October 2018 Vocation Office E-Newsletter

Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia

LAUDARE, BENEDICERE, PRAEDICARE TO PRAISE, TO BLESS, TO PREACH

Embracing Spiritual Poverty INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Reflection on the First Beatitude Recent Travels The Angelus is an oil painting by French painter Jean-François Millet. 1857-1859.

October 2018

Saint Spotlight: Blessed Chiara Luce Badano Recommended Reading: Interior Freedom

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven A Reflection on the First Beatitude

This beatitude can seem so perplexing, yet it holds out to us a promise that that we do find attractive, the Kingdom of Heaven, a place of abundance. If poverty is the path that leads to the happiness we seek, then how do we follow it?

Those who are materially poor rely on the generosity of others to supply their needs; they recognize their dependence on others. Those who are spiritually poor recognize their dependence on God; they rely on His generosity to supply their needs.

It can be unnerving to relinquish self-reliance to depend on God, however. It makes us feel vulnerable. It’s so much easier to cocoon ourselves with all kinds of material comforts and digital distractions, but the creeping sense of emptiness remains.

Practicing the virtue of temperance offers us a way out of a life of mind-numbing indulgence. Instead of seeking ultimate fulfillment in finite pleasures that by definition cannot satisfy, we can choose to be poor. Instead of reaching for the screen, we can reach out to the infinite God in prayer.

Embracing our spiritual poverty, our utter inability to be our own source of happiness, opens us up to the radiant love of a Father who loves us “unspeakably much,” as He tells St. Catherine of Siena. The fear of missing out that wields an icy grip on our hearts can be melted away by the Holy Spirit’s Gift of the Fear of the Lord that only fears offending the One whom we love.

The journey from servile fear to filial fear is a journey from fear to love on the path of the Beatitudes leading to the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ as our wealth.

"Be Happy, Because I am."

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano Feast Day: October 29 ~ Years of Life: 1971-1990

Maria Teresa Badano tells a sweet story about her daughter: Chiara went to her room at the age of four to pick out some old toys to give away to the poor.

However, she came out with all her newest toys and said, "I can't give old toys to poor children." The only child of her parents, Chiare Luce Badano was born in Savona, Italy in 1971. When she was about nine years old, she attended a Family Fest with the Focolare Movement and came to discover the immensity of God's love. As she matured, she developed a simple sensitivity to the sufferings of others. When asked if she ever talked to her friends about God, she answered, "I must not talk about Jesus, I give them Jesus...First of all, by listening, then with the way I dress, but especially with my way of loving." When she was only seventeen years old, she was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma. Soon after, she lost the use of her legs due to chemotherapy and other painful treatment; yet through it all, she would always say, "For you, Jesus: if you want this, so do I!" She learned to transform the seemingly ordinary things into extraordinary gifts to God. Before she died at the age of 19, she told her mom, "See, I have nothing, but I still have my heart and with that I can still love," and, "Be happy, because I am." May Blessed Chiara's example of total trust in God and joy in suffering help each of us strive eagerly for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Information and images gathered from: http://www.chiarabadano.org/?lang=en

Day of Recollection ~ New Haven, CT The sisters, Father John Sica, O.P., Father Joachim Kenney, O.P., and young women in attendance hiked in a local park, prayed at the tomb of Father Micheal McGivney, listened to spiritual conferences, and had time for prayer and the Sacraments.

Saint Martha's Parish ~ Point Pleasant, NJ While at Saint Martha's, Sister Peter Marie and Sister Bernadette Marie had the opportunity to speak at each Mass and Religious Education class about God's wonderful plan for every person's life - their vocation.

Pan y Vino Retreat ~ Auburn University

Sister Albertine and Sister Agnes Clare joined the Auburn University Catholic Center for their annual Pan y Vino Retreat on October 5-7.

Horned Frog Awakening ~ Texas Christian University Sister Mary Martin and Sister Maria Lucia joined the Catholic Center at Texas Christian University for their annual Awakening Retreat on September 21-23.

Jesu Caritas Retreat October 5-7, 2018

Franciscan University of Steubenville October 12-14

After attending the Franciscan Vocation Fair, Sister Peter Marie gave a talk on Intercessory Prayer and the Culture of Life. She and Sister Bernadette Marie were also able to have meals with many young women and enjoy a Lord's Day celebration with Totus Tuus Maria, a Franciscan Household.

New York City October 18-22

While in New York City for the Premier Showing of a documentary on religious life, "For Love Alone," at the Sheen Center, Sister Peter Marie and Sister Bernadette Marie also spent much time with the students of NYU at their Catholic Center. During their time at NYU, they spoke about vocations at the Newman Catholic Fellowship Night and enjoyed a Women's Brunch prepared by students.

Recommended Reading Interior Freedom By: Father Jacques Philippe In a culture where the idea of freedom is so often discussed and desired, Father Jacques Philippe walks with the reader along the path to a true freedom. The book Interior Freedom discusses how each person has the capacity to act freely no matter his circumstance because true freedom does not come from without but within each person. The reader will discover that trust in God and acceptance of various trials and circumstances lead to a real interior freedom which alone can bring one to lasting happiness.

"We may spend our whole lives waiting to live. Thus we risk not fully accepting the reality of our present lives. Yet, what guarantee is there that we won’t be disappointed when the long-awaited time arrives? Meanwhile we don’t put our hearts sufficiently into today, and so miss graces we should be receiving. Let us live each moment to the full, not worrying about whether time is going quickly or slowly but welcoming everything given us moment by moment." p.90-91 Click on the image above for a link to order the book.