How He Loves

St. Elizabeth convent is one of our houses directly in the path of Hurricane Irene. Funny, the name Irene means peace, but the winds and rain that she brought were far from peaceful. Although we do not live close to the shore, there were some concerns about tree and wind damage as well as flooding in the creek that runs through the backyard. With only one veteran hurricane survivor in residence, we weathered the storm prepared for the worst, with plenty of flashlights, batteries, candles, bottled water, and ice cream. Evening came and morning followed with minimal damage. We had power throughout the storm, but the priests at the retirement home where we serve lost electricity and had a flooded basement. We rescued them early in the morning with extra batteries and more importantly, a pot of coffee. They, in turn, and most importantly, celebrated Mass for us.

This summer, one of the songs played throughout the Steubenville Mid-America Youth Conference was David Crowder Band’s “How He Loves.” After experiencing this hurricane (my first since Bertha in 1996), I was reminded of the line that speaks of the power of God’s love and mercy using the imagery of a hurricane.

He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, and I realize just how beautiful You are, and how great Your affections are for me.

As you can see from the picture, Hurricane Irene took a toll on this tree in our backyard!

The Lord’s love is powerful! When we open ourselves to His love, it may seem scary at first, but once we surrender to His power, we are refined, we are made new, and we become who we are meant to be. What looks (and feels) like destruction gives way to beauty. The dead branches and weak trees are knocked down so that it can give way to new life. We are in constant need of the powerful mercy of God who desires our perfection.

In today’s Gospel, we heard Jesus begin to prepare his disciples for what was to come...his own passion and death. Peter gives the natural human response, to shy away from all that looks like utter destruction, but Jesus reminds him and all of us, that we also have to die in order to rise in Him.

In the days to come, those of us on the east coast will be cleaning up the destruction wrought by Irene. In addition to clearing branches in the backyard, I’ll be spending some time giving way to the hurricane of God’s love in my own life knowing that it might hurt and be messy at times, but by His grace, it always gives way to future glory.

- Sr. M. Karolyn, FSGM

Rooted in Christ

Pope Benedict XVI addresses young women religious at World Youth Day on August 20th.  May his words inspire us to remain rooted in the Word of God and to be His witnesses throughout the world.  May many more young women have courage to respond generously with their lives to give all to follow the One Who loves them so much. 

Some quotes from the Holy Father: 
It is not by accident that consecrated life is born from hearing the word of God and embracing the Gospel as its rule of life.

In a world of relativism and mediocrity, we need that radicalism to which your consecration, as a way of belonging to the God who is loved above all things, bears witness.

Dear Sisters, this is the witness of holiness to which God is calling you, as you follow Jesus Christ closely and unconditionally in consecration, communion and mission. The Church needs your youthful fidelity, rooted and built up in Christ. Thank you for your generous, total and perpetual "yes" to the call of the Loved One. I pray that the Virgin Mary may sustain and accompany your consecrated youth, with the lively desire that it will challenge, nourish and illumine all young people.

Pope’s Address to Young Women Religious
Full Text

Photos from the event

Be fire!

As a new graduate, holding a Masters degree in Moral Theology, I am humbled, for “theologians have the responsibility of participating in the building up of Christ's Body in unity and truth.”

What did Fr. Philip Lowe, PhD, say at our Graduation ceremony?

             You were given a gift!

             Go and bring what you have studied to
             those who have not had the opportunity
             you were given.

             In other words, be fire!

There is no lack for opportunity at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where I am currently assigned. I have been asked a wide range of questions: “Surely Joseph accompanied Mary on her journey to visit Elizabeth, didn’t he?”, “Did Mary have children after Jesus, since Joseph was still around?”, “Are we obligated to always follow our conscience? what if it is erroneous?”, “How are the internal and external forums addressed in the Sacrament of Confession?”, “How can Fr. Corapi just leave the priesthood? Don’t priests receive an indelible mark at the moment of ordination?”, “I beat myself up over past missed opportunities; I have so many questions; what is the direction for my life now?”

How do I answer these questions? How do I direct these souls?

When I took the Foundational Systematic Theology course, one of the Church documents we read was On the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian. It says that “Truth, by its nature, seeks to be communicated.” Who is supposed to do the communicating? I, for one, am to do that! In order to do communicate the truth, “the theologian is called to deepen his own life and continuously unite his studies with prayer. In this way, he will become more open to the supernatural sense of faith upon which he depends…. The commitment to theology requires a spiritual effort to grow in virtue and holiness.”

How do I grow in virtue and holiness in order to build up the Body of Christ? Virtues must be pursued, acquired, and cultivated. St. Thomas Aquinas described the life of virtue as a “climb [up a ladder] from the many to the One.”

As a religious, my life should manifest concretely the moral implications of the Christian life; give authentic witness to the values of creation and the kingdom, Christ’s sacrificial love and resurrected life, the dignity of the human person and the solidarity of God’s people; and, give radical witness to Christ so that others may hear and see the Good News.

"If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire," St. Catherine of Siena said. "Let the truth be your delight.... Proclaim it... with a certain congeniality."

Sources: Donum Veritatis: On the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian, CDF.

Evangelical Kernels: A Theological Spirituality of the Religious Life, Dennis J. Billy, CSSR.

Sister M. Ancilla, FSGM, MA

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 26, 2011

We rejoice!

On August 15th our novices and postulants made their first profession of vows and were received into the community.  We rejoice in their yes to the Lord as they make this next step in religious life.  You can check out more pictures on our website. Please keep us in your prayers!