Vocation Office E-Newsletter March 2022

laudare, benedicere, praedicare TO PRAISE, TO BLESS, TO PREACH

March 2022

M A R C H 2022

Celebrations from the Dominican calendar appear in italics.

Lent

A Season of Mystery

BY SISTER SCHOLASTICA , O.P.

L

ent is that privileged time which helps us enter into the days of mystery—to walk with Christ the road to Calvary, and so participate in the mystery of our redemption.

Our repeated observance of Lent, year after year, allows these mysteries to unfold slowly but surely in our lives. This unfolding happens, I think, in three ways. It begins with pondering reality, pondering the truth of the mystery and which eventually settles into a conviction—a certainty. This is stage one: conviction. The second way that a mystery unfolds in our lives is through the emotions: a response from the heart, from the deepest part of yourself. And then the third stage of a mystery’s unfolding is the resolve to do something or act or live in a certain way. These three elements correspond to the powers of the soul: intellect, emotions, and will. Now, to apply this to the Lenten season, it means that there are certain truths of which the Church reminds us during Lent, and we become convinced of these truths, in a sense, convicted by them. Secondly, our emotions react. We respond to whatever our intellect grasps, and these emotions allow the heart to take part in this penitential season. And lastly, the will becomes involved—we resolve to do something based on our intellect and emotions; in fact, we make Lenten resolutions in order to foster a deeper conversion of our will.

So, what truth does the Church put before us during Lent, and which emotions are being called forth in response, and lastly, what specific action could be our resolution? In other words, what truth do we need to ponder more deeply, to consider with reverence and let it shape our way of thinking and therefore our very being? How will this change in thinking affect the way we act? What truth will help us during these days of Lent to catch that glance from Christ, that look that can change our lives?

"...what truth do we need to ponder more deeply, to consider with reverence and let it shape our way of thinking and therefore our very being?"

The central truth that we are given to ponder during these days is the truth that Christ bears my sins. St. Peter puts it this way: “In his own body he brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will. By His wounds, you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). Christ bore my sins; he took on himself the guilt that I incurred by my sins. In the prayers and readings at Mass, in the great Lenten hymns, in so many different ways, this is the truth that the Church puts before us during Lent.

When we ponder this truth and let this reality shape our way of thinking, our emotions will respond.

However, there are two extremes that we want to avoid with emotions. The first extreme to avoid is a maudlin display of emotions, an excessive, emotional frenzy.

This kind of emotional response is unchecked by reason, like a horse that is bolting—with you along for the ride. This excessive sentimentality allows the emotions to rule us, rather than the other way around.

The other extreme to avoid is the extreme of no emotions, a sort of stoical, impassive response to the mystery that lies before us. This kind of disconnect between the head and the heart results in a very superficial Lent.

Our hearts ought to be moved, especially during Lent, when we recall the truth of our redemption. So how do we avoid these two extremes, but still feel sorrow for our sins? As the Psalmist says, “A heart contrite and humbled O God, you will not spurn” (Psalm 51:19).

Contrition is the middle road between excessive sentimentality and stoic hard-heartedness. The word contrition was originally related to a word referring to the act of grinding something down or pulverizing, etc.

A similar term, compunction, originally meaning a piercing of something. These two words which we associate with sorrow for our sins are powerful reminders of the right use of emotions. Contrition softens our hardened hearts and compunction pierces our inflated egos.

All of this leads us to a place of conversion. Our intellect has pondered the truth, our emotions have responded, and now the will is directed to the good.

This conversion is not a single act, though, because it is a change of heart, an on-going process. Slowly but surely, Lent after Lent, by uniting our wills to God’s will, we allow Christ to live his life in us. As St. Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

This Lent, as we ponder the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the mystery of God’s goodness and love, let us come before the Lord with hearts contrite and humble, so that we can participate in the very mystery of our redemption.

The Grace of Saint Joseph His Goodness in our Lives After my father died, I felt that St. Joseph took on that role. I go to him just like I would go to my own dad. I entrust to St. Joseph all my temporal and spiritual needs and I feel his comfort.

- Sister Perpetua

St. Joseph's presence manifests itself in the lives of good men who emulate him in their daily routines. Two of my students have St. Joseph as their patron.

These men are priests from mainland China. As they study theology and look forward to returning to their homeland to teach in diocesan seminaries in that vast nation, they realize their many obstacles. They constantly turn to Joseph in prayer, knowing that he intercedes for them. Their faith inspires me, motivating me to be the best teacher that I can be.

-Sister Margaret Andrew

St. Joseph makes his presence known to me by listening to my prayers--like a kind and strong father would. I just ask and trust. It's like the relationship I have with my earthly father, since he knows me and loves me, I can ask St. Joseph anything and tell him anything I'm worried about-and I know he'll take care of it.

