At a quarter to six this morning, I peered through the chapel doorway to see the pews filled with about forty Sisters silently preparing themselves for the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I quietly walked down the aisle to take my place. “Here I am, Lord,” I prayed as I knelt down, still feeling as if I were living in a dream.
Less than a week ago, I was still living the life as a normal American girl, huddling around my laptop with three of my sisters laughing at our recently added Facebook pictures. After eighteen years of growing up in small town Iowa with my mom and my four sisters, I attended Iowa State University. While making new friends and living the life of a college student, I continued to seek out the Lord’s Will for my life. A desire that had begun when I was about fourteen years old was still buried in my heart—I wanted to be a bride of Christ. During my one year at ISU, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to take the step of visiting a religious community and discerning the call. In no rush, I prayed that the Lord would open a door in His own time. During spring break of that year, I found myself at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, a place that seemed to me to be the home of my vocation.
Less than a week ago, I was still living the life as a normal American girl, huddling around my laptop with three of my sisters laughing at our recently added Facebook pictures. After eighteen years of growing up in small town Iowa with my mom and my four sisters, I attended Iowa State University. While making new friends and living the life of a college student, I continued to seek out the Lord’s Will for my life. A desire that had begun when I was about fourteen years old was still buried in my heart—I wanted to be a bride of Christ. During my one year at ISU, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to take the step of visiting a religious community and discerning the call. In no rush, I prayed that the Lord would open a door in His own time. During spring break of that year, I found myself at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, a place that seemed to me to be the home of my vocation.
So, here I am, Lord, I come to do Your will.
(Emily is now teaching religion at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Alton where she
prepares the children for the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.)
Comments
Love,
you sister
Love and prayers always, Annette and family