1 Franciscan Way

On Easter morning, bright and very early, twenty-one young women stood up and said "Yes." It's an amazing moment. On Easter all of the faithful renew vows. We stand at the feet of the Risen Lord and proclaim yet again I renounce Satan, And all his works, And all his empty promises. And we proclaim that we believe in God. But these women took it one step further. They have decided that they want to radically live out their lives in fulfillment of those promises. They told the Lord that they want to walk with Him. He asks that question of each of us, in all of the circumstances of our lives: "Will you walk with me?" So what about you? Will you walk with Him? --submitted by Sister M. Luka

February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is also the day in which the Church celebrates in a particular way the gift of consecrated life in the Church. It is a day to reflect on the fact and gift of the consecrated life, as it is given in the particular circumstances of this day and time. Of course, it also serves as a reminder of our gift and responsibility for those of us consecrated as brides of Christ. I think of the big days - the days of promises and gifts. The day we entered. I had no clue what religious life meant. There were romantic images of long silent corridors; prayers chanted in the dawn; martyrdom and exciting mortification. "Let me give you everything!" At the end of the year, we received the habit and veil. We received a name that would mark our days of life in His service. It was a day of great happiness. A beginning. A new life. The joyful days of consecration. There was the day when the Sisters in my group knelt in our provincialate c...