-Sister Jane Dominic

During the Year of St. Joseph, I grew in my devotion to St. Joseph under the title of Terror of Demons. I began invoking him under this title in prayer with my students, who really appreciated the protection and prayers of the Terror of Demons. In our daily battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil, we all need St. Joseph to guard and protect us.

-Sister Elizbeth Marie

St. Joseph is teaching me to bring my anxieties and confusions to the Lord and to be patient and trusting that the Lord will make His plans known in His time. For example, last year, I needed to find a priest for an Ash Wednesday Mass, but everyone I could think of was booked already. I asked St. Joseph and he helped me remember a priest would be visiting at the Motherhouse who could help.

Thank you, St. Joseph!

-Sister Miriam

Ite ad Joseph ... The just silent man whose presence is strong but silent.

- Sister Catherine Joseph

Saint

Protector of Joseph Vocations

It became very clear to me that St. Joseph was interceding for me at a pivotal point in my discernment, particularly as we were preparing to celebrate his feast day during the Vocation Retreat prior to my entering the community.

-Sister Maria Ivana One of St. Joseph’s most salient titles from his Litany is "Guardian of Virgins," since I believe that he fights adamantly for my vocation, which He desires to protect with his whole being since he too was consecrated--totally given to the Father's will for the redemption of the world through Jesus.

- Sister Paulina

I fell in love with St. Joseph when I prayed a Novena to him when I was a Novice. He answered my prayers in a very powerful way and St. Joseph became one of my favorite saints! He always hears our prayers as he provided for and loved Jesus and Mary.

- Sister Mary Andrew

I love St. Joseph especially under his title of "guardian". When I was preparing to enter the convent, a priest friend of mine counseled me to offer my vocation to St. Joseph. He said that St. Joseph had been entrusted with guarding God's most special possessions (Jesus and Mary) and so he would also be my special guardian. He has since become a confidant of mine in big and small matters.

- Sister Anna Kolbe

He makes his kindness, patience, and loving presence known in the kindness of our superiors and the Sisters.

Watching him respond to Mary and Jesus helps me try to respond in the same way to my Sisters.

- Sister Martha Ann

Saint Joseph helped hide and protect God's redemptive plan for all people and I like to think of religious as hidden agents who continue God's redemptive plan for all peoples: saving souls.

- Sister Mary Aquinas

A grace from this past year was to know his protecting presence, especially as I prepared to make my Final Profession. I heard a wonderful homily on St. Joseph and he was described as being a protector of Mary's virginity and thus would continue to be a protector and guardian of virgins, so I entrusted my profession under his protecting care.

- Sister Alma Marie

St. Joseph Recently I have been reflecting on St. Joseph as a most perfect adorer of Christ, both in the womb of Mary and when he held Him in his arms, and as a model for us in how to be true adorers of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

- Sister Mary Agatha

I love St. Joseph because of his strength as a humble man of faith.

Clearly, during his lifetime he loved God with his whole heart, in a quiet and unassuming but strong and steady way – even when he did not understand what God was doing in his life. Even the Lord God trusted him! To Joseph God entrusted his only-begotten Son; and Joseph accepted that trust also in faith. I do not think Joseph ever doubted Mary’s purity or virtue. I think he realized God had chosen to place him in the midst of a great Mystery that would somehow mean the surrender of his whole life. And he embraced the Mystery and surrendered himself with all his strength to caring for and protecting Jesus and Mary, never expecting any notice for himself.

St. Joseph is a profound model for virtue; and a sturdy shelter in our own lives.

- Sister Marian

HUMBLE SERVANT

I love St. Joseph because he is the epitome of what a husband and a father should be: protective and reliable, serving and loving his wife and son. Isn't it awesome that God made him head of the house with a sinless wife and a son who is God? Without humility, any other man would find that either intimidating or become proud, but St. Joseph just quietly fulfills God's will for him: taking care of his family.

- Sister Francine

I love the image of St. Joseph as the foster-father of Jesus, the Word, because St. Joseph's love demonstrates selflessness. Jesus frequently speaks of his Father in heaven, not of Joseph. Joseph remains hidden.

- Sister Mary Jordan

I love St. Joseph because he sets an example and models for me the way(s) to accept and deal with various situations in my life, (be it happiness, sadness or difficulties). He experienced temptation, difficulties, and exhaustion without complaining because his heart and soul was full of profound peace due to his love and intimacy with Jesus (my spouse) entrusted to his care and protection. St. Joseph is my "go to" special saint for intercessory prayers!

-Sister Joseph Marie

40 Hours Devotion During the month of February, our sisters at the Motherhouse participated in the 40 Hours Devotion, with Eucharistic Adoration throughout the weekend and ending with a Eucharistic Procession. Traditionally, this devotion is an opportunity to deepen reverence for the Eucharist and the priesthood. Let us pray for our priests!