 2014, 8:43 PM
Guest537 (guest): prayers to all. good night,